TGMRS: Discourse in Typeface Design

Module code: TGMRS

Module provider: Typography; School of Arts and Comm Design

Credits: 40

Level: Postgraduate Masters

When you'll be taught: Semester 1 / 2

Module convenor: Professor Gerry Leonidas, email: g.leonidas@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Professor Fiona Ross, email: f.g.e.ross@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 20 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

The module explores typeface design at the intersection of type-making and typesetting technologies, user requirements, social developments, and the development of genre and style in typography. It introduces students to a range of key texts, and examines the perspectives of the authors to reveal different approaches and perspectives to constructing knowledge in typeface design. The texts are selected from the perspective of developing a reference literature for an emerging discipline. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Identify key strands of thinking in typeface design
2. Explain and critique arguments in key texts
3. Critically evaluate competing interpretations, policies, and practices
4. Identify and analyse perspectives in established sources
5. Locate primary archival material and digital artefacts that may support the research
6. Articulate arguments effectively in writing

Module content

Students will be introduced to a range of themes through directed reading and structured discussions. Students study key texts in each theme as starting points for discussions taking place online through written contributions, and fortnightly feedback sessions. The themes are: 

• The relationship of lettering, calligraphy, and epigraphy to type 
• Theoretical models for the letterforms 
• Typesetting and typemaking technologies 
• Fonts as infrastructure 
• Typographic textures in global scripts 
• Implications of globalisation on typeface design  
• Typefaces as construction of meaning / letters as political objects 
• Accessibility and user-centred typeface design 
• Knowledge construction and discourse in typeface design 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Students explore the module themes through guided reading and fortnightly consultation with staff. These discussions support the students' development of knowledge in the field, and a critical reading of sources. Students select an area to focus further, which may align with one theme or combine themes, to develop a research topic. Students will be guided through relevant literature, as well as research with primary material in the Department’s own collections and the University’s Special Collections. In the case of research with digital artefacts, students will develop documentation and analysis methods suitable for their research questions. Once a research topic has been agreed on, the student works independently, with fortnightly feedback sessions, on a substantial written assignment. 

Study hours

At least 20 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 50% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Tutors provide feedback on interim work by commenting on drafts and/or through discussion in mutually arranged tutorials leading up to the submission of the final work. 

Reassessment

Additional costs