Project Summary
Typography isn’t just picking a “cool” font, it’s the backbone of design. Good type can make your work look professional and polished, while bad type choices can ruin it faster than you can say “Comic Sans.” In Chapters 9–12 of The Non-Designer’s Design Book, Robin Williams breaks down the essentials of typography in a way that will change how you see type forever.
Your mission is to create a 10-slide Google Slides presentation that explains and demonstrates the principles of typography. Just like before, no outside images are allowed. You’ll rely only on text, shapes, layout, and color to prove your understanding of type hierarchy, contrast, alignment, spacing, and how fonts carry personality. By the end, you should not only know how to talk about typography, but also how to use it like a pro.
Creative Focus
This project forces you to get intimate with type. You’ll be exploring how font families work, why serif and sans-serif choices matter, how spacing (kerning, tracking, leading) changes readability, and how hierarchy directs the reader’s eye. With no photos to hide behind, your typography will be front and center, meaning every decision counts.
Typography skills are the bread and butter of graphic designers, UI/UX designers, advertising creatives, and brand specialists. Think about the instantly recognizable look of Vogue’s masthead, or the clean sans-serif typography behind modern app interfaces. Great type isn’t decoration, it’s communication. If you can master this, you’ll be designing with the same awareness that professionals use every day.
Student Showcase
Student Showcase Example: Alina Sagitova
Project Requirements
- Final Deliverable:
- A 10-slide Google Slides presentation.
- Each slide contains exactly one sentence of text (short, intentional, and well-designed).
- All visuals must be built with type, color, shapes, and layout. No external images allowed.
- Slide Structure:
- 1 Title Slide
- 8 Concept Slides covering color theory topics such as:
- Serif vs. sans-serif usage
- Type hierarchy and emphasis
- Spacing (kerning, tracking, leading)
- Type alignment and grids
- Combining fonts effectively (what works, what doesn’t)
- How typography carries tone and voice
- 1 Closing Slide
- WordPress Portfolio Requirements:
- Embed the finished Google Slides presentation in your portfolio post.
- Include at least 1 Project Type.
- Add 5–10 Tags (examples: typography, fonts, kerning, leading, tracking, sans serif, serif, hierarchy, design presentation, portfolio project).
- A unique Featured Image
- Write a project explanation (250–350 words) that covers:
- How you used type as the primary visual element.
- Which typography principles were most challenging or eye-opening.
- Why understanding typography is essential for good design.
Project Grading Rubric
This project is a test of understanding both the principles of design, but your knowledge of common online presentation software. You will be awarded points for your project based on the following criteria as listed below.
| Criteria | Description | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Slide Content | 10 slides total, each with one clear, intentional sentence. | 20 pts |
| Typography Usage | Strong, creative, and intentional use of type families, sizes, and styles. | 20 pts |
| Design Principles | Clear evidence of hierarchy, alignment, spacing, and balance. | 20 pts |
| Portfolio Integration | Properly embedded in WordPress with tags, featured image, and written explanation. | 10 pts |
| Professionalism | Slides are cohesive, clean, and free of formatting issues. | 20 pts |
| Communication | Typography clearly conveys the intended concept or emotion. | 10 pts |
| Total | 100 pts |
OCP & Standard Alignments
02.01 – Apply knowledge of design elements and principles. …because typography is one of the most fundamental elements of visual design.
02.04 – Demonstrate knowledge of composition. …because text alignment, spacing, and hierarchy are key to effective layouts.
05.01 – Demonstrate proficiency in advanced design. …because using typography as a visual tool requires professional-level decision-making.
05.04 – Demonstrate proficiency in using fonts for advanced design. …because choosing, pairing, and styling fonts is the focus of this project.
04.01 – Use multimedia terminology and concepts to create presentations. …because correct design vocabulary (kerning, leading, etc.) must be applied.
04.03 – Create a digital portfolio to showcase multimedia projects. …because the finished presentation demonstrates your typography skills in a professional format.
Digital Media & Multimedia Design 