History of Typography

Writing and typography regarded as information technology and viewed in an historical perspective.

History of letterforms, with a special emphasis on the classical Roman lettering tradition.

History of type and typography in a societal perspective, with a special emphasis on innovations and developments in type design, typography, printed artefact genres and printing technology in the 19th century.

Modern graphic design, with a special emphasis on the «new typography» of the inter-war period and central developments in postwar typography, internationally and nationally.

Typographic discourse and scientific legibility research.

The student can explain important lines of development and central issues in letterform history, type history, typographic history and the history of modern graphic design. The student can demonstrate a more in-depth knowledge about a limited number of topics within the course. The student can also reflect on his or her own future professional practice as a designer in an historical perspective.

The student will through (yet one more course with) process-oriented essay writing – based on formative evaluation – in an incremental manner have improved his/her analytical skills, his/her ability for critical reflection, his/her writing skills, his/her ability to locate, gather and synthesise information, his/her ability to critically assess sources and literature, his/her ability to cite and reference sources and literature appropriately, and his/her skills in editorial handling of text.

Lectures, demonstrations («show-and-tell») of a large number of historical printed objects typical of their time and to some extent iconic (which the students are allowed to handle), film screening, two written essays with formative supervision, self study, discussion groups, exam. As well as a non-obligatory study trip («The classical lettering tradition in Rome»), which participating students to a large extent will have to pay for by themselves. Students who do not take part in the study trip are offered adequate alternative arrangements.