.....       Syllabus (tentative)

GRD 253 Digital Illustration

3 credit hours

Fall 2004

 

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contact information

            Instructor: Beth Belknap Brann

244-4943 office 631-6544 home e-mail: beth_brann@mail.msj.edu

Office: Art Room 201-A (drawing room, second floor, office by window)

 

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philosophy

Illustration is a holy act, a statement of being, a mark of having been on this earth with eyes alert, minds attuned, and hearts ablaze with the passion of expression.

Illustration is the marrying of the fine arts and the graphic design, and at its best is a purposeful visual expression from the innermost regions of our soul to communicate a given idea or feeling. Illustration is a markedly singular act that can create a common ground of experience for many.

 

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description

This course serves as an introduction to the theory and practice of digital illustration. Our class work includes exploration in creating imagery using Adobe Illustrator CS software on the Macintosh platform. We will start with class work sessions to learn the software and advance to varied illustration projects culminating in a book. Some interaction of Adobe Photoshop software with Illustrator is also included in this course.

 

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learning outcomes

Abilities:

Effectively use Adobe Illustrator software

Develop drawing and illustration skills

Advance understanding of the illustration field

 

Ethics:

Recognize ethical responsibility in your professional life. We will assess ethical concerns of the problem of using others’ artistic work in our own work process. Please see Academic Honesty section below.

 

Communication:

Spoken: Each student will have the opportunity to speak about their work and illustration interests to the class.

Visual: Each project will provide the student the chance to answer a given problem with visual style.

 

 

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procedure

In class, we will have software training sessions, possible quizzes on textbook readings, demonstrations, project critiques, project work sessions, a field trip, and illustration discussions. Work on the assigned projects is planned to begin in the classroom each week, during which time I can work with students individually. You are responsible to bring the necessary materials to class for effective use of class work time each week.

Outside of class, you are required to read and practice weekly text readings using the software, work on class projects, research information on the zoo project, and find illustration samples for class discussions. Plan on spending about six hours per week outside of class time to satisfactorily achieve course objectives.

 

 

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major projects

Kaleidoscope Pattern

Word Illustration

Quote + Original Photography

Animal Illustration

Zoo Exhibit Promotion

Zoo Product Packaging

 

 

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requirements

Prerequisite: ART101: Drawing

Course text: Illustrator CS for Macintosh and Windows, by Weinmann and Lourekas.

Class Attendance

Each project builds on the previous assignment and software training sessions in the classroom. If absence is unavoidable, student is responsible for obtaining the information covered in the missed class. We miss you when you are not in class.

Participation in class discussions and critiques makes the course experience richer for all.

If you don’t understand something, ask it. I can get so excited (I love Illustrator!) that sometimes I may go too fast. So please, ask.

From time to time as the semester progresses I may deputize those who show solid understanding of the software to help another who has questions. Also, if you know something that I don’t, please share it with the class. I love to learn from my students, and it helps the class reach a higher level.

Projects submitted on-time

Projects are due at the beginning of class time.

Important:        Late projects are accepted by the next class session after the due date, and will be

lowered one letter grade. No projects will be accepted after that, and the project will be given an “F” in calculating the semester grade.

 

 

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extra help

Students desiring extra help on software training or project feedback are encouraged to schedule an appointment with the instructor between class sessions. This will allow one-on-one time. If several in the class need a second work session during the week, we will schedule it. Students are also invited to drop in during my office hours with any concerns, or call to make an appointment.

Students are also encouraged to seek out peers in class to exchange ideas and information about class projects and software understandings. Many times students agree to work in the Mac Lab in groups to help each other out and have productive work sessions.

 

 

 

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evaluation

Each project will be graded on its:

Content                        demonstrates understanding of project objective

Design             visual aesthetics and personal expression

Craft                 files are well constructed and orderly; comps are crafted with care

 

Semester grade will be determined by an average of project grades, weighted according to weeks spent on them.

 

Influencing the semester grade:

Professional work ethic = attendance, preparedness, focus, and participation

2 absences = drop of 1/2-letter grade

3 absences = drop of one letter grade

Additional absences = drop of one letter grade each

 

Grading explanation:

A =       Excellent achievement of project/course objectives; superior effort

            Project demonstrates excellent understanding of goals and objectives

            Project shows superior visual aesthetics and personal expression

            Project file is constructed as requested and free of error

 

B =       High achievement of course objectives; very good effort

            Project demonstrates understanding of goals and objectives

            Project shows good visual aesthetics and personal expression

            Project file is mostly constructed as requested with minor error

 

C =       Satisfactory achievement of course objectives; good effort

            Project demonstrates some understanding of goals and objectives

            Project shows adequate visual aesthetics and personal expression

            Project file shows effort in constructing as requested with minor error

 

D =       Minimal achievement of course objectives; poor effort

            Project demonstrates little understanding of goals and objectives

            Project shows poor visual aesthetics and personal expression

            Project file shows little effort in constructing as requested with multiple errors

 

F =       Failing achievement of course objectives

            Project demonstrates no understanding of goals and objectives

            Project shows a lack of concern about visual aesthetics and personal expression

            Project file shows a lack of effort in constructing as requested with multiple errors

 

 

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academic honesty

All work submitted by students is expected to be solely their own work.

 

Design inspirations that influence a given project design are encouraged, must be brought to the instructor’s attention and may need to be credited in the final project. The fine line between inspiration and plagiarism will be an on-going discussion within the classroom.

 

“Professional ethics demand respect for the documented labor of others.” (page 36, MSJ 2000-2002 Undergraduate Catalogue)

For a full explanation of the college’s Academic Honesty policy, please review pages 36-38 in the 2000-2002 College Undergraduate Catalogue, or online at www.msj.edu.

GRD 253:06 Digital Illustration

Course Dates

Tentative for Winter/Spring 2004

 

 

 

1/12    Intro to course. Intro to Kaleidoscope Project

            This week: Read Chapters 1-7 in our text.

 

1/19    No class. Martin Luther King Holiday.

 

1/26    Kaleidoscope Project due. Discussion. Intro to Pen Project.

            This week: Read Chapters 8-10 in our text.

 

2/2      First class of month: Illustration Hero Sharing

Work in class on Pen Project.

This week: Read Chapters 8-10 in our text.

 

2/9      Pen Project due. Intro to Quote + Original Photography Project.

            This week: Read Chapters 11-14 in our text.

 

2/16    Bring original flat color photo to class. Work session in class.

 

2/23    Quote + Original Photography Project due. Discussion. Intro to Map Project

            This week: Read Chapters 17-18 in our text.

 

3/1      First class of month: Illustration Hero Sharing

Work session on Map Project in class

 

3/8      Map Project due. Discussion. Intro to Animal Illustration

            This week: Read Chapters 19-22 in our text.

 

3/15    No class. Spring Break.

 

3/22    Work session on Animal Illustration in class

 

3/29    Animal Illustration due. Discussion. Intro to Zoo Promotion Project

 

4/5      First class of month: Illustration Hero Sharing

Zoo Promotion Project due. Discussion. Intro to Zoo Packaging Project.

 

4/12    No class. Easter break.

 

4/19    Work session on Zoo Packaging.

 

4/26    Zoo Packaging print-outs due for in-class packaging comp session.

 

5/3      Final class