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Linkedin Learning Summary: Graphic Design Foundations

In the course Graphic Design Foundations: Typography, the instructor Ina Saltz explained the basic principles of typography in graphic design. These basic principles apply to written languages other than English around the world. Her work is focused on western publications, but she does make connections to global influences in western type.

One connection is through the history of type. The English alphabet we use today is Latin in origin. In contrast, we use an Arabic numbering system. Other languages, like Spanish, that use similar Latin letterings could use organizing principles like ascenders and descenders to divide and measure letters. Languages that do not use letters in their written forms, like Japanese, cannot benefit from this. Design techniques, like kerning, can still be used to increase the legibility and readability of their characters. 

The connection continues through today. The designer Donald Partyka drew inspiration for a modern font from the work of Jaroslav Benda. Benda was a Czech designer and painter who created published and unpublished typefaces. Partyka’s method of creating the font was similar to that of an artist. First he sketched the design out with a few letters, rendered those letters digitally, then completed the rest of the letters.