course-details-portlet

IDG2313

History of Typography

Lessons are not given in the academic year 2025/2026

Credits 7.5
Level Intermediate course, level II
Course start Autumn
Duration 1 semester
Language of instruction Norwegian
Location Gjøvik

About

About the course

Course content

The history of letterforms in a technological and societal perspective, with a special emphasis on the classical Roman lettering tradition.

The history of type and typography in a technological and societal perspective, with a special emphasis on innovations and developments in type design and typography in the 19th century.

Modern graphic design in a technological and societal perspective, with a special emphasis on the «new typography» of the inter-war period and significant developments in postwar graphic design.

Learning outcome

Knowledge

  • The student can explain major lines of development and central issues in letterform history, type history, typographic history and the history of modern graphic design
  • The student can demonstrate a more in-depth knowledge about a limited number of course topics

Skills

The student will through process-oriented essay writing, based on formative evaluation (for this course as for several other courses in the study programme), in an incremental manner have improved:

  • her/his writing skills
  • her/his ability to locate, gather and synthesise information
  • her/his ability to critically assess sources and literature
  • her/his ability to cite and reference sources and literature appropriately
  • her/his skills in editorial handling of text

General competence

The student has improved:

  • her/his analytical skills
  • her/his capacity for critical reflection

Learning methods and activities

Lectures, demonstrations of historical printed objects typical of their time, film screening, one written essay with formative supervision, one seminar presentation with handout, self study, discussion groups, exam. As well as a non-obligatory study trip («The classical lettering tradition in Rome»), of which participating students will have to pay for part of the costs. Students who do not take part in the study trip are offered adequate alternative arrangements.

Compulsory assignments

  • Seminar with presentation

Further on evaluation

The seminar presentation (including the seminar handout) will have to be approved for being allowed to sit for the exam. A passed compulsory assignment is valid for two years. Final summative assessment of the essay is carried out in conjunction with marking the exam at the end of term. The essay and the exam must both receive a pass grade in order for the candidate to be awarded a pass for the course.

Postponed examinations are usually scheduled for the next regular exam period.

Improving the grade by taking the whole course voluntarily again is possible, but then the candidate must both write the essay and retake the written exam.

Specific conditions

Admission to a programme of study is required:
Graphic Design (BMED)

Required previous knowledge

Requires admission to the study programme Bachelor in Graphic Design (BMED)

Course materials

  • Den klassiske skrifttradisjonen i Roma [The classical lettering tradition in Rome]. Compendium digitally manufactured by NTNU University Library (available via Blackboard)
  • Eskilson, Stephen J. 2019. Graphic design: a history. 3rd ed. (or newer). London: Laurence King.

Supporting literature:

  • Suggestions for supplemental literature are listed in a separate course brochure, available in Blackboard at the start of term.

Credit reductions

Course code Reduction From
IDG2312 7.5 sp Autumn 2025
This course has academic overlap with the course in the table above. If you take overlapping courses, you will receive a credit reduction in the course where you have the lowest grade. If the grades are the same, the reduction will be applied to the course completed most recently.

Subject areas

  • Architecture- and Design History
  • Design
  • The Humanities

Contact information

Course coordinator

Department with academic responsibility

Department of Design

Examination

Examination