The Letter, Text, and the Grid

What are the advantages of having a multiple column grid? 

Multicolumn grids are more flexible than a single-column grid, and become more and more flexible with each column. This flexibility can help the designer to articulate the hierarchy of each element in a publication by creating different zones for different things. Text and images can span a single column or they can spread out through multiple, and not every inch of space has to be occupied. 

How many characters is optimal for line length? Words per line?

45-75 characters is optimal for line length, or about 12 words per line.
Why is the baseline grid used in design?

Baseline grids serve to anchor the layout elements and create a common rhythm. 

What are reasons to set type justified? ragged (unjustified)?

Justified text creates a clean shape on the page and uses the space efficiently, but sometimes ugly gaps can occur within the lines, so designers have to be careful to use a line length that is long enough in relation to the size of the type. Ragged text (unjustified text), respects the organic flow of language and avoids the uneven spaces that can sometimes happen when using justified text.
What is a typographic river?

In typography, rivers of white, are gaps in typesetting, which appear to run through a paragraph of text, due to a coincidental alignment of spaces.

What does clothesline, hang-line, or flow line mean?

A "hang-line" is a line that divides the page horizontally and becomes a place for body text to "hang" from. Elements within the publication will gravitate towards this line and provide internal structure for the page.  

What does type color/texture mean?

Type color/texture refers to the space between letters, words, and lines of text as well as the weight of the font. Typographic color can be used to control the hierarchy of the text.
How does x-height effect type color?

Typefaces with larger x-heights (such as verdana) help reduce type color and make by making large bodies of text less dense and therefore easier to read. 
What are some ways to indicate a new paragraph? Are there any rules?

Using an indent accompanied by a line length has become the standard for indicating a new paragraph, but designers have come up with some other alternatives, which include:

• paragraph spacing
• outdent and line break
• extra space inside line, without line break
• symbol, without indent or line break

One rule that designers follow when indicating a new paragraph is to make sure not to combine too many signals. Using paragraph spacing and indents together, for example, gives the text block an indefinite and unpleasant shape. 

Gregory Crewdson Presentation

6 influential designers

Fred Woodward

Most known for his work at Rolling Stone Magazine, Fred Woodward developed an eclectic visual language for the magazine between the years of 1987 and 2001. His dramatic couplings of typography and photography have become the magazine's signature. in 1996, Woodward was inducted into the Art Directors Hall of Fame as the youngest inductee, which was due to his energy and innovation that kept the magazine fresh for over 400 issues. 
http://www.aiga.org/medalist-fredwoodward/

Gail Anderson 

Gail Anderson also worked for Rolling Stone Magazine, side-by-side with Fred Woodward. She was praised for her "theatrical typography" and would often slave over the smallest typographic details. This hard work and dedication did pay off because she is well known for her ability to make letterforms "preform dramatic and comic feats," and is now teaching a class on choreographing type to popular and alternative music. 

http://www.aiga.org/medalist-gailanderson/

Tibor Kalman

According to AIGA, Tibor Kalman was one of the most influential people in the design world as far as his sway over how designers think. In the late 1980's, he became known as the "bad boy" of graphic design, as he was always prodding other designers to take responsibility for their work as "designer-citizens." He is most known for his work for Colors magazine, which was racy and dramatic. 

http://www.aiga.org/medalist-tiborkalman/

Alexi Brodovitch

Alexi Brodovitch is widely known for his work with what is considered America's first fashion magazine, Harper's Bazaar. He was hired on by the magazine in 1934 by its editor, Carmel Snow, in hopes that Brodovitch could "invigorate the magazine with the modern spirit." He insisted on using the entire double page spread as one piece, combining dynamic photography with unique type arrangements and elegant use of white space. 
http://www.britannica.com/biography/Alexey-Brodovitch#ref844876

Neville Brody

Born in London, Neville Brody was most known for his work produced between 1980 and 1993 as art director for "The Face" magazine. This magazine became very influential among designers as well as the general public, and it was often referred to as a "fashion bible." It set many of the design trends that were successful during this period. Designing over 20 different typefaces during his career, he is one of the founding members of the London based type foundry called Fontworks.

http://designishistory.com/1980/neville-brody/

David Carson

David Carson's work gained the most momentum during the late 90's, the height of the grunge period. Known for breaking the rules, Carson has been both praised and criticized for his typographic approach, which has been described as both illegible and influential. His first job as an art director was for Transworld Snowboarding, followed by Transworld Skateboarding, which offered and ideal arena for experimentation and rule-breaking. 

http://www.aiga.org/medalist-david-carson/