VA303 Typography I
VA303 Typography I
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Sep 09, 2025
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Visual Arts and Visual Communications Design
Nejira Mulahmetović
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
Course Typography I, through a series of theory lectures and practical assignments explores the basic ways typography can be utilized. It dissects the primary aspect of the field, deepening it through series of typographic projects. Typography theory learning is intersecting extensively with an understanding of the practical application. This process will enable students to seek for the best design solutions when engaging typography as the main communication and creative tool.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
The Complete Guide to Digital Type; Andy Ellison; Collins Design/Harper Collins 2006
Additional Literature
Designing with type (The essential guide to typography); James Craig/Irene Korol Scala; Watson-Guptill Publications Thinking with Type; Ellen Lupton: Princeton Architectural PressTeaching Methods
Online lectures, online class discussions, practical exercises, screenings, and potentially hybrid classes will be introduced
During the Semester course it will be determined how and when essential printout of assignments will be submitted
Weekly planning might be subject to change if neccessary
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to the course, | disscussion |
| 2 | Typography. Assignment - telling the story | disscussion / Assig. Review |
| 3 | Anatomy of a letter. | disscussion / Assig. Review |
| 4 | Sizes and clasification. Assignment - readability | disscussion / Assig. Review |
| 5 | Logotypes. Logo excercise. | disscussion / Assig. Review |
| 6 | Kerning, tracking, line spacing. | disscussion / Assig. Review |
| 7 | Line length, text in columns and paragraphs, alignment. Paragraph Assignment | disscussion / Assig. Review |
| 8 | MIDTERM EXAM | Exam |
| 9 | Good practices: Selecting fonts, emphasis, sizes, optimum weights. Assignment | disscussion / Assig. Review |
| 10 | Common mistakes. | disscussion / Assig. Review |
| 11 | Hierarchy. Assignment | disscussion / Assig. Review |
| 12 | Position of type on page. | disscussion / Assig. Review |
| 13 | Grid, Single, multi-column, modular. | disscussion / Assig. Review |
| 14 | Final project preparation | disscussion / Assig. Review |
| 15 | FINAL PROJECT PRESENTATION | Exam |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VA303.1 | Course | Tuesday 12:00 - 14:50 | B F1.24 (MAC Studio) | - | - |
| VA303.2 | Course | Friday 09:00 - 11:50 | A F1.18 - Computer Lab | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
Assignments
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
Midterm Project & Theory Test
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture Hours
14 hours ⏳ (14 week × 1 h)
Assignments
80 hours ⏳ (10 week × 8 h)
Lab
14 hours ⏳ (14 week × 1 h)
Mid-term Exam Study
12 hours ⏳ (2 week × 6 h)
Final Project Preparation
30 hours ⏳ (5 week × 6 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [VA303] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Sep 09, 2025 | International University of Sarajevo
Print Syllabus
Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| VA303 | Typography I | 1 | 2 | 6 | Monday, 12.00 - 3.00pm; Friday, 9.00 - 12.00 pm | |||||
| Prerequisite | VA101, VA103, VA211 | It is a prerequisite to | VA415 | |||||||
| Lecturer | Nejira Mulahmetović | Office Hours / Room / Phone | ||||||||
| nmulahmetovic@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | Course Typography I, through a series of theory lectures and practical assignments explores the basic ways typography can be utilized. It dissects the primary aspect of the field, deepening it through series of typographic projects. Typography theory learning is intersecting extensively with an understanding of the practical application. This process will enable students to seek for the best design solutions when engaging typography as the main communication and creative tool. | |||||||||
| Textbook | The Complete Guide to Digital Type; Andy Ellison; Collins Design/Harper Collins 2006 | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
|||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | Online lectures, online class discussions, practical exercises, screenings, and potentially hybrid classes will be introduced. During the Semester course it will be determined how and when essential printout of assignments will be submitted. Weekly planning might be subject to change if neccessary. | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Introduction to the course, | disscussion | ||||||||
| Week 2 | Typography. Assignment - telling the story | disscussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Anatomy of a letter. | disscussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Sizes and clasification. Assignment - readability | disscussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Logotypes. Logo excercise. | disscussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Kerning, tracking, line spacing. | disscussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Line length, text in columns and paragraphs, alignment. Paragraph Assignment | disscussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 8 | MIDTERM EXAM | Exam | ||||||||
| Week 9 | Good practices: Selecting fonts, emphasis, sizes, optimum weights. Assignment | disscussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Common mistakes. | disscussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Hierarchy. Assignment | disscussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Position of type on page. | disscussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 13 | Grid, Single, multi-column, modular. | disscussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Final project preparation | disscussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 15 | FINAL PROJECT PRESENTATION | Exam | ||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 40 | 1, 2, 3, 4 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Assignments | 6 | 40 | 1,2, 3, 4 | Not Allowed | |
| Midterm Project & Theory Test | 1 | 20 | 1, 2, 3, 4 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture Hours | 1 | 14 | 14 | Assignments | 8 | 10 | 80 | |||
| Lab | 1 | 14 | 14 | Mid-term Exam Study | 6 | 2 | 12 | |||
| Final Project Preparation | 6 | 5 | 30 | 0 | ||||||
| 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 19/09/2025 | |||||||||