book arts

GD212 Typography I 3 credits
An intensive introduction to the fundamentals of the manipulation and management of type, from individual letterforms to large bodies of textual information, for digital and paper platforms. Attention to formal, technological, rhetorical, and historical issues. While the focus is on page layout and vector graphics programs, the school's letterpress facilities may also be employed.
Prerequisites:
Fulfills: Typography I Requirement (Graphic Design students); Studio Elective

GD260 Letterpress Printing I 3 credits
An introduction to the process of letterpress printing with an eye to building books. Emphasis on the narrative and conceptual potentials of letterpress and simple (single section pamphlet, accordion and double-fan adhesive) binding structures. Students work through setting type; proper use of all of the different presses in the College's letterpress shop; registration and imposition; polymer plates; study of the history of metal and wood type. Projects include a group broadside, individual (announcement or business) cards, one and multicolor posters, and small pamphlets. Individual and more complex projects may be possible if time allows. Field trip to the Museum of Printing History in North Andover.
Prerequisites: Drawing I, 2-D Design and LTT Elective; or Permission of Instructor
Fulfills: Graphic Design Elective (Graphic Design students); Studio Elective

GD265 Bookbinding I 3 credits
This course is focused around the book as structure, object and information. In the first half of the semester, students create models of basic binding structures (focusing mostly on the codex structure) — one model per week. Homework and projects during this time involve creating content filled books based on the structure leaned during the week. These books/homework projects serve as not only practice in binding, but also as "sketches" of production of ideas that could be expanded on or refined in the projects later in the semester. Structures covered include link stitch, long stitch, Coptic, Japanese style and case bindings, as well as other structures for one and multiple signatures; different approaches to the "cover" are also addressed. Throughout, use and choice of materials, adhesives and tools are emphasized. Students provide content, which for those who have taken Elements 1 may be produced through letterpress printing. In the second half, students work on the individual projects based on structures learned up to that point. Field trip to working print shops and binderies.
Prerequisites: Drawing I, 2-D Design and LTT Elective; or Permission of Instructor
Fulfills: Graphic Design Elective (Graphic Design students); Studio Elective

GD360 Letterpress Printing II 3 credits
This course is designed to build on the basic skills developed in Letterpress Printing 1. It emphasizes book production (rather than broadsides and posters); projects involving greater complexity and requiring more planning and attention to detail; and experimentation. The course addresses: further experience with setting text-weight type; practical work with polymer plates, including their production and ordering; editioning; multi-color and multi-pass printing; and use of type as a visual element (type, rules and sorts as ornament and pattern). The course is enriched by examination of examples and by field trips.
Prerequisites: Letterpress Printing I
Fulfills: Graphic Design Elective (Graphic Design students); 300-level Studio Elective

GD365 Bookbinding II 3 credits
This course is designed to build on the basic skills and knowledge developed in Bookbinding 1. Students will explore more involved and complex structural models, including album structures, long-stitch and exposed spine structures, and boxes and enclosures. Other issues to be addressed include edition binding, and correlation of content, structure and material. The course is enriched by the examination of examples, attention to the history of artists’ books, and field trips.
Prerequisites: Bookbinding I
Fulfills: Graphic Design Elective (Graphic Design students); 300-level Studio Elective

CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENTS

BFA degree total credits: 120

Foundation Studio Base
16 credits total

  • Drawing I, 3cr
  • Painting, Color & Light, 3cr
  • 2D Design, 3cr
  • 3D Design, 3cr
  • LTT elective, 3cr
  • Studio Forum, 1cr

Studio Concentration
62 credits total

  • core (19cr required)
  • GD260 Letterpress 1, 3cr
  • GD265 Bookbinding 1, 3cr
  • GD360 Letterpress 2, 3cr
  • GD365 Bookbinding 2, 3cr
  • GD212 Typography 1, 3cr
  • Materiality of Reading and the Book*, 1cr
  • Internship, 3cr

electives and capstone (43 credits total)

Student selects from courses in (1) structure, material; (2) typography; and (3) content areas, in consultation with advisor. These courses, plus the agreed-upon capstone experience, are to yield a total of 43 credits.

Of the total 43 credits, 9 credits must be 300 level courses.

Capstone 3-12 credits, selected from Senior Fine Arts, Illustration and Design Seminar; and Senior Illustration Projects

Liberal Arts
42 credits total

  • Art History I, 3cr
  • Art History II, 3cr
  • English Composition I, 3cr
  • English Composition II, 3cr
  • Art since 1945, 3cr
  • Humanities I, 3cr
  • Humanities II, 3cr
  • Social Science core, 3cr
  • Science Requirement, 3cr
  • Humanities elective, 3cr
  • Social Science elective, 3cr
  • Art History elective, 3cr
  • Liberal Arts electives, 6cr