VCO3305 - Digital font design

Offered

Caulfield Second semester 2007 (Day)

Synopsis

While this unit is concerned with the acquisition of skills to produce fonts digitally, the emphasis is on focused experimentation and the refinement of those skills. Students become familiar with the potentiality and limitations of specific font software packages and learn how to achieve high quality results. This is a highly specialised area of computer-generated typography and offers students the opportunity to be in the forefront of font development. Questions of legibility and the challenging of traditional methods of conveying messages through typography are addressed, discussed and debated.

Objectives

On successful completion of this unit, students will:

1. understand how to create digital fonts using specific design software;
2. demonstrate a sound knowledge of type construction;
3. use a computer as an effective design tool;
4. have a greater understanding of the importance of type legibility through the design and application of digitally produced fonts;
5. digitally produce fonts with skill and focused experimentation to a professional standard;
6. consider research as a strategy to develop and initiate concept development within their practical work;

Assessment

Major projects: 80%. Minor projects: 20%.

Contact hours

12 hours per week, including: 3 hours per week including one 1-hour lecture, 2-hour studio and 9 independent study hours per week

Prerequisites

VCO2304 and OHS1000

Prohibitions

VCO2303