Typographic Design

The typography programme at Massey University is unique. It not only provides all design students with knowledge and expertise to design competently using type, but a diverse typographic pathway is available for those wishing to study and practice this specialty to the highest possible level. The programme builds knowledge from basic principles, to complex application, to advanced detailing. This expertise can be applied to any text-based form of communication or media. After mastering the preliminary papers, there are options to explore two and three-dimensional environmental typography, hand printing using historic and contemporary technologies and information design for print or screen.

Supporting this specialty are excellent workshop facilities equipped with historic presses, wooden and foundry type, a laser cutter and large format printer 
plotter cutter. During the course, students are provided with opportunities to collaborate with colleagues from other disciplines, contribute to online and local typographic exhibitions of work, and enter national and international competitions. Final year students have the potential to gain typographic recognition through the International Society of Typographic Designers (ISTD) student membership assessment scheme, an internationally recognised benchmark for typographic achievement.

First Year Students across the BFA (Hons) and BDes (Hons) share a core suite of papers in their first year.

Second Year: This year provides you with an understanding of the fundamental principles of designing with type for optimum readability. Typographic terminology, hierarchy, grid systems and application to compositional structure are taught, along with the history of the alphabet and the origins of printing.

Third Year: Here, previously learned knowledge is challenged and extended by designing for a variety of complex formats while conveying a conceptual understanding of content and demonstrating typographic skill. An advanced level of typographic detailing and refinement is practiced at this level.

Fourth Year: During this year, more diverse typographic options are available. These include typography for exhibition, retail or the environment; hand printing using historic and digital technologies; and the design and display of information systems. ISTD briefs can form the basis of a major research project.