Textual Elements of Design: Fonts, Typography, and Spacing
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Textual Elements of Design: Fonts, Typography, and Spacing
This course is part of Graphic Design Elements for Non-Designers Specialization
Instructor: Lori Poole
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What you'll learn
Appreciate the history and future of typography as an artform.
Compare and contrast the similarities and nuances between the concepts of typography, fonts and text.
Work with the various aspects of spacing type, includingleading, kerning and tracking.
Skills you'll gain
Tools you'll learn
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There are 4 modules in this course
Graphic design is telling a story by using both images and text. With that definition in mind, this course will focus on the textual elements of graphic design. From the history of typography, the difference between type, fonts and text as well as exposure to typography spacing, students will learn the value of selecting the best kind of type and combinations of fonts to get their message across in a visually pleasing manner.
This module will cover the history of typography, baseline basics and the anatomy of a typeface.
What's included
4 videos3 readings1 assignment1 plugin
4 videosβ’Total 20 minutes
- Course Introductionβ’1 minute
- Hieroglyphics to Printing Press to Digital Designβ’6 minutes
- Baseline Basicsβ’6 minutes
- Anatomy of a Typefaceβ’6 minutes
3 readingsβ’Total 66 minutes
- Course Updates and Accessibility Supportβ’1 minute
- Course Expectationsβ’5 minutes
- Typographic and Printing Museumsβ’60 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 60 minutes
- Module 1 Quizβ’60 minutes
1 pluginβ’Total 30 minutes
- Module 1 Reviewβ’30 minutes
This module will cover the two main types of fonts and font pairings and hierarchy.
What's included
2 videos1 reading1 discussion prompt
2 videosβ’Total 20 minutes
- Elements of Typographyβ’8 minutes
- Font Pairings and Hierarchyβ’12 minutes
1 readingβ’Total 60 minutes
- Typographic Readingsβ’60 minutes
1 discussion promptβ’Total 60 minutes
- Font Discussionβ’60 minutes
This module will cover typographical spacing and sizing, as well as the concepts of alignment, leading, tracking and kerning.
What's included
4 videos1 reading1 assignment1 discussion prompt1 plugin
4 videosβ’Total 21 minutes
- Alignmentβ’5 minutes
- Sizing Fontβ’5 minutes
- Leading Your Linesβ’6 minutes
- Tracking and Kerningβ’5 minutes
1 readingβ’Total 60 minutes
- Readings and Videos on Typographyβ’60 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 60 minutes
- Module 3 Quizβ’60 minutes
1 discussion promptβ’Total 60 minutes
- Review of Typography Articleβ’60 minutes
1 pluginβ’Total 30 minutes
- Module 3 Reviewβ’30 minutes
This module will review using type in various computer design programs. You will also get a chance to practice your skills in designing a brochure or postcard, focusing on the use of type in your design.
What's included
3 videos1 reading1 peer review
3 videosβ’Total 33 minutes
- Manipulating Textβ’16 minutes
- Google Fontsβ’9 minutes
- Canva and Typefacesβ’8 minutes
1 readingβ’Total 60 minutes
- Design Process Worksheetβ’60 minutes
1 peer reviewβ’Total 120 minutes
- Design Your Own Brochure or Postcardβ’120 minutes
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Adobe
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California Institute of the Arts
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University of Colorado Boulder
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Reviewed on May 24, 2025
amazing course i had learn a lot about the history of typography, with an excellent dr.
Reviewed on Oct 10, 2020
it was a good course but could be better as it was not that interesting
Reviewed on Apr 8, 2020
Wonderful Course, Learned a lot about fonts and how to use them in posters or brochures.
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When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.
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