This course explores typographic developments in the West through the lens of graphic design history. There will be a focus on methods, materials, and makers. As we travel through time together, students will learn about both the process and people behind the creation of typography. Our focus begins in the mid-fifteenth century with the birth of printing with moveable metal type and our journey will conclude with the current era of digital fonts. Throughout the semester, the class will visit museums and printing presses to interact with historic examples of typography. Additionally, the course concentrates on craft so that students can have an opportunity to learn stone-carving, calligraphy, letter-press printing, and digital type-setting as they relate to historic typographic examples. Aside from our historical exploration, students will complete design exercises related to each week’s time period, topics, and typefaces.