Type Tools - ARTG2251

Objective & Overview

The purpose of this class is to teach design students the tools necessary to typeset and produce professional quality printed materials using primarily Adobe InDesign. This course is paired with Typography 1 and should provide you with the technical expertise to complete all assignments.

What we'll cover

Course Structure

In-Class Exercises

Follow along with the lecture/demonstration for exposure to functions, capabilities, and best practices concerning InDesign and Illustrator.

Open Studio

Opportunities to receive specific guidance regarding tools and techniques for Typography 1 assignments.

Projects

Out of class practice incorporating learned tools into the design process. We'll have 3 main projects that you'll complete throughout the semester that will make up the majority of your grade.

Evaluation

Your grade in this class will be determined your attendance record, and completion of projects. For all assignments, you will submit your working .indd file (or other file) via Dropbox File Requests. The link for each assignment submission can be found on this web page during the week leading up to its due date. Late projects without a medical excuse will automatically be dropped one-half letter grade.

You'll have an opportunity to resubmit assignments for a better grade. The highest grade you can get on a resubmission is a 95%. Resubmissions are due before class on December 11, 2018.

70% Assignments

30% Attendance

Office Hours

I am BUSY. Please email me when you need help and I'll do my best to answer as quickly as possible. I'm more likely to answer my non-Northeastern email listed on this website. If you need more one-on-one help, I'm happy to stay after class for as long as necessary, or to schedule time without you one evening to help you!

*Tentative* Class Schedule

Sept 11, 2018

Introduction, go over the syllabus.

Sept 18, 2018

Page layouts & making grids. Introducing your first project.

Sept 25, 2018

Master pages. Creating them, applying them, facing pages, etc.

Oct 2, 2018

Colors and styles. Going over modes of color, when they're used, and how to create them. Introduction to Project 2.

Oct 9, 2018

Working class for Project 2.

Oct 16, 2018

Exporting and hyperlinks.

Oct 23, 2018

Illustrator. Editing text in it, exporting for print. Differences between programs and handy shortcuts.

Oct 30, 2018

Composite documents and working class. Use this time to ask me questions about your main typography class.

Nov 6, 2018

Intro to project 3.

Nov 13, 2018

In class critique.

Nov 20, 2018

No class 🦃

Nov 27, 2018

TBD depending on availability of Union Press.

Dec 4, 2018

Using tabs, voting on Project 3.

Dec 11, 2018

Working class. Use this time before your finals!