Program Overview

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Course Overview

Course Details

The course IDG2312, History of Typography, is an intermediate-level course offered at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). It is a 15-credit course that spans one semester, with Norwegian as the language of instruction. The course is located in Gjřvik and is scheduled to start in the autumn of 2025.

Course Content

Description

The course covers the history of letterforms in a technological and societal perspective, with a special emphasis on the classical epigraphic Roman lettering tradition. It also explores the history of type and typography, focusing on innovations and developments in the 19th century, as well as modern graphic design, highlighting the "new typography" of the inter-war period and significant post-war developments.

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge

• The student can explain major lines of development and central issues in letterform history, type history, typographic history, and the history of modern graphic design.
• The student can demonstrate in-depth knowledge about a limited number of course topics.

Skills

The student will improve their:

• Writing skills through process-oriented essay writing.
• Ability to locate, gather, and synthesize information.
• Ability to critically assess sources and literature.
• Ability to cite and reference sources and literature appropriately.
• Skills in editorial handling of text.

General Competence

The student will enhance their:

• Analytical skills.
• Capacity for critical reflection.

Learning Methods and Activities

The course includes lectures, demonstrations of historical printed objects, film screenings, written essays with formative supervision, seminar presentations, self-study, discussion groups, and an exam. An optional study trip to Rome, focusing on the classical lettering tradition, is also offered, with participants covering part of the costs. Alternative arrangements are made for students not attending the trip.

Compulsory Assignments

• Seminar with presentation.

Evaluation

The seminar presentation must be approved for the student to sit for the exam. The final assessment of essays is conducted in conjunction with the exam marking at the end of the term. Both the essays and the exam must receive a pass grade for the student to pass the course.

Specific Conditions

Admission to the Bachelor in Graphic Design (BMED) program is required.

Required Previous Knowledge

Admission to the study program Bachelor in Graphic Design (BMED) is necessary.

Course Materials

• Den klassiske epigrafiske skrifttradisjonen i Roma [The classical epigraphical lettering tradition in Rome]. Compendium digitally manufactured by NTNU University Library.
• Philip B. Meggs and Alston W. Purvis. 2016. History of Graphic Design. 6th edition or newer. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons.
• [History of typography]. Compendium digitally manufactured by NTNU University Library.

Supporting literature is listed in a separate course brochure available at the start of the term.

Credit Reductions

The course has academic overlap with:

• IMT2312 (10 credits reduction from Autumn 2019).
• IDG2313 (7.5 credits reduction from Autumn 2025). Credit reduction applies if overlapping courses are taken, with the reduction applied to the course with the lowest grade or the most recently completed course if grades are the same.

Subject Areas

• Architecture- and Design History.
• Design.
• The Humanities.

Examination

The examination arrangement includes an assignment and a written examination.

• Assignment: 45% of the total grade.
• Written examination: 55% of the total grade, lasting 3 hours.

Re-sit Examination

A re-sit school exam is offered in the summer of 2026, with details to be specified later.