How to Use Type

Following a career as a freelance graphic designer, Dr Lindsey Marshall moved into higher education and took up a post as principal lecturer in visual communications. Lester Meachem has worked as a freelance illustrator and designer for many years. He is currently head of Visual Communication and Design & Applied Arts at the School of Art & Design, University of Wolverhampton. He teaches and leads the MA in Digital and Visual Communication. Lindsey and Lester are co-authors of How to Use Images, published by Laurence King in 2010.

1 The basics The anatomy of type Categories of type Combining typefaces Selecting typefaces Families of type Expert sets Measurement of type Structure of a letterform Counterforms Case study: Martin Woodtli (Switzerland) 2 Using the typeface Legibility and readability Upper and lower case Lines measure and spacing Colour and size The typeface Background Type on screen Paragraphs Layout Type and image Graphic elements Case study: Fons Hickmann (Germany) 3 Designing with type The design process Experimentation Design considerations Tools Refining Case study: Happy Centro (Italy) 4 Communication Forms of communication Meanings Context Impact Rhythm and repetition Visual continuity Type as image Symbols and graphic devices Case study: Andre Apel and Jan Schottler (Austria) 5 Colour and movement Colour of type Using colour to create hierarchy Colour and symbolism Technical issues relating to colour Type and movement Case study: Thomas Pavitte (Australia) 6 Experiments with type Experimental techniques Type out there Self-generated experiments Surfaces Type in three dimensions Type as image Pattern and decoration Case study: Yani Arabena (Argentina) 7 Production considerations Evaluation Pre-flight Choice of stock Print processes Colour in production Production for print File formats for print Production for screen Legal issues and accessibility Case study: Mission Design (Norway)