Hudson Valley Community College

Introduction to Graphic Design - ARTS 160

 

Fall 2008 Syllabus

 

Meetings: Tuesday & Thursday 3:00-4:50

Room:BTC

Instructor: Andrew Lynn

Email: andrew@breathingplanet.net

 

Course Overview

This course is an introduction to graphic design as a form of visual communication through the use of image, form, color, and type. Students will be introduced to the historical, theoretical and fundamental principles of graphic design, and will explore formal composition principals, graphic design methodology, and approaches to digital layout. The course will include practical exercises in visual perception, visual organization, and visual communication.  We will use computer applications such as Photoshop and Illustrator in this class, however technical proficiency is not the main objective

 

 

Course Requirements   

Class participation is vital to the success of the course and is required.

Working on your assignments out of class. This is important not just to get the projects done well but also because you need to practice the software if you want to learn it!

Reading the assignments-you can not participate in the class discussions if you don’t do the reading

Coming to lab prepared to work-that means bringing in materials for the projects.

Attendance is required. You can not miss an excessive amount of classes and keep up with the discussions and projects. 

 

Required Texts:

The Elements of Graphic Design: Space, Unity, Page Architecture, and Type.

Alexander W. White

ISBN-10: 1581152507

 

Visual Literacy: A Conceptual Approach to Graphic Problem Solving

Judith Wilde

ISBN-10: 0823056201

 

The Anatomy of Design: Uncovering the Influences and Inspirations in Modern Graphic Design

Steven Heller

ISBN-10: 1592532128

 

Recommended Not Required Text (...and not available in the bookstore):

Visual Research: An Introduction to Research Methodologies in Graphic Design

by Ian Noble and Russel Bestley

ISBN-10: 2940373205

 

Required Materials:

assorted pencils for roughs

eraser

drawing pad

X-acto knife

straight edge

cutting surface

glue stick

 

The Course Blog

This course has a blog!  It can be found online at: http://hvccarts160.blogspot.com/

From time to time you will be asked to post sketches, ideas, and comments to this blog.  Directions on how to do this will be given within the first couple classes

 

In Class Exercises

Usually on Thursdays (lab day), we will be doing design exercises from the Visual Literacy (Wilde, 1991) workbook.  These exercises will not be collected or graded, however your work will be shared with the class and your effort and participation will be noted and count towards your final evaluation.

 

We will also be working on projects in class.... essentiall EVERY class.  Please bring your textbooks, work materials and any other supporting materials you find to be helpful to every class

 

Quizzes & Tests

There will be 2-3 pop-quizzes on readings from The Elements of Graphic Design

 

Evaluation

 

assignment 1 - 10 pts

assignment 2 - 10 pts

assignment 3 - 10 pts

assignment 4 - 10 pts

assignment 5 - 10 pts

midterm quiz - 30 pts

class participation - 20 pts

final project - 50 pts

total - 150

 

 

Assignments

 

#1 - Letterhead

Design letterhead for yourself, or an imaginary client (individual, business, or other).  Your design should include a simple logo that can be handrawn or a 'pasted-up' combination of elements.  Any text can be created and printed from a word-processing program (ex: MS Word) and pasted into place.  The final piece should be scanned, but can be in sketch form (does not need to be actually printed out)

 

# 2 - Stencil

Using either thin cardboard, cardstock, or acetate (best option), create a stencil of an illustration (either drawn or appropriated). 

 

#3 - U.S. Postage Stamp

Guidelines are listed here [.pdf]

final files should be 300 dpi, 1"X1"

 

#4 - Promotional Poster

Create a poster for an upcoming show or event in the region.

The final file should be 11"X17" and print-ready.  Actual Prints are encouraged, but not required

 

#5 - Brochure

Create a brochure for an organization or business.  The entity can be real or imagined.  If it is real, it will require real research.  If imagined it will require real imagination.  This assignment will be graded in large part on ambition, in either case. 

 

Final Project

Create a more extensive design project of your choice.  Concepts must be approved before work begins.

examples: handmade book, poster series, street art intervention project, blueprints for a new society, ..... think outside the box!

 

Schedule

**This schedule is subject to changes and updates

 

8/26

Introductions; What is Graphic Design; Critical Literacy in Design

Homework: acquire work materials & textbooks

 

8/28

Black Square Problem -  Visual Literacy,  p.16

Begin Research & Sketches for Assignment #1

Homework: Read The Elements of Graphic Design, pp. 1-29

 

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9/2

Signs & Symbols; Space & Stencils

Discuss Reading

 

 

9/4: 

Black & White Problem - Visual Literacy, p.28

Finalize and scan Assignment #1

Homework: Read The Elements of Graphic Design, pp.31-56

Found graphics assignment - send a link to Andrew to be posted to the class blog

 

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9/9

The Role of Research in Design; Research Methods;

Audience & Message; Commercial Work vs. Gallery Work vs. Street Art, etc., etc.

Discuss reading

Looking at more stencil design examples

Homework: Continue research and sketches for Assignment #2

 

9/11

Complete assignment #2

Jack and Jill problem - Visual Literacy, p. 40

Watch part or all of 'Public Discourse'

Homework:  post a response to the video on the blog as a comment

read: The Elements of Graphic Design, pp.57-73

read: First Things First Manifesto (online reading)

view: The Anatomy of Design, projects 1-10

 

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9/16

Elements of Design & Application; Anatomy of Design

Discuss readings

 

9/18

Circle, Square, Triangle Problem Visual Literacy,  p. 52

Getting Started in Photoshop

Introduction to Assignment #3

Homework: read The Elements of Graphic Design, pp. 77-99

read The Anatomy of Design, projects 11-20

Research Assignment #3

 

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9/23:

More on Photoshop; Work in Class on Assignment #3

 

9/25:

More Work in Class

Getting Started in Illustrator

Designing with Type Problem - Visual Literacy, p.82

Typographic Portraits Problem - Visual Literacy, p.90

Homework: read  The Elements of Graphic Design, pp. 103-135

 

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9/30: Assignment #3 DUE

Present & Critique Postage stamp Designs

Discuss Readings

 

 

10/2:

Photoshop/Illustrator Pictograms: Road Signs Problem - Visual Literacy, p.98

Introduction to  Assignment #4

Homework: Research Assignment #4

 

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10/7: Work in class on Poster mock-ups

 

10/9: Poster paste-ups/sketches due; Critique mock-ups; Discuss reading; Work in class

Homework: read The Anatomy of Design, projects 21-30

 

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10/14  Discuss reading; Work in class

 

10/16 Poster Designs DUE for in-class critique

 

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10/21

Text Layout

Introduction to In-Design

 

10/23

Poster Designs DUE for in-class critique

Exercise TBA from Visual Literacy

Homework: read The Anatomy of Design, projects 31-40

 

 

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10/28

Discuss Reading

Intro to Brochure Design Assignment

Viewing & Disucssing Examples

 

 

10/30

Exercise TBA from Visual Literacy

More on In-Design

Homework:  Research for Assignment #5

 

 

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11/4

Brochure concepts due - present & discuss

Work in class on brochure ideas

 

11/6

Work in class

 

 

 

 

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11/11

Work in class

 

11/13 

Assignment #5 brochures DUE (printed and files)

Assignment #5 presentations & critique

 

Homework: Read The Anatomy of Design, projects 41-50

 

 

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11/18

Design Experimentation: form, content, practice

Discuss Reading

Viewing More Examples

Intro to Final Project

 

11/20

Work on project proposals

 

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11/25

Present Final Project proposals (DUE)

work in class; individual meetings

 

11/27- NO CLASS

 

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12/2

Work in Class

 

12/4

Work in Class

 

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12/9:

 Work in Class

 

12/11

Final Projects DUE

Final presentations & critique - Attendance required!!!!!!!

 

 

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Topics Covered

 

 

Module One

Visual Literacy/Visual Communication

What is Graphic Design?

What Do Graphic Designers Do?

The Design Process

 

Module Two

Elements of Art, Principles of Design

Application of the Elements and Principles to the design of visual communication

Elements of Design: Line, Shape, Texture, Value & Color, Space

Principles of Design: Movement, Balance, Emphasis, Unity

http://www.usask.ca/education/coursework/skaalid/theory/cgdt/designtheory.htm

 

Module Three

Historical Precedents

Brief overview of 20th Century Art and Design

Futurist Typography

Dada Typography

Suprematism, Constructivist, De Stijl, Bauhaus

The International Typographic Style (sometimes called Swiss Design)

Jan Tschichold (Die Neu Typographie and later works: classical book design)

Corporate Identity 1940s–1950s

Visual Identity Systems and Signage in the 1960s and 1970s

1960s Magazine Design

Advertising Design—1930s to the Present

Deconstruction (as it pertains to graphic design in the 1980s)

Digital Design and Typography during the 1980s

Experimental Typographic Design during the 1980s

Experimental Typography during the 1990s

Appropriation in Graphic Design: the Borrowed Idea/Image

 

Module Four

Basic Typography and Layout

Basic typeface classifications

Historical methods: handset type/cast type, linotype, phototypesetting

Digital typography

 

Module Five

Digital Production Methods

Computer hardware and software: CPU; input, output, storage devices; memory; file formats

The computer desktop, menu windows, icons, folders, opening a software application, creating and saving a document, creating a folder, and saving a document in a folder

Digital Input

Vector/Raster/Page Layout Software

 

Module Six

Digital Output: Printing and related processes

 

 

 

Statement of College Policy Regarding Accommodations for Students with Disabilities (Implementation date:  Spring 2001) to be included on each syllabus:

“Under the guidelines of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the College is required to provide reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities.  In coordination with the Disability Resource Center and the Learning Disabilities Specialist, reasonable accommodations will be provided for qualified students with disabilities.  If you have a diagnosed disability that might affect your performance in this class, please meet with the instructor as soon as possible.  This information will be kept confidential.  The DRC is located on the first floor of the Campus Center, Room 130, phone number 629-7154, TDD 629-7596.  The Learning Disabilities Specialist is located in the Learning Assistance Center, in the lower level of the Marvin Library, phone number 629-7552.”