Typography, typefaces and font workshop
Time: 18:00 - 21:00
Location: Keeley Street
Take a deep dive into a specific process, media or tool, with our Visual Communication Workshops.
Workshops throw the spotlight onto niche areas of the visual communication field, enabling you to hone higher-level skills and gain deeper insights.
Workshops tend to have a practical focus, with little or no conceptual or contextual elements, although this varies by course.
Choose a start date
- Course Code: VZ423
- Dates: 30/09/24 - 28/10/24
- Time: 18:00 - 21:00
- Taught: Mon, Evening
- Duration: 5 sessions (over 5 weeks)
- Location: Keeley Street
- Tutor: Andrew McCarten
Course Code: VZ423
Choose a start date
Duration: 5 sessions (over 5 weeks)
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
What is the course about?
Bold and commanding? Curvy and seductive? Straight-talking sans-serif? The choice of typeface or font can reinforce the tone of a text, or undermine it. It can even alter the meaning! For an example, take any piece of political propaganda, advertising, or - in fact -any text ever produced and look at the typeface.
Through this workshop, know your ‘functional’ from ‘expressive’, ‘sans’ from ‘serif’, ‘leading’ from ‘kerning’, typeface from font (yes, there is a difference!)
You’ll also learn about the major styles and movements in the history of typography, as well as key design principles underlining the effective use of type.
Lastly, you’ll create your own typeface, and learn how to apply it to your creative work.
What will we cover?
• How to use type to enhance communication, and impact
• Type conventions and correct use of type
• Adobe InDesign to scale and position type within layouts
• Adobe Illustrator to create a typeface, and other ‘type creation’ apps (e.g. Calligraphr and Fontstruct)
• Critical evaluation of your own and others’ work will be facilitated throughout the course
• Examples of relevant works by historical and/or contemporary creatives will be drawn upon at strategic points throughout the course.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
Use the specific process, media or tool you have been studying – at least to a competent skill-level.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is suitable for intermediate learners; you do not need to have prior knowledge of the typography specifically, just of visual communication in general.
English-language competency is required: you should be able to follow verbal and written instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information. You may need to take short written notes for your own use and take part in group discussions.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
- Presentations
- Demonstrations
- Practical work
- Individual and group tutoring
- Group discussion
Additional/extension activities may be set for you to complete at home or outside of the course hours. Completion of additional tasks is encouraged to help you get the most out of the course. Where required your tutor will discuss these with you.
This course is supported by Google Classroom as a Virtual Learning Environment. When you log on you will be able to access course material, presentations, and handouts etc. and may be asked to complete learner progress records. You can find help via the student help centre on the City Lit website.
Please note it is important that you sign up and log in to your course Google classroom prior to the first session. Joining detail will be sent to you via email (check your junk/spam folder).
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
At City Lit, access to basic materials and resources are available as part of this course. We advise you to bring a A5/A4 sketchbook for the recording of ideas and an A3 folder, and a USB drive, to transport work to and from City Lit. Additional materials required as part of the course will be discussed by your tutor if required.
Need art supplies? Our partner London Graphic Centre has everything you need from pencils to printing services, at 15% off.
To get 15% LGC discount, you will need to show proof/ confirmation of enrolment and being a student at City Lit. You can apply in-store or by simply emailing info@londongraphics.co.uk with a scan or photo of relevant confirmation. Student discount does not apply to products that are already discounted or on offer. More information can be found here- https://www.londongraphics.co.uk/student-discounts/.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
We recommend looking at our range of courses in graphic design, illustration, children’s book illustration and graphic novels to see what’s on offer.
For more information about any of the courses on offer, please visit our website.
Andy McCarten is a graphic design consultant and lecturer with over thirty years of commercial and academic experience in creating and leading national and international design projects for clients in TV, retail, manufacturing, finance and banking, across Europe and beyond. Andrew has worked with commercial clients including KLM, London Underground, Narvesen, TV2 Norway, BBC, BAA Heathrow, American Express. Having overseen the production of many print and electronic communications, in the commercial arena and within education, including a previous post at Ravensbourne University College for the art and design foundation course. The foundation course has creative idea generating and making at the core of the education process. He is currently developing courses with CityLit for the Advanced Visual Communications area. 'My motivation is to ensure my students get to fully realise their abilities and talents, to succeed in life.' Andrew is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and member of the Typographic Circle. www.amdesigndesk.com www.linkedin.com/in/andrewmccarten
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
