My experience of many years of teaching the Typographic Design Course at the Academy of Fine Arts in Łódź prompted me to write short texts on typographic design. I came to the conclusion that students would benefit more from concrete facts about typography put forth in print rather than from the lectures given.

I noticed that they left the Academy with lofty artistic aspirations but only modestly equipped with the rudiments of the theory and practice of design. This led to their subsequent disappointments and difficulties related to working on their commisioned jobs. Young and inexperienced graphic designers often failed to meet market demands or co-operate with publishers. Myself, I had encountered numerous difficulties in this area, which nonetheless had not made me give up my designer profession. Self-contentment based on one's conviction of his or her own artistic perfection is not sufficient to develop in one the right attitude towards reality. On the other hand, the true professionalist is characterized by comprehensive knowledge, respect for work, and the ability to enter into dialogue with other people. Furthermore, if one has on top of that what some people call "God's spark" or talent, then one's satisfaction from realized and sold projects will be complete.

My cycle of university lectures formed the basis of a series of articles published under the title "Lettera Magica" in the monthly magazine "Świat Druku" ("World of Print"). Between 2000 and 2003 twenty text presenting basic information on typographic design were printed. Moreover, between 2001 and 2003 there were published 3 special issues of "Świat Druku" with three brochures comprising all of my "Lettera Magica" articles. While writing texts on designing rudiments, I intended to address the full range of problems that every young designer is bound to face in his career. Therefore, my main aim was to present the most important design issues from the point of view of a graphic designer, and not a graphic editor, as I did not want to create just another glossary of specialist terms. All the texts, divided into relevant chapters, deal with print design and are presented in such a manner as to draw the readers' attention to the close-knit relationship between basic knowledge of typography and its practical applications.

Now that it appears that there is a continuing interest in the area I deal with, typography and print design bring in great demand, and all the special issues of "Lettera Magica" 1, 2, and 3 having been sold out, time has come for publishing a book. Here I would like to express my profound gratitude to the Publishing House Polski Drukarz for enabling me to realize my project.

Krzysztof Tyczkowski