Please note! Course description is confirmed for two academic years, which means that in general, e.g. Learning outcomes, assessment methods and key content stays unchanged. However, via course syllabus, it is possible to specify or change the course execution in each realization of the course, such as how the contact sessions are organized, assessment methods weighted or materials used.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

On successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

- Identify contemporary typographic defaults

- Explain how current notions of Western typographic tradition have been and continue to be constructed

- Analyse how modes of reading and writing have affected visual language in the past

- Consider aspects of written language that currently fall outside of established traditions

- Produce visual outcomes that are informed by historical models but not constrained by nostalgia

Credits: 3

Schedule: 04.11.2021 - 09.12.2021

Teacher in charge (valid for whole curriculum period):

Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Arja Karhumaa, Kortteinen

Contact information for the course (applies in this implementation):

CEFR level (valid for whole curriculum period):

Language of instruction and studies (applies in this implementation):

Teaching language: English. Languages of study attainment: English

CONTENT, ASSESSMENT AND WORKLOAD

Content
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    This course offers critical perspectives on typographic conventions in contemporary conditions and environments. It provides an expanded view of Western typographic tradition, focussing on its fuzzy peripheries and unexplored potentials. It takes the view that tradition can be mined as material for new approaches and solutions that it may be a point of departure for designing but never a way back.

    Through lectures, readings, and class assignments, the course provides a critical view on genealogies of writing and typography, from those established in Medieval Europe to those of 20th century modernism. Instead of concentrating on tools and technologies or the evolution of typographic styles, the course works towards articulating how changes to modes of reading and writing have manifested in and altered written language, and how they continue to do so.

    The aim is to consider the following questions: What is history (of typography) for us (as practitioners)? How can we address contemporary issues while remaining in dialogue with history?

Assessment Methods and Criteria
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Good attendance and submitted course assignments. Successful completion of the course requires 80 % attendance.

Workload
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    24 h in class, 57 h independent work

DETAILS

Study Material
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Study materials are provided at the beginning of the course.

Substitutes for Courses
Prerequisites
SDG: Sustainable Development Goals

    4 Quality Education

FURTHER INFORMATION

Further Information
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Teaching Period:

    2020-2021 Autumn II

    2021-2022 Autumn II

    Course Homepage: https://mycourses.aalto.fi/course/search.php?search=DOM-E2217

    Registration for Courses: Sisu replaces Oodi on 9 August, 2021. Priority order to courses is according to the order of priority decided by the Academic committee for School of Arts, Design and Architecture: https://www.aalto.fi/en/services/registering-to-courses-and-the-order-of-priority-in-aalto-arts