• Try “portfolio”, “ink”, “branding” or a code like “PRS 101”.

GDS 101Graphic Design

Typography Fundamentals

How type works and how to use it well: anatomy, classification, spacing, hierarchy and pairing, practised through short exercises and a typographic poster.

In developmentDraft content

About this course

Typography is the part of design people read before they notice it. This course teaches the working vocabulary of type (anatomy, classification, families and weights) and then the decisions that make text readable and expressive: spacing, line length, alignment, scale and pairing. Each module ends with a short practical exercise, and the course closes with a type-only poster and a one-page type specification. Lessons use any layout tool you already have; free options such as Inkscape, Scribus or Canva's free tier are fine.

Who it’s for: Artists, illustrators and beginning designers who use text in their work (posters, covers, websites) and want to make confident type decisions. No prior design training needed; basic comfort with any layout or drawing software helps.

You will be able to

  • Identify the parts of a letterform and classify a typeface by its structural features.
  • Set a readable paragraph by adjusting size, leading, tracking and line length for print and screen.
  • Build a clear typographic hierarchy using scale, weight, spacing and position.
  • Choose and pair typefaces with a written rationale tied to a project's purpose.
  • Check a font's licence terms before using it in personal or client work.

Studio project

A type-only event poster with a reproducible one-page type specification and a written rationale.

To complete this course

  • Complete every required lesson.
  • Have the assignment “Typographic poster and type specification” accepted by an instructor.
  • Records of completion are issued only for courses whose content has passed instructor review.

Part of

Syllabus

Working titles: they may change as the course is written.

  1. Module 1: How type works

    The vocabulary of letterforms and typefaces, so you can see and describe what makes one font different from another.

    1. 1.1Type anatomy: baseline, x-height, counters and terminalsReading · 30 min
    2. 1.2Classifying typefaces: serif, sans, slab, script and displayReading · 35 min
    3. 1.3Families, weights and where fonts come fromReading · 30 min
    4. 1.4Exercise: a hand-drawn type specimenExercise · 45 min

  2. Module 2: Spacing, measure and readability

    The settings that make text comfortable to read: the difference between type that is merely present and type that is easy to use.

    1. 2.1Tracking, kerning and leadingReading · 35 min
    2. 2.2Line length, alignment and ragReading · 30 min
    3. 2.3Studio: setting the same text three waysStudio · 60 min

  3. Module 3: Building hierarchy with type

    Organizing information so readers know what to read first, second and third.

    1. 3.1Type scales and contrastReading · 30 min
    2. 3.2Pairing typefaces with purposeReading · 35 min
    3. 3.3Exercise: an event listing in three levelsExercise · 45 min

  4. Module 4: Type in real projects

    Applying type knowledge across media and avoiding the mistakes that make work look unconsidered.

    1. 4.1Type for screen versus printReading · 30 min
    2. 4.2Hand lettering, custom type and fontsReading · 25 min
    3. 4.3Critique: common type mistakes and how to fix themVideo · 30 min

Author: Ricketts University curriculum team (draft for founder review) · Not yet reviewed

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