Typography: digital type techniques

What is the course about?

The course will lead you on a creative exploration of digital typography experiments and trials, designed to challenge your thinking as to what type can be. The works will see you be expansive in your thinking and extend what you are capable of in terms of using professional level software to make vivid use of type communications

The course is open to all who have an interest in art and design practises, and would be a good opening experience of working with Adobe software systems for creating visually dynamic end products based on digital type.

What will we cover?

• Introduction to Typography
• Adobe software in the use of type
• Experimental typography and type conventions and correct use of type and playful
• Creating your own wordmark and ideas of identity
• Type is incredibly important in how we assess a product or service communications.
• Typographic posters.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

• Be confident in creating a wordmark for a service or product
• Explain type conventions and the role of typography in design
• Be aware of how to use type more creatively for yourself or for clients in documents.
• Know how to make type be visually strong for a project.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

The course is appropriate for those with an interest in art and design, and be open-minded as to the creative processes, you don’t need to have previous experience of design.

You should be able to follow verbal and written instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information. You will be encouraged 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?

Course content will be delivered via illustrated presentations, showing film clips, individual and group tutoring, and group discussion.

Additional / extension tasks may be set for you to complete at home and outside of the set 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 during each session.

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 Citylit 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).
You will also need to register onto www.Padlet.com, as we will have a dedicated class Padlet, which is for sharing your works and developments. Details of the class Padlet will be issued before the first class.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

Access to basic materials and resources are available as part of this course. We advise you to bring a notebook/sketchbook for drawing, experimentation and recording of ideas (A5/A4/A3 size). Other materials and equipment required as part of the course will be discussed by your tutor during the first session. As we will be using the studio Apple Macs, we recommend you bring a memory stick to save your work onto.

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, students will need to show proof/ confirmation of enrolment of them 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. The 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 offer a range of courses within graphic design and illustration including our City Lit graphic design projects and Advanced graphic design course. For more information about the course and application process, please visit our website.