Abstract:

In this study, an approach of teaching typography, in a sense of understanding the dimensions of the subject and finding out the real-world relations is examined in two different programme. The first program is the teaching in a Graphic Design Program in Fine Arts Faculty of Anadolu University which is a public university and the other one is a Visual Arts and Visual Communication Design Program in the Communication Faculty of Bahcesehir University, as a foundation base university. The diversity becomes a matter of issue when the variable backgrounds of the students are considered.

Besides the formal aspects of typography put on the curriculum, the study concentrated on a project that encourage students to explore the transmission of typography beyond the meaning of the written word.
In a lifetime bilions of letters and milions of words can be seen, without noticing the typefaces consciously.

Apart from the meaning of the word, type refers to different characteristics, styles, periods, places and also emotions. People tend to use every kind of experience to be able to communicate, even if they are not aware doing. The semantic of typography helps to identify and answer the question "what kind?" without the need for a further investigation.

Type is an important persuader. It attracts attention, sets the style and tone of a document, colors how readers interpret the words and defines the feeling of the page usually without the reader recognizing a particular typeface.

Type, as the trace of spoken word on paper or screen, is not only for keeping the knowledge, but also for giving the message in a more effective way when designed by a designer. A specific style and personality can be given and a visual association can be created by choosing the right type character. So it can be said that “type is your personality on paper.”

Basing on a lecture of this spesific topic, an exercise was given to students to strenghen the idea of improving the power of type when choosen conciously. Each student are asked to find the personality of the given typeface as a portrait by using photography, to match typefaces with actual faces.

The visual outcomes, similarities and dissimilarities of the portraits of the given typefaces are discussed in order to find out the representational intensity of the typefaces have, and the recognition of the typefaces by the students are examined.

Keywords:

Typefaces, teaching typography, characters.