Exercise

Exercise 7: Text Texture
(Conference Typography Study)






Wei Huang, Total Control – 'Laughing at the System', 2015


Assigned: Class 15 (October 22)
Due: Class 16 (October 27)

Learning Goals

Students experiment with typography as texture and pattern while developing type choices specifically for their Conference Project, building skills in tracking, leading, and text composition within grid systems.

Instructions

Create a Conference Theme Typography Study using Adobe InDesign to explore textural possibilities for your Conference Poster project:

Setup:
  • New document: 10 inches × 10 inches, 0.5 inch margins
  • Create a Parent Page grid: Layout→Create Guides for systematic text experiments
  • Focus on your Conference theme throughout

Content:
  • Using 3-5 different typefaces, create a composition exploring texture through typography
  • Experiment with tracking, leading, and text justification
  • Consider how different weights (condensed/expanded) create different textural effects
  • Use Adobe Fonts to expand beyond default system fonts
  • Keep composition black and white
  • This directly informs your Conference Poster typography decisions

Export final composition as PNG to Conference Project Figma file in Typography Research page

Successful Completion Rubric

  • Proper InDesign setup with correct document size and grid system
  • 3-5 distinct typeface explorations showing variety in texture and weight
  • Conference theme consistency connects to your project concept
  • Technical proficiency demonstrates control of tracking, leading, justification
  • Thoughtful composition shows understanding of typography as visual texture

Today is

Prof. Jesse Seegers
NYU | Tandon | TCS | IDM
DM-UY 1123 INETFall 2025
Mondays & Wednesdays 8am-9:50am EST