EXERCISE: EPXRESSIVE TYPOGRAHY AND TYPEFACE RESEARCHH
Learning Goals
Students explore typography as both functional communication and expressive art form while developing research skills and building visual vocabulary of contemporary and classic typeface design.Instructions
Part 1: Expressive Typography
Create a 4-artboard Adobe Illustrator file and export each page as PNG to Typography Exercises Figma file:- Page 1: Choose an adjective/adverb (e.g., fast, excited, movement) and express its meaning through ONLY typeface choice, spacing, sizing, and letter placement
- Page 2: Experiment by manipulating letterforms—edit outlines (Type→Create Outlines), scale, cut, crop, shift, turn, repeat, or transform letterforms
- Page 3: Choose a proper noun (name, place, person—not your own name) and express its character through thoughtful typeface selection
- Page 4: Use the same proper noun but express the OPPOSITE character using a different typeface and letterform manipulation techniques from step 2
Part 2: Typeface Research
Post to the same Typography Exercises Figma file:- Favorite Typeface: Find your favorite typeface used in context, in a design, out in the world
- Image showing the context the typeface is used in
- Typeface family classification (serif/sans-serif/slab serif/script/decorative)
- Designer name (research using Fonts in Use, Fount, FontSquirrel Identifier or WhatTheFont)
- Explanation of why it's your favorite
- Contemporary Typeface: Choose from Are.na contemporary type foundries collection
- use the foundry’s type tester to write a pangram sentence, set in chosen typeface, so we can see all the letters In the typeface
- List the typeface designer(s)
- Family classification
- Cost for small website license
- One fun fact about the typeface
- URL link to foundry and specific typeface
Successful Completion Rubric
- Four distinct typography experiments show creative exploration of letterforms
- Clear concept execution in expressive typography demonstrates understanding
- Thorough typeface research includes all required information for both selections
- Professional presentation with organized layout in Figma
- Technical skill demonstration shows growing Illustrator competency