LOCATION

Arbury Mac Lab 162

August 25, 2025 – December 13, 2025

Section 1

Mondays / Wednesdays 9:30AM - 12:20PM

INSTRUCTOR

J. Blake Johnson

email: jbjohns1@svsu.edu

Office: Arbury Fine Arts 117 – 989 964-2255

OFFICE HOURS

Tuesdays & Thursdays, 10:30am – 12:30pm
or one hour as arranged.

ATTENDANCE & TARDINESS

Consistent attendance is essential. Absence due to health reasons requires a doctor's note to avoid grade implications. Being over 30 minutes late is considered an absence.

Class will convene at the scheduled time and location. Attendance guidelines are as follows:

• Three absences = grade reduced by one letter

• Four absences = grade reduced by two letters

• Five absences = course failure

Being late three times counts as one absence. Arriving more than 10 minutes late or leaving 15 minutes early will result in an unexcused absence.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course will explore the foundations of quality typography.

Students investigate the aesthetics of type and color through a study of type applied to booklets and research. Students will learn to avoid common type errors and explore the historical background, technical aspects, and communicative abilities of type.

Since 2020, this course has also embraced the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a tool to support research, critical thinking, and creative exploration.

Prerequisites: Art 250G.

Just because the course material is online, treating it as an online class is not an option.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

Help the students learn:

• an awareness and appreciation of letterforms and proper use

• typographic terminology

• the relationship between legibility & communication, in typography

• to recognize typographic errors

• to understand type anatomy & classification

• to gain insight into type history

• to speak about typography critically and fluently

REQUIRED TEXT

The Elements of Typographic Style by Robert Bringhurst

Other articles and book passages will also be provided.

PROJECT SCHEDULE

There will be 15 assignments/quizzes during this semester.

The schedule is subject to revision at anytime at the discretion of the instructor. The final number of projects may change based on the speed/skill of the class.

KEY PROJECTS - Typography

Turn in to graphic server before midnight on the following Fridays…
100 Points each Due on the Graphic Server on the date below

Project 1 - Sept 19 - Symposium Booklet

Project 2 - Oct 17 - Literacy Link Booklet

Project 3 - Nov 14 - MIArts Brochure

Project 4 - Dec 12 - Flyer (Final Project; due end of Finals Week)

KEY PROJECT DEVELOPMENT

Typically each project has five parts:

1) the written concept (Concept Sheet)

2) multiple developmental sketches (Concept Sheet)

3) Computer work - the printed final work

4) the PDF of the final work on the server

5) the presentation of the finished work when required

EXERCISES - Typography

Turn in to graphic server

50 Points Due on the Graphic Server on the Friday on the date below

Exercise 1 - Sept 5 - Individual Research (Typography Research)

Exercise 2 - Nov 21 - Typography on the Web

CHAPTER SUMMARIES

Complete outside of class

Turn in to graphic server before midnight on the following Fridays…

25 Points each Due on the Graphic Server on the Friday on the date below

Summary 1 - Aug 29 - The Obscene Typography Machine - Meggs

Summary 2 - Sept 5 - Chapter 1 - The Elements of Typographic Style - Bringhurst

Summary 3 - Sept 26 - Chapter 2 - The Elements of Typographic Style - Bringhurst

Summary 4 - Oct 24 - Chapter 3 - The Elements of Typographic Style - Bringhurst

Summary 5 - Nov 7 - Chapter 4 - The Elements of Typographic Style - Bringhurst

Summary 6 - Nov 21 - Chapter 5 - The Elements of Typographic Style - Bringhurst

QUIZZES

Complete in-class via Canvas (Dates differ for each group)

25 Points each Due in class on the date below
Quizzes are on Canvas and must be taken in class via Firefox

Quiz 1 - Sept 10 - Anatomy & Terms A

Quiz 2 - Oct 15 - Classification & Terms B

Quiz 3 - Nov 5 - Measurements & Terms C

Quiz 4 - Nov 19 - Grids & Terms D

GRADES AND LEARNING

Work will be assessed based on the quality of the concept, the use of the design principles in support of the concept, and the level of craft in execution. To further explain grade/assessment criteria:

A - sound application of design/typographic principles in support of strong concept, excellent craft.

B - design/typographic principles mostly support concept, good craft.

C - design/typographic principles present but do not support concept, fair craft.

D - basic understanding of design not demonstrated, weak concept, poor craft.

F - no evidence of understanding design, weak or no cohesive idea.

GRADE SCALE

Key project grades are based on an 100 point scale.

Superior

A  93 and above
A- 90 - 92

Very Good

B+ 87 - 89
B  83 - 86
B- 80 - 82

Average

C+ 77 - 79

C  70 - 76

Below Average

D  60 - 69

Failing

F  59 and below

ASSIGNMENT POINTS

There will be fifteen assignments/quizzes during this semester. The schedule is subject to revision at anytime at the discretion of the instructor. The final number of projects may change based on the speed/skill of the class.

A breakdown of points possible:

RECORD OF STUDENT WORK

For the purpose of recruitment and promotion, your instructor may be collecting images of your work. Your work may be published in many forms such as on a website or other computer generated advertising.

In addition, the Department may be taking photographs of students and instructors in classroom for the same purpose. Please contact the instructor or the chair of the Art Department, J. Blake Johnson, jbjohns1@svsu.edu, if you do not wish your work or images of yourself to be reproduced or published. We will honor your request.

NON-DISCRIMINATION

SVSU does not discriminate based on race, religion, color, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical impairment, disability, or veteran status in the provision of education, employment, and other services.

COURSE CONTRACT

Read the entire syllabus carefully. Staying enrolled in this course after reading it will constitute that you understand and agree to follow the requirements and rules of the class as described.

It also will constitute that you understand and agree to receive the point deductions, and to face some academic consequences if you do not follow them accordingly.

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES

Exercise creativity and experiment within the parameters of each assignment. Be open and willing to learn new software tools and design styles.

Prepare for class. Come to class ready to learn. Stay focused and attentive in the classroom. Avoid distractions such as electronics or talking with classmates. Students who violate this rule will have two points deducted from their final grade. In addition, do not leave the classroom during class time, except in case of an absolute emergency.

PRESENTATION AND CRITIQUE PARTICIPATION

Students will present their conceptual ideas to the class during the final project critique. All students are expected to share their ideas with the class, explain what is successful with the piece and learn how the design can be improved. Use a professional and respectful tone while discussing the work of your peers. Critiques should never feel like a personal attack.

Make an effort to be as open to feedback as possible. Feedback should resonate with you as you develop in your design practice. Try to avoid deflecting comments.

COPYRIGHT POLICY

All images used for your projects must be original. This includes, but not limited to, photography, logos, graphic design works, painting, drawings, 3D works, and such. Your work cannot be directly copied from books or ‘taken’ from the web or any other resources.

The Saginaw Valley State University Policy Regarding Copyright briefly outlines those parts of the U.S. Copyright Law which apply to educational institutions. Please see below link for SVSU policy…

https://www.svsu.edu/sponsoredprograms/proceduresuniversitypolicies/universitypolicies/

LATE WORK

Late work will be accepted, but a 10 point grade deduction will always apply. The instructor’s permission is needed to turn work in late. However, no late work will be accepted two days beyond the project’s due date.

ACADEMIC HONESTY

Cheating will not be tolerated and all cases of cheating will be reported to the Office of Student Conduct Programs. Using someone else’s design or written work as your own, in any form, is recognized as plagiarism.

We will respond to academic dishonesty in one of three ways depending on the depth and nature of the offense:

For more information see:

https://www.svsu.edu/studentconductprograms/codeofstudentconduct/

ELECTRONIC DEVICES

It is the policy of the Department of Art that the use of electronic devices such as cell phones, laptops, tablets, etc., for personal reasons unrelated to the course is absolutely prohibited and will result in some form of demerit. Violators will be reported to the Department Chair.

A student found using an electronic device for working on a different class project, texting, viewing facebook, streaming video, etc., during class work hours, will suffer a two point penalty on their final grade for every incident. The computers are to be used as classroom tools, not as entertainment.

Turn off/silence your cell phones and leave them in your backpack/purse. Students who violate this rule will have two points deducted from their final grade.

Note: the recording of lectures is only permitted with a letter from the Office of Disability Services. Students must get permission from the instructor before using a laptop to take notes in class.

COMPUTER PROBLEMS

Do not use technical problems as an excuse to hand in your work late. Computers and other electronics do fail. Do not use the loss/failure of drives as an excuse to hand in your work late. Have a backup plan if the files are lost or fail. Always make a back-up of all work done everyday.

SUPPORT SERVICES

Please be advised that success in this course heavily relies on the student’s ability to visually discern distinctions within slide and video presentations. Reasonable accommodations are available for students who have a documented disability. Students with disabilities who seek accommodations must make their request by contacting the Office of Accessibility Resources & Accommodations.

Please notify the instructor during the first week of class of any accommodation(s) needed for the course. All accommodations must be approved in writing through Accessibility Resources & Accommodations (formally known as Disability Support Services). For more information see: https://www.svsu.edu/access/ or send an email to: access@svsu.edu

All arrangements with Accessibility Resources & Accommodations should be made before the end of the 6th week of the term. No contracts are retroactive. Until an accommodations contract is in place, the syllabus standards for grades and attendance will apply.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)

In this class, AI serves as a tool to enhance student research and learning, emphasizing critical thinking, fact-checking, and creativity when used correctly. We will always direct AI (with clear prompts and roughs) rather than let it produce material randomly.

Language is key to collaborating with AI systems. By broadening our vocabulary across academic and casual concepts, we can better harness AI's potential.

As we navigate the evolving world of AI, we'll collaboratively learn to merge its capabilities with human skills, fostering a cyclical workflow between students and AI for improved understanding and results.

COMMUNICATION POLICY

Email is the preferred method of communication for this class. Students should use their SVSU email accounts when contacting the instructor.

FINAL EXAM / FINAL ASSESSMENT

The final project serves as the final exam for this course. For this reason, the final project deadline has been extended into Finals Week (due Saturday, December 13, 11:59 PM).

UNIVERSITY DATES / DEADLINES (FALL 2025)

• Labor Day Recess (No Classes): September 1 – 2

• Last Day to Withdraw with 100% refund & Deleted Course: August 29

• Last Day to Withdraw with 100% refund and “W” grade: September 12

• Last Day to Withdraw with 50% refund and “W” grade: September 26

• Last Day to Withdraw with “W” grade: November 7

• Thanksgiving Recess (No Classes): November 26 – 30

• Classes End: December 6

• Final Exams End: December 13

• Incomplete Expiration Date (Due to Registrar): February 6, 2026

EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

Emergency closures and delays are determined by the University.

We will follow University recommendations. SVSU will notify you via email and—if you’ve enrolled in alerts—by text message and phone call.

REQUIRED MATERIALS

Supplies for this class are estimated at $35 to $65

- two flash drives (16 GB or larger)

- spiral bound notebook or 3 ring binder