“In a well-made book . . . no matter how many thousands of lines and pages, the letters are alive. They dance in their seats. Sometimes they rise and dance in the margins and aisles.” ―Robert Bringhurst, The Elements of Typographic Style

From collections of images and essays to novels and catalogues, books are versatile and enduring vessels for a wide range of content. Through lectures, critiques, and weekly assignments, this class will review a variety of book formats and examine ways content can be reflected through the designer’s choice of structure, typography, and materials. We’ll look at the anatomy of the book, discussing ways that grids, typefaces, and layout shape the space, color, and flavor of the page and see how details like an elegant half-title, a well-placed page number, and an eye-catching spine work together to create unique and notable publications.

Anyone with a background in art or design, a serious curiosity about gaining insight and an approach to book design is encouraged to sign up.