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Laura Franz she/her
Professor / Chairperson
Art & Design
Contact
508-999-9285
508-910-6977
keq`my?tl`rrc-dct
College of Visual & Performing Arts 204A
Education
| 1997 | Carnegie Mellon University | MDes |
| 1991 | Western Michigan University | BFA |
Teaching
- Typography (print, web, screen, typeface design)
- Graphic Design History
- Design Studio (In-house Internships)
- Branding and Identity
- Web Design
Teaching
Programs
Programs
Teaching
Courses
Typography basics. An introduction to the history and creation of letterforms and the relationship between content, typefaces, and the page. Assignments focus on the beauty and structure of text, use of basic letterforms, expressive typography, typographic grids, contrast and legibility.
Typography basics. An introduction to the history and creation of letterforms and the relationship between content, typefaces, and the page. Assignments focus on the beauty and structure of text, use of basic letterforms, expressive typography, typographic grids, contrast and legibility.
Open to all University Students Chronological survey of Graphic Design from pre-writing to present. This course examines graphic design within the context of technological, political, social, and economic developments ¿ and occasionally its relationship to other visual arts. Emphasis is on the story of Graphic Design ¿ how it changed over time, and some of the forces that played a part in that change.
Open to all University Students Chronological survey of Graphic Design from pre-writing to present. This course examines graphic design within the context of technological, political, social, and economic developments ¿ and occasionally its relationship to other visual arts. Emphasis is on the story of Graphic Design ¿ how it changed over time, and some of the forces that played a part in that change.
Study under the supervision of a faculty member in an area not otherwise part of the discipline's course offerings. Conditions and hours to be arranged.
Fundamental digital media concepts and techniques in studio art and design practice. Emphasis is placed on the use of digital tools in all creative areas. Hands-on projects demonstrate and reinforce integration of computers in the creation of two, three, and four-dimensional work. Students will develop a visual and verbal language for developing, analyzing, and presenting work. Course is designed for first-year art students.
Research
Research Activities
- RWD (Responsive Web Design) Typography. RWD Summit, 2015. Online (presentation). March 2015
- Finding, Testing, and Using Web Fonts. How Interactive Conference East, Washington, D.C. (presentation). September, 2012
- How to Choose and Use Web Fonts (video series). Publisher: Lynda.com. July 2012
- Typographic Web Design: How to Think Like a Typographer in HTML and CSS (Book). Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. October 2011
- Typography For Web Designers (video series). Publisher: Lynda.com. July 2011
Research
Research Interests
- Web Typography: traditional typographic practice and theories applied to web typography
- (TL:DR) Redefining Reading: the history and mechanics of reading to better understand how and why people read.
- Typefaces of New Bedford: the history of a place, explored through ephemeral letters and words
Select publications
- Laura Franz (2014).
Size Matters: Balancing Line Length and Font Size in Responsive Web Design
Smashing Magazine. Publisher: Smashing Media GmbH. - Laura Franz (2013).
Dear Web Font Providers
Smashing Magazine. Publisher: Smashing Media GmbH. - Laura Franz (2013).
Setting Weights and Styles With The @font-face Declaration
Smashing Magazine. Publisher: Smashing Media GmbH.
Biography
Inspired by the intersection of tradition and technology, Laura's research interests include how we can use theory from established media to inform our understanding of new media and contemporary messages. She writes, presents, and makes art related to typography, how and why people read, and art/design history.
