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GRD455 Graphic Design 5: Systems Practicum

Syllabus (tentative)       Fall 2004          Wednesday 6:00 – 8:50pm      ART 107

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

 

 

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course overview

In this course students will design and implement a series of projects for clients.

 

We have three clients this semester:

1. Findlay Neighborhood Center (Logo, Identity system, Brochure, Building signage)

2. Art Department of the College of Mount St. Joseph (Promotional poster)

3. Thesis client to be defined individually by each student this semester

The first two clients are actual organizations with specific needs in their design requests. The third client is a hypothetical company or organization of the student’s choice to serve as a basis upon which to build his/her thesis campaign.

 

 

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course objectives

Professional Skills:

Achieve intermediate to advanced proficiency using principles for type + image interaction

Achieve professional skills in preparing design work for presentation

Become proficient at setting up digital files for output and printing

 

Value System:

Advance student’s understanding of different modes of thinking and creating

Work with a non-profit organization to reach and empower a targeted population

 

Interdisciplinarity:

Research and understand the multiple aspects of a given population

Research interdisciplinary influences upon a personal hero and thesis topic

 

Think creatively and critically:

Develop ability to research a topic in-depth

Sharpen ability to communicate topic verbally and visually

Develop strategies for creative and critical exploration in the process of graphic design

 

 

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class procedure

In-class we will:

discuss projects and sample presentations

visit with client

critique ongoing project work

work on projects and exercises

go on a field trip

 

Outside of class students will:

read assigned text and handouts and do related exercises

research and document information for clients and thesis

design and prepare presentation work, and plan thesis.

 

Students should plan on about six hours per week of focused work time outside of the class to satisfactorily accomplish course goals.

 

 

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requirements

Course text: Typographic Design: Form and Communication, by Rob Carter, Ben Day, and Philip Meggs

 

Successful completion of Graphic Design 4: Visible Language

 

Participation in class discussions, meetings and critiques

Being able to articulate your thoughts on another’s design is excellent practice for working in the field of graphic design.

Professional work ethic

Meet deadlines, arrive promptly and stay full class session

Come prepared for work sessions each week

Turn in projects on time. Late projects are not accepted.

Attendance

Attendance at every class session is critical for students’ success in this course.

If absence is unavoidable, student is responsible for obtaining missed information, and being prepared for the next class session.

Please call instructor if class must be missed, as professional courtesy.

 

 

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evaluation

Projects are graded by:

Process work    effort shown in breadth and depth of project sketching and experimentation

Content            demonstration of project goals

Design             visual aesthetics and personal expression

Craft                 clean, professional presentation

 

Semester grades are determined by:

An average of the project grades, weighted according to time spent on them.

 

Other factors influence the semester grade:

Successful completion of textbook exercises

Participation in class discussions and work sessions

Professional work ethic, as outlined above

Attendance

2 absences = drop of letter grade

Additional absence = drop of letter grade for each

2 tardiness (5+ minutes) = one absence

 

Letter Grades Explanation:

A =       superior effort and achievement; outstanding work

B =       very good effort and achievement; above average work

C =       good effort and achievement; average work

D =       fair effort and achievement; below average work

F =       poor effort and achievement; unsatisfactory work

 

 

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class fees

Class fees are used to supply:

Grid Pad

2 - CD-RW Disks (12x speed)

2 – 15” x 20” black presentation boards

Professional output for the Art Poster Project

Students provide:

Digital output paper

Other materials, as needed

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academic honesty

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

 

Images created by other people may be used most of the time and must be credited on the final design, as discussed in class.

 

Visual inspirations that influence a given project design are encouraged. It is a fine line between inspiration and imitation, however. Any visual that has influenced a design must be brought to the instructor’s attention, and may provide a rich discussion on legal inspiration versus illegal imitation.

 

 

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bibliography

Typography Now: The Next Wave, by Rick Poynor

Typography Now Two: Implosion, by Rick Poynor

David Carson: 2^nd Sight, by David Carson

The Liberated Page, by Herbert Spencer

Looking Closer: Critical Writings on Graphic Design, by Michael Beirut, et. Al.

Design, Form and Chaos, by Paul Rand (1993)

Expressive Typography: The Word as Image, by Kimberly Elam

A History of Graphic Design, by Philip Meggs

Print Magazine

Communication Arts Magazine

How Magazine