Introduction to Typography Coursera

Overview

Typography is the art of manipulating the visual form of language to enrich and control its meaning. It is an essential area of skill and knowledge for graphic designers. Typography predates modern graphic design by around 500 years and is rich in rules, conventions, and specialized terminology, while remaining a space for creativity and expression.

The Introduction to Typography course offered by Coursera in partnership with CalArts addresses the practical considerations involved in selecting and combining type. It explores the historical, cultural, and aesthetic development of well-known typefaces, along with established conventions and best practices in typesetting, guided by principles of hierarchy and spatial organization. The course also examines the expressive and meaning-making potential of typography.

The lectures are complemented by three peer-assessed assignments, culminating in the design of a full-scale typographic poster.

This is not a software-focused course; a basic working knowledge of Adobe InDesign or similar page layout software is assumed. Access to a computer and page layout software is required to complete the assignments.

What you will learn

• Terminology and measurement systems used to describe type
• The storytelling role of typefaces and their historical evolution
• Practical typesetting through a peer-reviewed exercise
• Design of a full-scale typographic poster