West Des Moines Community Schools Community Education

Throughout history, from the earliest carvings in stone to today’s digital designs, typography has been the foundation of effective visual communication. Whether you're designing a logo, building a website, or crafting a magazine layout, the right font can transform your work from ordinary to exceptional. 

In this practical typography course, you’ll learn the fundamental principles of typography that are crucial for creating effective and visually appealing designs. You'll explore the history and anatomy of type, diving into type eras and classifications to understand the evolution of fonts. You'll learn how to choose the right fonts for different projects and master the art of creating strong typographic hierarchy, contrast, and clarity. We’ll cover essential spacing techniques, such as kerning, tracking, and leading, to ensure your text is clear and easy to read. Through hands-on exercises focused on functional design, you’ll study how to align typography with overall design goals, whether in print or digital media. 

By the end, you'll have the skills to confidently choose the perfect type for any project, creating work that is not only visually stunning but also functionally effective. 

Pre-requisite: Adobe Illustrator and Adobe InDesign

To progress through this course you will:

• Read the print readings.
• Have the option of accessing the online readings.
• Listen to the audio presentation for the Unit and view the slides.
• Have the option of taking a self-quiz to see how much you have learned.
• Engage in written online discussion with your instructor and other participants.
• The content (readings, audio lectures, slides) and self quizzes are accessible for the entire course, so you can work ahead, or go back and review again, at your convenience.

Discussion:

• The discussion for each unit lasts one week. All comments are made in writing and can be made at any time of the day or night.
• Your instructor will log into the discussion area at least once a day and answer questions, make comments, and respond to comments by you and the other participants.
• We encourage you to make 2-3 comments each day to maximize your learning and enjoyment of the course.