College of Mount St. Joseph

Fall 2004 (S1-05)

Art Department

Course Syllabus

(tentative as of 08.23.04)

GRD 355-06: Graphic Design 3: Visual Semantics (3 credits)

Prerequisites: ART 250, 256

Wednesday 6:00 – 8:50 p.m. / Room ART 106 and CLC MacLab

Graphic Design Program

Instructor: Michael Kroeger

Office: 201A Art Building

Telephone: 513-244-4203

Office hours: Tuesday 10:00 – 12 p.m., 1 – 2:30 p.m.; Thursday 1:00 – 4 p.m.

E-mail: Michael_Kroeger@mail.msj.edu; Internet: http://www.msj.edu/faculty/kroegem/

Course Description

This course will focus on advanced problems of form and concept to create symbols. This course addresses advanced study of composition, layout principles and publication design.

Overview

This course will introduce third year graphic design students to principles of graphic design in preparation for further study. Concepts such as Dynamic Symmetry and Visual Semantics will be explored through the interaction of content, form, and typography.

Learning Outcomes

At the conclusion of this course the student will be able to:

Ethics: Understand the ethical tradition and recognize ethical responsibility
in one’s personal and professional life.
Understand and demonstrate the ability to communicate through group
and individual critiques.
Demonstrate the ability to express aesthetic qualities and feelings.
Demonstrate the ability to apply design and form as a communication tool.
Critical/Creative Thinking to reason in an open-ended manner to evaluate a situation, generate multiple solutions, and support the reasoning behind a solution.

Instructor’s Texts

A History of Graphic Design, Philip B. Meggs, John Wiley & Sons, Inc, New York

Class Policies

Attendance is important, as this is a studio class. Come prepared to work in class, with all supplies, and expect to stay the entire class period. Accurate attendance records are kept by the instructor, and comprise an important component of each student’s success and grade.

Student work will be displayed at the beginning of every class meeting utilizing the critique method of teaching. Class discussion at this time is essential. In-class work sessions will take place after a new project is assigned but with consultation by the instructor. If class time allows, a preliminary critique will be held prior to dismissal of each class meeting. This critique is for the purpose of clarifying the expectations of the assigned project that will be completed outside of class.

Grades

• Grades will be earned only by the work presented at the scheduled critique time

and at the Target presentations.

• Target grade system will be implemented corresponding to weeks in the semester.

Target 4, Target 8 (midterm), Target 12, Target 16 (final)

Evaluations

Grades are based on attendance, classroom work habits, critique grades, meeting assignment deadlines, self-motivation and individual improvement and progress on the work assigned. Grades may be discussed, privately, at any time during the semester, after the class is dismissed.

Class Fees / Furnished Supplies

High-quality Epson photo grade printout paper for your portfolio

Sony CD-RW for High Speed Drive 650 MB

Tentative Assignment Schedule

1. Hand/Tool project (Hader Hardware = process book, poster)

2. E G Y P T project (Egypt poster and process book)

3. Museum object translation/poster project (Cincinnati Art Museum = process book, poster/ad campaign)

4. Portfolio construction project (digital and formal portfolio display)

Absence Policy

10 minutes late= 1 tardy

3 tardy = 1 absence

3 absences = 1 grade drop

Three absences from class (3 consecutive weeks) = suggestion of dropping this class.

Be sure to keep the instructor apprised of reasons for absences.

Please call Professor Kroeger to leave a voice message.

GRD355-06-S105.doc

Revised 08.23.04