CT372
Advanced Kinetic Typeface Design
Spring
Professor
C.J. Yeh
Co-chair, Advertising & Digital Design Curriculum
Founder and Executive Creative Director, Cynda Media Lab [➚]
Course Description
This advanced typography class focuses on the design and creation of kinetic typefaces for a wide range of applications such as motion graphics, print design, interactive projects, branding, and art projects. The professional process and workflow of typeface design are introduced with an emphasis on motion and interactivity.
* This class is a requirement for the Advertising & Digital Design BFA and the Digital Typography Minor [➚]. Examples of how kinetic typography skills are applied: [➚]
CT&D Website
ExperienceDesign.NYC [➚]
A&DD Website
NewCreatives.info [➚]
A&DD Instagram
NewCreatives.info [➚]
Grade Breakdown and Evaluation
Attendance and Class Participation: 20%
Check Point Reviews: 50%
First Project: 5%
Type Design Presentation: 10%
Final Presentation: 15%
(A: 91% or above, B: 90% – 71%, C: 70% – 61%, D: 60% – 51%, F: 50% or below)
Section Info
Section 65A / Tuesday 6:30 - 9:20 pm / Class Drive [➚]
Section 601 / Thursday 2:10 - 5:00 pm / Class Drive [➚]
Office Hours
Schedule a meeting with CJ via Calendly [➚]
Project 1: PURPOSEFUL EXPRESSIONS
Each student will custom use a word to develop a typographic visual style that's expressive and purposeful.
Final Project: EXPRESSIVE DISPLAY TYPEFACE DESIGN
Each student will design a screen-based display typeface that expresses and reflects the designer’s personality and/or worldview. Minimum requirement is 70 glyphs. One winner will be selected to receive the CT&D Typeface Design Scholarship.
WEEKLY OUTLINE
* Weekly outline is subject to change according to the pedagogical needs.
WEEK 1
Tue 01/28 | Thur 01/30
Introduction
Lecture: Type Nerd #1
Lecture: Functional Typography vs Expressive Typography
Project #1: Purposeful Expression begins
In-class Workshop / Homework:
- Create your homework submission folder in the shared drive
- Design research begins
- Prepare an inspiration board
- Purposeful Expression first sketches
- Upload all sketches to WEEK 1 folder
- Bring a minimum of 15 sketches to class, ready to be pinned up
WEEK 2
Tue 02/02 | Thur 02/06
Checkpoint #1: Pinned Up Critic
Lecture: Type Nerd #2
In-class Workshop / Homework:
– Digitize selected sketches (3)
- Upload all digital drafts to CJ for feedback the following Tue/Thur
WEEK 3
Tue 02/11 | Thur 02/13
In-person Class Canceled
Finalize your digital sketches
Checkpoint #2: digital sketches
Attend UGG x Ambush x FIT Fireside Chat
WEEK 4
Tue 02/18 | Thur 02/20
Checkpoint #3: Purposeful Expression Presentation
Homework: Me, My Inspirations, and My Favorite Typeface(s) (PechaKucha)
Lecture: Type Design Fundamentals
In-class Workshop / Homework:
– PechaKucha
WEEK 5
Tue 02/25 | Thur 02/27
In-person Class Canceled
WEEK 6
Tue 03/04 | Thur 03/06
Checkpoint #4: Me, My Inspirations, and My Favorite Typeface(s) Presentation
Lecture: Type Design Brief
In-class Workshop / Homework:
– Type Design Brief
– Design sketches– Finalize Type Design Brief
WEEK 7
Tue 03/11 | Thur 03/13
Checkpoint #4: Type Design Brief
Lecture: Type/Logo Design Fundamentals
In-class Workshop / Homework:
– Initial Digital Drafts
– Print out your drafts and be ready for a pinup discussion– Progress Update (upload before next class)
WEEK 8
Tue 03/18 | Thur 03/20
Checkpoint #5: Initial Digital Drafts
In-class Workshop / Homework:
– Motion Tests– Progress Update (upload before next class)
WEEK 9
Tue 03/25 | Thur 03/27
Checkpoint #6: Motion Tests
Lecture: Type Design Refinement and OpenType font Creation
In-class Workshop / Homework:
– Typeface design and revisions– Progress Update (upload before next class)
WEEK 10
Tue 04/01 | Thur 04/03
Type Design Presentation: Type Design Pinup Critic (core glyphs set)
In-class Workshop / Homework:
– Typeface design and revisions– Progress Update (upload before next class)
WEEK 11
Tue 04/08 | Thur 04/10
Checkpoint #7: Checkpoint Reviews
Lecture: Presenting Your Typeface Design
In-class Workshop / Homework:
– Type Design Submission Preparation Begins– Progress Update (upload before next class)
WEEK 12
Tue 04/22 | Thur 04/24
Checkpoint #8: Checkpoint Reviews
In-class Workshop / Homework:
– Type Design Submission Preparation– Progress Update (upload before next class)
WEEK 13
Tue 04/29 | Thur 05/01
Checkpoint #9: Checkpoint Reviews
In-class Workshop / Homework:
– Type Design Submission Preparation– Progress Update (upload before next class)
WEEK 14
Tue 05/06 | Thur 05/08
Checkpoint #10: Checkpoint Reviews
In-class Workshop / Homework:
– Type Design Submission Preparation– Progress Update (upload before next class)
WEEK 15
Tue 15/13 | Thur 05/15
Final Presentations
Creative Technology & Design (CT&D) Attendance Policy
Attendance is not optional. If you are going to miss a class, you must contact me via email ASAP. Due to the quantity of material covered in the course, I will not be able to spend class time explaining missed assignments or redo lectures. If a class is missed, it is your responsibility to get information regarding missed assignments and lectures from one of your classmates.
Students are required to attend all classes, be on time, and remain for the entire class.
Students who miss three classes for classes meeting once a week or four classes for classes meeting twice a week will receive a grade of “F.”
The student who arrives 10 minutes after the start of the class will be considered late.
Two late occurrences = one absence
A student who arrives over 30 minutes late or not returning from the break will be considered absent from the class.
Working on projects for another class or using digital devices for socializing (texting, social media…etc.) or gaming during class time will be recorded as an absence.
An excused absence is still recorded as an absence. The difference is an excused absence won’t impact your grade for professionalism and class participation.
Additional Course Information:
Grade Appeals: Include information on the grade appeal process. See Grade Appeal for more information.
Department Policy on Plagiarism
Plagiarism and other forms of academic deception are unacceptable. Each instance of plagiarism is distinct. A plagiarism violation is an automatic justification for an “F” on that assignment and/or an “F” for the course. A student found in violation of FIT’s Code of Conduct and deemed to receive an “F” for a course may not withdraw from the course prior to final grade assignments.
Use of AI tools
It is permissible to utilize AI tools in your creative process. However, you must identify which AI tool is being used at each stage of the process. You are required to fact-check AI output and avoid stereotyping and bias in your work. Finally, you are responsible for ensuring that the final creation is unique, ownable, and without any copyright issues.
Fact-checking AI output
AI tools are not infallible. They often generate incorrect or misleading information. It is your responsibility to fact-check any AI output before using it in your work. This includes checking the source of the information, evaluating the quality of the information, and considering the context in which the information was generated.
Avoiding stereotyping and bias
AI tools can be trained on data that contains stereotypes and biases. This can lead to AI output that is also biased. It is your responsibility to avoid the potential for bias in AI output. You should also be mindful of your own biases when using AI tools and take steps to mitigate them.
Ensuring the uniqueness and ownership of your work
You are responsible for ensuring that the final creation of your work is unique and ownable. This means that you must not plagiarize the work of others, including submitting works done solely by AI tools without meaningful improvement and input from you.
Penalty for violation
Violation of this policy may result in a grade reduction or suspension from the class.