Essential Skills for Designers - Working with Type from Udemy

The aim of this course is to teach you how to work with type at the exact same standard as a creative professional. We will be working with type in Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign as well as learning some essential theory knowledge for this topic.

Working with type in Graphic Design is essential. Visual communication relies mainly on the combination of images and text. In a good design typography is an integral part of the composition as a whole and in many cases the whole design is based around a creative use of typography.

A closer look at what you will learn:

The course will start by providing you with some useful resources for creative professionals, like design terms to ensure you are familiar with, useful websites to bookmark and a way to get to grips with keyboard shortcuts. Which can half your working time.
Then we will jump right in to learning about the definition of a font, the different types or classifications of fonts, how to choose the right font when working on a projects and loads more.
Next we will move onto working with text, adding type to compositions, changing colours, formatting/editing existing text so it looks great and pick up some time saving shortcuts.
The final chapter is the longest and most advanced. Learn about working with body copy, how to apply text wrap, add drop caps, customise fonts and loads more.

This course includes:

18 Videos
2 Hours learning content
2 Downloadable resources

Every Graphic Designer in the creative industry handles type on a day to day basis. It’s a pretty big topic, with plenty to get your head around. If you want to learn all about it this course is the right place to be.

Who will find it useful:

Anyone who is aspiring to become a professional Graphic Designer and wants to master essential skills of the trade.
Those particularly interested in Editorial Design.
Creatives who want to learn more about working with type.
Designers looking to build on their current creative skill set.

No need for any previous experience in the topic but basic knowledge of InDesign will be very useful.

The practises learnt in this course can be applied to any project which uses type in the future and can help to develop a strong understanding of this complex subject.

Martin is an Adobe Certified Instructor who has years of experience teaching in both and online in classroom environments. He has also worked professionally in the creative industry for over 10 years on a wide range of projects. The examples and techniques used have been developed over this time to deliver the most efficient and enjoyable approach to teaching and learning.

Feel inspired to start learning, enroll and let’s get going.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Become a whiz at using type in photoshop, illustrator and indesign
Learning about typography
Learn how to work with fonts

Formatting text as a professional
Achieve creative effects with text

Become a whiz at using type in photoshop, illustrator and indesign
Learning about typography
Learn how to work with fonts
Formatting text as a professional
Achieve creative effects with text

Syllabus

Useful Resources for Creative Professionals

Use this checklist to tick off the courses you finished from Yes I’m a Designer and track your progress becoming a creative professional!

A collection of key terms and definitions used by Creative Professionals. Learn more about them from Yes I’m a Designer courses!

A collection of useful websites and resources for designers.

A collection of most commonly used keyboard shortcuts for designers.

Introduction to Typography

Introduction

Examples of use of type

What is a font?

Types of fonts

Learn to be able to differentiate Serif and Sans Serif fonts.

How to choose a font?

Answer these questions to practice what you learnt in this section.

Adding and editing type

Typing

Adding type

Choosing and changing color

Editing type and useful keyboard shortcuts

Advanced type techniques

Text frames and Threading

Text frame options

Text warp

Type on a path

Type inside an object

Drop caps

Customize fonts

Wrap text around an object

Character and Paragraph styles

Conclusion

Certificate

What's next?

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Provides a strong foundation in typography, which is an essential skill for graphic designers and visual communicators who want to create effective designs

Covers Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, which are industry-standard tools for graphic design and are essential for creating professional-quality work

Includes downloadable resources, such as design terms, useful websites, and keyboard shortcuts, which can help learners quickly improve their workflow and efficiency

Basic knowledge of InDesign will be very useful, which suggests that learners without this background may need to acquire it separately to fully benefit

Teaches character and paragraph styles, which are essential for maintaining consistency and efficiency when working with large amounts of text in design projects

Explores advanced techniques like text wrap, drop caps, and customizing fonts, which are useful for creating visually appealing and engaging editorial designs

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Essential Skills for Designers - Working with Type with these activities:

Review Font Classifications

Show steps

Reinforce your understanding of different font classifications like Serif, Sans Serif, Script, and Decorative fonts to make informed decisions when selecting fonts for design projects.

Browse courses on Fonts

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Study the characteristics of each font classification.
Identify examples of each font classification in everyday designs.
Practice differentiating between Serif and Sans Serif fonts.

Create a Font Mood Board

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Develop your eye for typography by creating a mood board that showcases different fonts and their associated moods and emotions.

Show steps

Gather images and words that evoke specific moods.
Select fonts that complement those moods.
Arrange the fonts and images on a mood board.

Read 'The Elements of Typographic Style'

Show steps

Gain a comprehensive understanding of typographic principles and best practices by studying a classic text on the subject.

View Palatino on Amazon

Show steps

Read the chapters on microtypography and macrotypography.
Take notes on key concepts and principles.
Apply the principles to your own design projects.

Four other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all seven activities

Font Pairing Exercises

Show steps

Improve your ability to select harmonious font pairings by practicing font pairing exercises using online resources or design software.

Show steps

Find online font pairing generators or resources.
Experiment with different font combinations.
Analyze why certain pairings work well together.

Read 'Just My Type'

Show steps

Explore the cultural and historical context of typography to gain a broader perspective on its role in design and communication.

View Comic Sans: The Biography of a Typeface (The... on Amazon

Show steps

Read chapters focusing on the history of specific fonts.
Consider how fonts reflect cultural trends and values.
Reflect on how your perception of fonts has changed.

Typography Case Study Analysis

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Deepen your understanding of typography by analyzing real-world examples of effective and ineffective typography in design projects.

Show steps

Select several design projects with prominent typography.
Analyze the font choices, layout, and overall typographic design.
Write a report summarizing your findings and recommendations.

Design a Typographic Poster

Show steps

Apply your knowledge of typography to create a visually appealing and effective typographic poster that communicates a specific message.

Show steps

Choose a theme or message for your poster.
Select appropriate fonts and create a layout.
Refine your design and get feedback.
Finalize your poster and share it online.

Career center

Learners who complete Essential Skills for Designers - Working with Type will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Graphic designer

A Graphic Designer relies on the interplay of text and images, and this course on working with type is highly relevant to this profession. Graphic designers create visual concepts to communicate ideas, and typography is a core tool to achieve this. This course provides in-depth training on using type in Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, which are essential tools for this career path. The course's focus on font selection, text formatting, and advanced type techniques will translate directly into a designer's ability to create impactful visuals. Those looking to become a Graphic Designer should take this course in particular, as it is a core component of this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Graphic designer

Editorial Designer

Editorial Designers create layouts for magazines, books, and other publications, and this course is highly relevant to that work. Typography is central to the field of editorial design, as it involves the art of arranging type to meet the demands of visual communication. This course's curriculum, covering font selection, formatting, and advanced techniques like text wrap and drop caps, directly applies to this work. Those aspiring to be an Editorial Designer would benefit greatly from this course which was designed to teach the required skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Editorial Designer

Web Designer

Web Designers create the look and feel of websites, and a great deal of their design involves typography. This course can help web designers understand how to use fonts effectively and how to use text to create a positive user experience for their audiences. Web designers will benefit from learning how to format text, add type to compositions, and utilize time saving shortcuts in this course, all of which are important to website design. A Web Designer should take this course as it emphasizes the importance of working with type in a professional setting.

See salaries and explore the career path for Web Designer

Publication Designer

Publication Designers are responsible for the layout and design of magazines, books, and newspapers. This course focusing on working with type can be directly applied to this role. Type is essential to publication design. This course helps build a strong understanding of how to use type in a professional way. Publication designers who take this course in particular will learn how to work with body copy, apply text wrap, add drop caps, and customize fonts.

See salaries and explore the career path for Publication Designer

Brand Designer

Brand Designers create visual identities for companies, and this course on working with type is especially relevant to this area. The effective use of typography is core to brand design. Typography makes up a brand's visual language and can convey the personality and tone of a brand. By covering font selection, text formatting, and advanced type techniques like customizing fonts, this course provides a strong foundation for a Brand Designer. Taking this course will help a brand designer greatly in this particular career path that emphasizes creative use of type.

See salaries and explore the career path for Brand Designer

Layout Artist

Layout Artists create the arrangement of elements on a page or screen, and typography is a key component of this field. This course helps to build a strong understanding of how to use type most effectively. The course's focus on formatting text, advanced techniques like text wrap and drop caps, assists Layout Artists in their work. A future Layout Artist, whose work contains typography, should take this course, as it will strengthen proficiency in this area.

See salaries and explore the career path for Layout Artist

Visual Designer

Visual Designers focus on the overall look and feel of a design, and typography is crucial to that process. This course helps visual designers to build a strong understanding of how to use type effectively. The course covers font selection, text formatting and creative effects using programs such as Photoshop and Illustrator. Visual designers should consider this course as it reinforces the importance of type in their field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Visual Designer

Marketing Designer

A Marketing Designer creates visual content for marketing campaigns, and this course on working with type may be useful in this field. Marketing designers use type to communicate brand messages, so they need to understand how to properly select fonts and format text. The course curriculum, covering font selection, and text formatting in programs like Photoshop and Illustrator, will be beneficial to a Marketing Designer. For anyone pursuing this particular field, taking this course may help them reach their goals in a competitive industry.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Designer

User Interface Designer

User interface designers create the interfaces and controls that users interact with on websites or apps. This course on working with type may be useful to this career. Effective typography greatly impacts user experience and is a key consideration for user interface design. This course provides specific skills such as how to choose fonts, format text and use advanced techniques. A User Interface Designer can gain greater understanding of typography through this course. They should consider this course if they want to improve this skill which is crucial to user interface design.

See salaries and explore the career path for User Interface Designer

Art Director

An Art Director is responsible for the overall visual style and image of a project. They determine the look and feel of graphic design projects, including typography. This course may help future Art Directors learn the principles of typography and how to effectively use it within their projects, this course provides guidance on how to work with fonts, format text and apply advanced text techniques. A future Art Director should take this course as it provides a necessary foundational knowledge in typography and graphic design software.

See salaries and explore the career path for Art Director

Motion Graphic Designer

Motion Graphic Designers create animated graphics for videos and other digital media. This course may be helpful for this role when including type into their projects. By teaching how to use text effectively in design, this course can help Motion Graphic Designers learn how to use type in visual storytelling. The course curriculum, including font selection, formatting, and advanced type techniques, is relevant to creating effective motion graphics. A Motion Graphic Designer should consider this course when they need to improve their understanding of type.

See salaries and explore the career path for Motion Graphic Designer

Creative Director

A Creative Director oversees the visual aspects of a project, and this course may be useful in their career development. While not hands on, a Creative Director must understand how to use type effectively. This course provides an overview of how to work with fonts, including font selection, formatting and creative effects. A Creative Director should consider this course to have a better informed overview of their team's design process.

See salaries and explore the career path for Creative Director

Illustrator

An Illustrator is a visual artist who creates graphics designed to communicate a message. An Illustrator can use typography in their work and so this course may prove useful to them. The course introduces how to learn to work with type, formatting, and creative effects in Photoshop and Illustrator. The Illustrator who wishes to incorporate type into their work can learn more about this topic by taking this course.

See salaries and explore the career path for Illustrator

Digital Marketing Specialist

Digital marketing specialists often work with content that includes type. This course may be helpful to this role in order to learn how this skill impacts design. This course introduces how to select the right fonts, edit type and apply advanced type techniques. A Digital Marketing Specialist may find this course helpful if they work with design.

See salaries and explore the career path for Digital Marketing Specialist

Production Artist

Production artists prepare files for printing, whether physical or digital. This role might make use of type skills and so this course may be useful. This course introduces the basics of how to work with type in a professional environment. The course covers font selection, editing and formatting, and advanced type techniques. Production artists may consider taking this course as they need to be familiar with all aspects of design.

See salaries and explore the career path for Production Artist

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Essential Skills for Designers - Working with Type.

Palatino

Save

Is considered the bible of typography. It covers everything from the history of type to the practical application of typographic principles. It valuable resource for understanding the nuances of typography and applying them effectively in design projects. This book provides a deeper understanding of the principles discussed in the course.

Comic Sans: The Biography of a Typeface (The ABC of...

Save

Explores the cultural and historical significance of various fonts. It provides a fascinating look at how fonts influence our perceptions and emotions. While not a technical manual, it offers valuable insights into the psychology of typography and its impact on design. This book is more valuable as additional reading than as a current reference.

Comic Sans: The Biography of a Typeface (The ABC of...

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Essential Skills for Designers - Working with Type

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