You will compile, write, edit and design a multiple-page publication about Typography for your type company. It will be used as a marketing piece for elected customers upon request. It will also be a test prototype for a possible future bi-monthly publication. This project will require you to proactively create an effective design solution based upon project criteria you establish and content you collect.
Publication Specifications
- Size: 8.5x11 horizontal or vertical
- Cover + 18 to 24 pages
- Spiral binding
- Heavy covers, mixed text papers
- Short sheets, foldouts, and other creative pages optional
Publication Content
You will use type and design textbooks and blogs as sources of content, including writing and examples. You may also use your own design projects in this class as content and examples. In all cases you must credit all writing and design appropriately within your publication.
Design References
Your design may be inspired by an existing publication design (see end of this post for links to some publication design samples), or better yet create a unique design solution from the project’s particular parameters and content. In either case, in addition to design (concept, typographic form and craft), you will be graded on how well the information is typographically conveyed to your intended audience.
Publication Due Date
You will have four weeks to work on the project. The final printed publication will be due the last day of class, Tuesday, April 23rd.
Final Printing
It is suggested that you print the final publication at the Copy Center in the Union Building and/or Printing Services on campus.
Publication Content
The typographic content you publish is somewhat open, but the publication must contain at least three of your class design projects. A final successful publication will most likely include content such as:
• Covers (2 pgs)
• Introduction (1 or 2 pgs)
• Contents Page (1 or 2 pgs)
• Article: A History of Type (4 to 6 pgs)
• Article: Type Anatomy (2 to 4 pgs)
• Article: Layout Approaches (2 to 4 pgs)
- Classically Centered - Serif
- Flushed Modern - San Serif
• Article: Logotype (2 to 4 pgs)
• Article: Typographic Grids (2 to 4 pgs)
• Article: Layout as Expression (2 pgs)
- Weather Report
• Article: Typography Rules (4 to 6 pgs)
- Posters
- Poster/Flyer
• Article: Type Classifications ((4 to 6 pgs)
• Article: Typographic Systems (4 to 6 pgs)
• Article: A Typography Master (4 to 6 pgs)
- Written Article
- Samples of Work
• Article: Other (4 to 6 pgs)
• Conclusion (1 or2 pgs)
Design Process
It is highly suggested that you:
• Begin the project by writing a succinct project brief, and an anticipated content outline.
Be sure to post all of your design process on your blog. Layout all of the significant design process documents, such as the project brief, with good design and typographic craft.
• Develop at least two design concept roughs and layout thumbnails. You may also want collect some visual research boards based upon the two design directions.
• Finalize the content outline, then compile a layout flat plan for the publication based upon the outline.
• Conceptualize and design a title/masthead for the publication and explore at least two cover design possibilities. This will help you construct the typographic system for the entire publication.
• Gather final content, writing and images, based upon the outline and guided by the publication's intent.
• Develop a series of tight design roughs for the inside of the book.
• Design and layout at least two of publication sections (intro, article, etc) expressing your content as directed your cover design your design roughs.
• Evaluate your layouts for message, form and typographic craft, then develop a typographic system and design guidelines for the design of the entire publication, including typefaces, styles and sizes, colors, margins and grids, typographic hierarchy, and type and image positioning specifications.
• Design and layout the entire publication, printing out at least two sets of design iterations for critique, review before the final publication dummy.
• Adjust and finalize the publication layout, then print out a complete publication design dummy to-size for review. Make final corrections and adjustments.
• Print out final cover and inside pages, and collate for binding. Bind the publication, then carefully cut and/or fold any short sheets or/or page foldouts if necessary
• Publish the final design as a multiple page document in ISSUU and link it to your blog, and/or post the entire design on your blog
Please note, the professor will keep one copy of the final publications, so if you want a printed copy, you should make two.
Class Structure
You may work as fast as you wish on this project. This project will also require you to be a proactive designer, responsible for your final design. We will be working each class period until the day the publication is due. The class format will be slightly different for this project, as the remainder of the semester each class will be organized and directed as a design studio scenario. Critiques will be small and extemporaneous for students who are prepared and have designs to share. Class discussions will be dependent on overall project development and will likewise occur when necessary based upon the publication's due date. A student may choose to participate or not in the discussions. While the project will be directed by the professor, it is incumbent that each student proactively take upon themselves the responsibility for the final design, quality, craft, execution, and success of their publication.
Project Schedule
The suggested project schedule is as follows:
Thursday, March 28th
Project Launch, Project Brief, Rough Content Outline
Tuesday, April 2nd
Publication Concepts, Visual Research, Flat Plan, Masthead/Cover Design Roughs
Thursday, April 4th
Final Publication Content & Imagery, Inside Design Roughs,
Tuesday, April 9th
Comprehensive Article Layout, Publication Typographic System & Graphic Guidelines, Publication Document Setup
Thursday, April 11th
A minimum of at least three spreads (six pages) is due Printed and posted on crit wall at the beginning of class for a group critique
Publication Layout, Printed Comps, Critique and Design Adjustments
Thursday, April 18th
Final Design Dummy, Final Design Adjustments, Final Printing & Production
Tuesday, April 23rd
Final Printed Publication due, final Publication published on ISSUU, and/or posted on blog
Project Forms
Organization is the key to a highly successful creative project. The more organized you are in setting up a design project, the more creative you can be. You might want to use these forms to help you organize your publication:
Folding Pages
https://www.designersinsights.com/designer-resources/learn-all-about-folds-how-to-use-them-creatively/
Binding Types
https://www.designersinsights.com/designer-resources/choosing-the-right-binding-type/
Print Signatures
https://www.designersinsights.com/designer-resources/understanding-and-working-with-print/
Layout Grids
https://www.designersinsights.com/designer-resources/using-layout-grids-effectively/
Publication Design Examples
Here are some links to samples of some publication design typographic approaches:
www.behance.net/gallery/2745687/Typographic-Revolt-HypeForType-Typefaces
www.behance.net/gallery/6312029/Italian-Neorealism-Cinema-Series
www.kathleenphelpsdesign.com/pcmck
www.behance.net/gallery/5528625/%28CTP%29-Brochure-Poster
www.behance.net/gallery/5958931/WildLife-Brigade
www.kathleenphelpsdesign.com/bomb
www.behance.net/gallery/8906395/99U-Conference-Branding-Collateral-2013
www.behance.net/gallery/4435725/RW-Swiss-Style-Brochure
www.holmes-wood.com/projects/eg-magazine
