Information Package / Course Catalogue
Typography I
Course Code: GİT212
Course Type: Required
Couse Group: First Cycle (Bachelor's Degree)
Education Language: Turkish
Work Placement: N/A
Theory: 1
Prt.: 2
Credit: 2
Lab: 0
ECTS: 4
Objectives of the Course

To understand the fundamental principles and elements of typography; to develop an analytical perspective on letter anatomy, the historical development of typeface families, and classification systems; to apply fundamental design decisions—such as typographic hierarchy, composition, and the use of white space; and to recognize typography as a foundational element of visual communication and demonstrate this understanding in the context of print production challenges.

Course Content

The content of this course aims to introduce students to the historical, theoretical, and practical dimensions of typography. The history of typography, spanning from Gutenberg to the Industrial Revolution, is examined through the lenses of technology, culture, and aesthetics. The theoretical foundation, built on the anatomy of letters and the classification of typeface families, is translated into practice through microtypographic decisions such as kerning, tracking, and leading, as well as grid-based page layout exercises.

Name of Lecturer(s)
Learning Outcomes
1.Identifies letter anatomy and the historical development of typeface families; analyses formal differences between basic categories such as serif, sans-serif, slab and display.
2.Applies typographic variables such as kerning, tracking, leading and grid systems to create visual hierarchy and legibility principles.
3.Evaluates typography as a communication strategy; justifies the impact of typeface selection on meaning, atmosphere and identity at both conceptual and visual levels.
4.Produces typographic composition, spatial arrangement and information hierarchy as integrated design decisions.
5.Manages the design process systematically from sketch to digital production and presents their work visually and in written form.
Recommended or Required Reading
1.The Fundamentals of Typography, Ava Publishing; Second Edition edition (September 1, 2011), English, ISBN-10: 294041176X
2.Letterforms: Bawdy, Bad and Beautiful: The Evolution of Hand-Drawn, Humorous, Vernacular, and Experimental Type, Watson-Guptill (June 15, 2000), English, ISBN-10: 0823004643
3.Lupton, E. (2010). Thinking with Type: A Critical Guide for Designers, Writers, Editors, and Students. Princeton Architectural Press.
4.Bringhurst, R. (2004). The Elements of Typographic Style. Hartley & Marks Publishers.
5.Tschichold, J. (1928/1995). The New Typography. University of California Press.
6.Kane, J. (2011). A Type Primer. Laurence King Publishing.
7.Jury, D. (2006). What is Typography? Rotovision.
Weekly Detailed Course Contents
Week 1 - Theoretical
Course introduction: why typography matters, semester plan and materials; environmental typography observation assignment — photographing typographic elements encountered in daily life and grouping them according to formal similarities
Week 2 - Theoretical & Practice
In-class sharing and discussion of the environmental typography observation assignment: formal similarities, differences and patterns; letter anatomy: baseline, x-height, ascender, descender, stem, bowl, counter, serif; practice assignment: drawing a selected letter in a digital environment and labelling its anatomical parts
Week 3 - Theoretical & Practice
History of typography I: Gutenberg, movable type, Blackletter and Gothic aesthetics; the idea of design for reproduction; practice assignment: a design work using Blackletter typography in a medium chosen by the student
Week 4 - Theoretical & Practice
History of typography II: Old Style — Garamond, derivation from handwriting, oblique axis, low contrast, the human hand and naturalness; practice assignment: a comparative letter analysis demonstrating the formal characteristics of an Old Style typeface in a digital environment
Week 5 - Theoretical & Practice
History of typography III: Transitional and Modern (Didone) — from Baskerville to Didot and Bodoni, the bridge between hand and machine, increasing contrast, vertical axis, rationalism; practice assignment: comparative typesetting of three selected typefaces from Old Style, Transitional and Modern on the same text
Week 6 - Theoretical & Practice
Classification of typeface families: serif, sans-serif, slab, display, monospace Project I brief: typeface analysis
Week 7 - Theoretical & Practice
Type specimen: forms of presenting and displaying typefaces, the history and function of specimen design from the era of printing to contemporary digital font foundries; Project I: visualisation of the formal, historical and functional analysis of a typeface in a digital environment
Week 8 - Theoretical & Practice
Project I submission + Written Midterm Exam (letter anatomy, history of typography, typeface classification and microtypography)
Week 9 - Theoretical & Practice
Typography as a communication strategy: typeface selection, meaning, atmosphere and identity; sectoral typography analysis — typeface decisions in technology, fashion, education and e-commerce sectors; discussion of atmosphere and identity through the serif and sans-serif contrast; Project II brief: typographic design for printed media
Week 10 - Theoretical & Practice
Typographic hierarchy and visual weight: guiding the reader's eye through size, weight, colour and position; figure-ground relationship and use of space; Project II: typeface and composition decisions in line with genre, atmosphere and target audience analysis
Week 11 - Theoretical & Practice
Communication contexts of typography: publication design, poster and billboard, corporate identity, digital interface; the function and priorities of typography across different media; Project II interim presentation: visual and verbal sharing of design decisions and feedback
Week 12 - Theoretical & Practice
Grid systems and multi-layered information hierarchy: page module, column and baseline grid; typographic consistency and system design: maintaining typographic language and visual coherence across elements such as ticket, poster, programme and invitation within an event identity; Project II submission and critique Project III brief: event identity design
Week 13 - Theoretical & Practice
Project III: typographic system decisions in event identity design — typeface selection, hierarchy, colour and the consistent application of the grid system across different media; interim presentation and feedback
Week 14 - Theoretical & Practice
Project III: final digital production of the event identity design; visual and verbal presentation and discussion of design decisions
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Type of AssessmentCountPercent
Attending Lectures1%5
Assignment4%15
Midterm Examination1%20
Final Examination1%60
Workload Calculation
ActivitiesCountPreparationTimeTotal Work Load (hours)
Lecture - Theory141128
Lecture - Practice141242
Assignment41212
Midterm Examination1617
Final Examination110111
TOTAL WORKLOAD (hours)100
Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes
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OÇ-1
4
5
4
3
3
4
2
4
2
2
2
3
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2
3
OÇ-2
3
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4
4
2
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2
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3
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OÇ-3
4
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3
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4
5
3
3
3
3
4
2
4
OÇ-4
3
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4
2
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2
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4
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3
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3
4
OÇ-5
2
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4
4
2
3
2
3
4
3
3
3
3
4
5
Adnan Menderes University - Information Package / Course Catalogue
2026