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1–Project Description

2–Choose the Focus of Your Collection

Historical/Stylistic Collections:

• Art Deco typography (1920s-1940s posters, advertisements, signage)
• Psychedelic letterforms (1960s-70s concert posters, album covers)
• Constructivist typography (Russian avant-garde, 1920s-30s)
• Victorian ornamental type (19th century advertising, packaging)
• Swiss International Style (1950s-70s rational, grid-based design)
• Grunge typography (1990s deconstructed, layered aesthetics)
• Brutalist web typography (contemporary raw, functional design)

Contextual Collections:

• Movie title cards (opening credits across different eras or genres)
• Book cover typography (specific genre: sci-fi, mystery, romance, etc.)
• Vintage food packaging (cereal boxes, candy wrappers, etc.)
• Protest sign lettering (historical movements)
• Hand-painted storefront signs (specific region or time period)
• Record label typography (Blue Note, Motown, Factory Records, etc.)
• Magazine mastheads (fashion, news, culture publications)
• Sports team logos and wordmarks (evolution over time)
• Public transit signage systems (wayfinding typography)

Technical Collections:

• Blackletter variations across different countries/eras
• Script and cursive styles (formal vs. casual)
• Stencil letterforms (military, shipping, street art)
• Monospaced typefaces in different contexts
• Display types with inline details (striped, outlined, shadowed)
• Condensed vs. extended type families

3–Quantity & Frequency:

• Add at least 5-7 examples per week to your Are.na channel
• By the end of the semester, you should have at least 50 examples minimum

4–Quality Standards:

1. High-quality image (clear, well-lit, properly cropped)
   
   
2. Source citation including:
   • Where you found it (archive name, website, museum, etc.)
   • Original source if known (designer, publication, date)
   • Direct link to the original source when available
     
     
3. Brief description (2-3 sentences) noting:
   • What drew you to this example
   • Specific typographic qualities you observe (weight, style, spacing, etc.)
   • Historical or cultural context when relevant

5–Approved Sources:

• Letterform Archive
• Herb Lubalin Study Center
• Fonts In Use
• Type Archive
• Commercial Type

• Smithsonian Design Museum
• MoMA Collection
• Library of Congress
• V&A Museum
• Rijksmuseum
• Internet Archive
  
• People’s Graphic Design Archive
  

• AIGA Eye on Design
• It's Nice That
• Typographica
  
• Eye Magazine
  

• Designer portfolios and studio websites
• Other design publications (Print, Baseline magazines)
• Foundry specimen books and websites

• Clearly photographed with good lighting
• Properly documented with location and date
• Researched for historical context when possible

6–How to Use Are.na

Setting Up Your Account:

1. Go to are.na
2. Sign up for a free account
3. Choose a username
4. Complete your profile with your name and a brief bio

Creating Your Collection Channel:

1. Click the "+" button in the top right corner
2. Select "New Channel"
3. Name your channel clearly:
   • Format: "Your Name - Collection Focus"
   • Example: "Sarah Chen - Art Deco Typography" or "Marcus Williams - Movie Title Cards"
4. Write a channel description explaining your collection focus and goals
5. Keep your channel Public so it can be viewed and graded

Adding Content to Your Channel:

1. Install the Are.na browser extension for Chrome or Firefox
2. When you find an image online, click the extension icon
3. Select your collection channel
4. Add a title and description with source information

1. Save image to your computer (right-click > Save Image As)
2. In your Are.na channel, click "Add block"
3. Select "Upload" and choose your image
4. Add title, description, and source link

1. In your channel, click "Add block"
2. Select "Link" and paste the URL
3. Are.na will automatically pull in the image and information
4. Add additional context in the description

Organizing Your Collection:

• Add descriptive titles to each block
• Use the description field for your observations and citations
• Tag related items using connections (link blocks that share qualities)
• Consider creating sub-channels if your collection develops distinct categories
• You can drag blocks to reorder them as your thinking evolves

Citation Format:

For each item, include in the description:

Example:

7–Evaluation Criteria:

• Regular weekly additions throughout the semester
• Meeting minimum quantity requirements

• Thoughtful selection of examples that demonstrate understanding of your chosen focus
• Clear visual relationships between items
• Progression of your eye and understanding over time

• Proper source citations for all items
• Thoughtful observations in descriptions
• High-quality images

• Ability to identify and articulate typographic qualities
• Understanding of historical/cultural context
• Development of a critical eye
  
  

8–Important Dates

9–Tips for Success

• Be consistent: Set aside 30-60 minutes each week to add to your collection
  
  
• Go deep, not wide: A focused collection with thoughtful observations is better than a scattered one
  
  
• Follow connections: When you find one great example, look for related work
  
  
• Read the descriptions: Many archives include excellent historical context
  
  
• Save everything: If something catches your eye, save it—you can always remove it later
  
  
• Look for relationships: How do examples relate to each other? What patterns emerge?
  
  
• Be curious: Let your collection guide you toward new discoveries and make a note of what you are curious about
  
  

Questions?