Syllabus
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
ART 352 COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course introduces techniques of analyzing and creating meaning in graphic and typographic messages. Aspects of typography, layout, information design, visual narrative and semiotics are explored in the context of practice and theory. Prerequisite: art 351
——————————————————————————————————————————
COURSE OBJECTIVES
To enhance the knowledge of graphic design history, designers, their works
To experience different types of graphic design projects in layout, brand identity, and social poster design
To practice a design and development process from conceptualization to visualization: pre-production+production+post-production
To work on research, critiques, and presentations
To learn to use Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and Web Design Tools
——————————————————————————————————————————
MAJOR LEARNING OUTCOMES
• Practical knowledge on theory and history of art and design
• Professional attitude, skills and practices with team or client projects
• Critical thinking, solution finding, and efficient management in a personalized design process
• Effective communication skills to develop and design their ideas and concepts
• Strong graphic design foundation in visual literacy and techniques
• Enhanced proficiency to work in a variety of artistic and design media
ZAYED UNIVERSITY LEARNING OUTCOMES
• Information Literacy and Communication
• Information Technology
• Critical Thinking
• Global Awareness
• Collaborative Teamwork
——————————————————————————————————————————
COURSE STRUCTURE
Instructor: Coordinator and Facilitator
- Lectures
- Project Briefs
- Books
- Case Studies
- TED, design e2, other podcast, or resources
- Feedback and Critique
Students: Driver and Designer
- Communication
- Management
- Projects
- Research
- Studio Work
- Personal Productions
- Submission
Instructor+Students+Public: Community
- Environment
- Survey
- Interview
- Exhibition
——————————————————————————————————————————
COURSE MANAGEMENT
It’s an art to manage a course with creative skills. Plan for your own process and managing solutions.
1. General Preparation: Your own computer with latest programs possible, Text books, sketch book, 3-ring binder, other materials, and your creative mind.
- Reading: Reading chapters in text books should be done prior to a class.
- Writing: Try to write a reflective journal on your blog.
- Research: Assignments with JPG/PDF/SWF format should be posted on the course blog.
- Sketch Book: Ideas/thoughts/inspirations, sketches, paper mock-ups
- Design Process Book should be built as you develop the project. Don’t wait till last min.
- Backup: File Management is critical. Organize your files and always save backups. No excuse!
- Print: Manage to Print from Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign CS. or any other applications
- Communication: Mainly the blog will be used, but your personal matters can be discussed via e-mail.
2. Course Management Website: You need to take some time to study the course website and get familar with the content and structure of this course. Syllabus and Course documents are available.
- SYLLABUS: Read carefully and throughly
- PROJECTS: Project Briefs are the main information about the project. Projects outline and Design Specifications should be understood clearly before you begin your work and they will guide you to the final design.
- DESIGN TEMPLATES+DOCUMENTS: design document templates in pdf, ai, indd files+ articles
- RESOURCES+TOOLS: useful links
- PRESENTATIONS+EXHIBITIONS
- NEWS+EVENTS: ZU, UAE, other international design events and competitions
3. Your Personal Blog As An Online Process Book.You will present the entire design and development process on your website. This is one of your project, which is mandatory for this course.
- ZU Blog: http://community.zu.ac.ae/blogs/z8400
- WordPress Blog: http://yunsun.wordpress.com
- Optional: Web Hosting with ZU: http://webapp.zu.ac.ae/dxbstudent/u20012345
4. Self-Learning Tools
Learning tools: www.lynda.com, www.adobe.com
Resource website: www.commarts.com, www.aiga.org, www.thedesignencyclopedia.org, www.print mag.com, www.howdesign.com, www.designingwithtype.com
——————————————————————————————————————————
FINAL SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
No late submission is acceptable. Each project will have a deadline separately.
- Naming: The project title, course number/name, instructor, designer names should be written on your work, process book and CD. [file name i.e, yunsun_bookcover.ai/psd and yunsun_bookcover.pdf]
- Final Design printed and mounted. Write your name and the course at the back.
- Design Process Book either printed or presented in your sketch book.
- CD with 2 Folders: Final PDF and Working folders: File naming and structure should be organized. The process files must be the final stage file only with resources that you have used in either ai or psd.
- Website: Final projects should be uploaded after optimized properly. Don’t forget to reduce your file size to A4. I don’t need a actual size file.
- Time and Date: TBA
- Place: CL1 002 Yunsun’s Office will be open only for one hour.
——————————————————————————————————————————
COURSE MATERIALS
- Computer and Software
- Digital Camera, Flash drive, 2 blank writable CDs and CD cases
- Sketchbook and Designer Journal are mandatory to bring/use in the studio
- Black form boards
- Color markers/pencils, 4H & sharp pencil, ruler, ex-acto knife, eraser
- Special papers for any print design, black foam board, Super 77 spray glue
——————————————————————————————————————————
TEXTBOOKS+RESERVED AND RECOMMENDED TEXTBOOKS
Graphic Design Solutions by Robin Landa
Designing Brand Identity by Alina Wheeler
Advertising by Design: Creating Visual Communications with Graphic Impact by Robin Landa
How to Design Logos, Symbols and Icons by Gregory Thomas
Wayfinding: Designing and Implementing Graphic Navigational Systems By Craig Berger
Wayshowing: A Guide to Environmental Signage Principles & Practices By Per Mollerup
Signage Planning Manual By Patrick Wenzel
A Smile in the Mind by Beryl McAlhone
Creativity for Graphic Designers by Mark Oldach
Typographic Design: Form and Communication by Rod Carter, Ben Day, Philip Meggs
Web ReDesign 2.0: Workflow that Works by Kelly Gato and Emily Cotler
Dreamweaver 8 Hands-On Training: by Daniel Short and Garo Green
Adobe Photoshop CS2 for the Web Hands-On Training: by Tanya Staples
Color for Webstes by Molly Holzschlag
Flash Professional 8 Hands-On Training: by James Gonzalez
MTIV: Process, Inspiration and Practice for the New Media Designer by Hillman Curtis
The Design of Sites: Patterns, Principles, and Processes, for Crafting a Customer-Centered Web Experience
by Douglas Van Duyne, James Landay, Jason Hong, forward by Nathan Shedroff
Experience Design by Nathan Shedroff
Interactivity: Creating & Communicating with new media by Ray Kristof & Amy Satran
Usability Testing: How to Plan, Design and Conduct Effective test by Jeffrey Rubin
——————————————————————————————————————————
EXPECTATIONS AND COURSE POLICE
- Professional Attitude: Professionally interact with one another.
- Plagiarism and cheating: Please refer to ‘Student Handbook 2006-2007’ (pg. 51)
- Deadline: No work will receive a passing grade after a deadline has passed.
- Attendance: 3 late (over 10 min.) considered as 1 absence. 3 absences without consultation deserves F. For more information on attendance please refer to ‘Student Handbook 2006-2007’ (pg.48)
- Backup: Your working files will be deleted from the lab computers at anytime.
- No No No: No chat/e-mail, no food/drink, or no mobile ringing is permitted in class time.
- Basics: Leave the room as it was and keep it clean.
——————————————————————————————————————————
EVALUATION AND GRADES
Your grade will be determined by 6 areas below. Only the outstanding work deserves A with meeting other requirements. Your dedicated effort and design outcomes will earn the grade.
- A > 3.7
- A- > 3.3
- B+ > 3
- B > 2.7
- B- > 2.3
- C+ > 2
- C > 1.7
- C- > 1.3
- D+ > 1
- D = 1
- F= 0
80% Projects (Creative Concept/Development/Execution)
The success of your project is measured by 3 categories. The creative conceptual solutions will show how you resolve the design problems proving the originality of your ideas.The creative devel- opment will present how you explore techniques and technology through various revisions. The creative execution is meeting design specifications with finest neatness and submission on time.
Each Project will have these categories to measure your success in total 100%:
– RESEARCH+SKETCHES 25%
Your research will present what you studied and how you analyzed the information you gathered. Each project should have 2-3 final sketches out of 10-20 preliminary sketches.
– CONCEPT+ DESIGN 25%
Your design solution will present unique creative approaches to design problems.
– DEVELOPMENT+ EXECUTION 25 %
You will demonstrate how you have improve and define your design throughout revision process and final delivery
– PRESENTATION+FINAL SUBMISSION 25%
Presentation (1.introduction/overview 2.content 3.organization 4.delivery 5.conclusion) You will present the final design to the class/clients asserting the success of the art direction. Design Process Book and CD (working and final files)Record the entire design and development process including project specifications, production plan, creative brief, sketches, revisions, and personal notes. Provide a pocket for the CD
15% Attendance (0=100, 1=95, 2=90, 3=85, 4=80, 5=75, 6=70, 7/-= 0)
3 late attendances considered as 1 absence. 3 absences without consultation will fail this course.
5% Learning Attitude
Your positive learning attitude enhances your creativity and learning capacity, which is far more important than acquiring skills and knowledge.
