Recently, I was asked to visit SCAD Atlanta and lecture about typography and branding. The students at SCAD, under the direction of Cotter D. Christian, were preparing personal portfolios for their work in interior design. During my visit at SCAD, I prepared a lecture that introduced different typeface classifications, showed examples of how to mix type, and discussed beginner principles regarding expressive type. We also worked in Illustrator and had fun with some beginner type exercises.
The class seemed very appreciated of the information so I thought it might be a good idea to share the lectures with others. My sources for creating these lectures include Thinking with Type by Ellen Lupton, Designing with Type by James Craig, and A Type Primer by John Kane. The lecture also includes some student work from Georgia State University.
There are so many things regarding typography and branding that are relevant for designers in other fields to apply in their own work. Whether you are an interior designer, industrial designer, or a graphic designer – type and brand is everywhere, especially when it concerns communications.
- Learn type anatomy
- Begin to identify different typefaces and type classifications
- Learn how to mix type styles within a family
- Learn how to adjust kerning and form ligatures
- Try creating expressive type by adjusting scale, placement, spacing
