The Master's Degree in Typographic Creation provides you with the tools and advanced knowledge necessary to delve into the representation of language and the plastic nature of the letter. The programme proposes the learning of both analogue and digital techniques, with which you will experiment with typography as a writing system, using non-conventional and speculative methodologies.

→ From 3 October 2022 to 14 July 2023.
→ From Monday to Tuesday, from 4 pm to 8 pm
→ Classroom-based - 60 ECTS
→ 8.880 €
→ REGISTRATION

The course approaches form, the drawing of alphabets and the treatment of typography from two complementary aspects. On the one hand, work is done on digital typography, code and programming for the formalisation of ideas and concepts. At the same time, we also work with typography as a physical and material element, in its most analogue dimension.

Digital and analogue have often been seen as two concepts of antagonistic nature. The Master in Typographic Creation breaks with this dialectic and generates a framework that allows traffic between these two worlds, understanding code and matter in typography as two sides of the same reality.

The programme also offers an approach to the multicultural dimension of typography and language. We work on the different existing writing systems and how they have shaped, and continue to shape, our visual landscape.

From knowledge of calligraphic writing and vector drawing to programming language, an understanding of the concept of typography beyond conventions is obtained, learning to mix knowledge, languages and visual techniques in a creative and innovative way in the development of typographic projects.

This master's degree contains a postgraduate diploma that can also be taken independently:

Postgraduate Diploma in Digital Typography (30 ECTS)

Programme

BLOCK 1: WRITING AND DRAWING (15 ECTS)

This is a mainly practical block, where students work on calligraphic writing and lettering. Calligraphic practice is oriented towards the understanding of the construction of handwriting as a written visual code, not only as training for specialised calligraphers. Lettering provides knowledge of the techniques of sketching and drawing letters for commercial use and as a stepping stone to digitisation and type design. Vectorisation techniques in digital drawing and font editing programs are introduced.

Basic calligraphy. Introduction to calligraphic writing in the styles that make up our current capital and small letters, based on the study and practice of the Roman and Caroline letters.
Advanced calligraphy: Further study of calligraphy by learning new styles of lettering, such as Gothic, Italic and Neuland, with the aim of applying the results to different types of professional compositions.
Basic lettering. Application of different drawing techniques, lettering, as well as an introduction to vector drawing.
Advanced lettering. Advanced techniques in brush lettering, as well as in the subsequent digitalisation of the letters drawn and the application of movement.

BLOCK 2: TYPOGRAPHY AND MULTICULTURALITY (6 ECTS)

This second block provides contents of a more theoretical nature that deepen the knowledge of the letter as a sign and as a representation of language. A study and analysis is made of the contexts in which the letter is used as a tool for communication. Understanding alphabets as systems of representation in a multicultural and diverse world.

Typographic morphology. Anatomy and study of the letter. Classifications and advanced typographic concepts.
Typography, language and multiculturalism. The cross-cultural type design concept. Letter and language. Introduction to other visual systems and codes of language representation, such as Chinese or Arabic with their corresponding written traditions.
Evolution of handwriting. Handwriting and typography. The evolution of letterforms: from Gutenberg to variable fonts and webfonts.
Critical analysis of trends. A critical approach to the different uses of handwriting from the avant-garde period to augmented reality (Moholy-Nagy, Brossa, Plensa, Kruger, Punk, David Carson, Emigro...).

BLOCK 3: ANALOGUE TECHNOLOGY (12 ECTS)

This block covers the different techniques applied to analogue typographic creation, based on experimentation with analogue and manual techniques. It explores the letter as an expressive, artistic and communicative resource, applying typography to space and volume. The project-based learning methodology is used, where students work with the different tools based on the development of their own projects.

Typographic experimentation with analogue techniques. The letter as an expressive resource. The letter as an image. Expressive typography by means of analogue and manual techniques: letterpress, risography, serigraphy...
Typography. The letter as image and matter. Application of the letter to space, artistic writing, application of volume and matter to the letter as an artistic and communicative expression.

BLOCK 4: DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY (12 ECTS)

This block covers the different techniques applied to digital typographic creation, such as programming languages, visual representation software and animation. The project-based learning methodology is used, where students work with the different tools through the development of their own projects.

Digital font design. Introduction to digital font editing and production tools. Production of digital fonts. OpenType fonts and variable fonts. Introduction to OpenType, Python and Drawbot programming to create tools for typographic application.
Applied programming: 2D, 3D and processing. Kinetic typography. The letter in movement. Generative typography and experimentation. Programming languages and 2D, 3D representation.

BLOCK 5: CASE STUDIES (6 ECTS)

The programme is complemented by the presentation of different case studies by guest lecturers and professionals of high standing and recognition. These studies will provide an approach to professional praxis from different methodologies.

FINAL MASTER'S DEGREE PROJECT (9 ECTS)

The final master's degree project offers the necessary resources for an autonomous design work that will be based on the independent concerns and wills linked to each student. This is the culmination of the learning process developed throughout the course, the objective being the application of the knowledge acquired. It allows the student to make a synthesis and deploy the interrelationships between the areas of knowledge. Self-sufficiency, research capacity, selection of specific themes and development of appropriate methodologies are the aspects to be assessed, understanding that the field of action is the practice of design.

The TFM is carried out by combining group classes, with the aim of sharing content provided by the different tutors and the research carried out by the students, with individual tutorials with tutors who are experts in the chosen subject. Each student has their own tutor who monitors their research project. The combination of both methodologies allows the writing of the TFM to progress on the basis of the multiple contributions made in the group sessions and seminars.