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

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Express themselves confidently by textual means, visual writing and experimental typography.

2. Recognise the multiplicity of textual practices, their conventions and potentialities.

3. Challenge preconceived ideals of readability, legibility, and authorship.

4. Describe theories, concepts and examples of the materiality of language.

5. Use writing as material for design, and design as material for writing.

Credits: 6

Schedule: 09.01.2024 - 14.02.2024

Teacher in charge (valid for whole curriculum period):

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

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:

    Focusing on the materiality of language, this course gives visual designers and artists confidence in working with text, and so expands your vocabulary of expression. With a playful and experimental mindset, the course introduces you to a variety of exercises, examples and concepts concerning language, writing and typography from a visual and material perspective.

    We explore notions and methods such as textual appropriation, translation, illegible writing, flarf, writing by rules and constraints, visual and conceptual poetry, as well as other means of “uncreative writing” both in practice and in theory.

    Several small assignments support a more extensive main writing project around a loose common theme. At the end of the course, you will submit this contribution to the course book which will be printed digitally, as well as present your work in the closing session called "Reading Room".

Assessment Methods and Criteria
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Participation in teaching, completed assignments.

    Minimum 80% attendance.

    See MyCourses for more detailed information on evaluations methods and criteria.

Workload
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    6 ECTS ≈ 162h

    Contact Teaching: 54H

    Lectures 8h

    Groupwork 12h

    Workshop and practice-based work 64h

    Independent reading and writing 8h

    Reflection and thinking 70h

    Other: experimental writing and layout assignments, group discussions.

DETAILS

Substitutes for Courses
Prerequisites

FURTHER INFORMATION

Further Information
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Teaching Language : English

    Teaching Period : 2022-2023 Spring III
    2023-2024 Spring III

    Enrollment :

    The minimum amount of participants: 8
    The maximum amount of participants varies according to the implementation of the course.

    Registration for Courses: Sisu.

    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-at-aalto-arts