Description

In this invaluable book, Karen Cheng explains the processes behind creating and designing type, one of the most important tools of graphic design. She addresses issues of structure, optical compensation, and legibility, with special emphasis given to the often-overlooked relationships between letters and shapes in font design. In this second edition, students and professional graphic designers alike will benefit from an expanded discussion of the creative practice of designing type—what designers need to consider, their rationale, and issues of accessibility—in the context of contemporary processes for the digital age.

Illustrated with more than 400 diagrams that demonstrate visual principles and letter construction, ranging from informal progress sketches to final type designs and diagrams, this essential guide analyzes a wide range of classic and modern typefaces, including those from many premier type foundries. Cheng’s text covers the history of type, the primary systems of typeface classification, the parts of a letter, and the effects of new technology on design methodology, among many other key topics.

About The Author

Karen Cheng is Professor of Visual Communication Design in the University of Washington School of Art, Art History and Design, where she has taught since 1997. She received her Master’s Degree in Design from the University of Cincinnati’s College of Design, Art, Architecture and Planning, where she studied type design with graphic design faculty member Heinz Schenker, a graduate of the Basel School of Design in Switzerland. At the University of Washington, Karen’s research activities span both authored publications as well as creative work. She is the author of Designing Type, a book described in reviews as “indispensable for anyone who designs type” and “a very well done and handsome book… an invaluable reference destined to be a classic in the field.” The first edition of Designing Type was published by Yale University Press in 2006, and has since been translated into German, French, Spanish, Chinese and Korea. Appealing to both educators and practitioners, it was immediately and very positively received as a seminal work in the field, becoming a required course textbook at several universities. As a practicing designer, Karen focuses on information design—both the design of data/information graphics, and the design of forms, maps and other functional communications. Her design work has received numerous national and international awards, including a nomination for a US National Design Award in 2011.

Biography source: Amazon