GDE 380 Graphic Design I

Tim Guthrie
TTr 9:30am – 10:45am

Course Description

(directly from the Bulletin) “The course introduces design of the printed page using typography, photographs, and graphics. Students learn through hands-on computer assignments and critiques.”

Objectives and Goals

The objective of this course is to introduce and examine the fundamentals of graphic and print design, typography, and visual communication. Over the course of the semester, students will learn creative problem solving skills, design vocabulary and process, use of type as a visual and conceptual tool as well as production methods and standards for the design profession. Students should expect a rigorous course of creative projects with increasing levels of functionality and complexity. Students are also expected and required to work out of class conducting research and spending time on projects as required throughout the semester.

Materials

100 Ideas That Changed Graphic Design is required, but since the updated version came out after the Bookstore started ordering books, you won’t find it there. You can order it online from Amazon, or similar site, however. Here are the details and a link from Amazon, although I don’t care where you get it, as long as you have it for the second full week of the semester:

100 Ideas That Changed Graphic Design by Steven Heller and Veronique Vienne
Order from Amazon

The Elements of Graphic Design by Alex White is recommended and available at the bookstore. We’ll be working from demos and in-class exercises.  The tools we’ll be using in class include Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign. Since these tools are so important to the semester and if you feel you need extra help understanding them outside of class, I’d recommend you buy the Visual QuickStart Guide series (PeachPit Press) for that particular piece of software.

Grading Criteria

Grades will be determined by combination of factors tracked by a course grading sheet. Points can be earned in 10 different categories – some design elements in a project can impact more than one grading category. There is a 10 point scale for each category to reflect the overall quality of student work. It is very difficult to acheive “A” quality work in the class. An “A” project will be considered professional level design, and perfect in the majority of grading categories. B+ and B grades will be given to good work that is well above course expectations.

Simply meeting the expectations of the course in completing assignments, quizzes, projects and the practical will result in a C grade. Doing the minimum amount of work to get by is not going to earn you a good grade. In order to earn grades higher than a C, I expect students to show substantial growth in critical skills, mastery of the technical elements of the course, and perfect execution of design concepts in major projects.

D and F work will fail to meet expectations.

Being late for a critique (including not having your assignment prepared when class begins) will result in a 20% “late fee” on that grade the moment that critique starts, and through the first 24 hours after critique starts. Another 20% will be assessed in the second 24 hour period. Late assignments cannot be revised.

Failure to turn in any assignment will result in a maximum course grade of D. I reserve the right to reject assignments after the second 24 hour period has expired, thus triggering the automatic maximum course grade of D.

Grading Scale:

A 91-100

B+ 88-90

B 81-87

C+ 78-80

C 71-77

D 61-70

F 0-60

Participation

Attendance and punctuality are mandatory. I expect you to behave as professionals over the course of the semester, and that includes showing up to class on time. Excused absences include athletic participation for varsity athletes, some emergencies, and documented illness. Regardless of whether an absence is excused, I will not rehash lectures for students who miss class. You are responsible for gathering notes on missed classes. Let me repeat that. You are responsible for gathering notes on missed classes.

JMC Professionalism Policy:

The Department of Journalism and Mass Communication offers pre-professional education to prepare students to succeed in communications careers. Professional attitudes and conduct are often almost as important as talent in our fields. Accordingly, students in all JMC classes are expected to conduct themselves as cited below; faculty and staff will enforce consequences:

1. Students will attend all classes unless there is a valid reason to be absent and to arrive on time just as they would at work. Students who arrive after class has begun are considered late and subject to grade penalties as imposed by each instructor.

• Valid reasons for absences include illness, participation in an official university function (debate, varsity athletic absences etc), family emergency etc. All excused absences require notification by email PRIOR to class.
• Absences of two classes in a row due to illness require a doctor’s note.
• Absences due to non-emergency medical / dental appointments are unexcused absences. The same goes for picking up a friend, taking a car to be repaired or other circumstances that can be avoided.
• More than one week’s worth (2) of unexcused absences per semester will result in course grade being lowered one grade level per additional absence up to D after which the student will receive an A/F.

1. Use of electronic devices during class is prohibited, unless you are using them to enhance your learning experience.
2. No food and drink are allowed in the labs. If caught, you will be expected to leave class and dispose of the items.
3. Students are expected to participate in class. Inappropriate behavior such as reading non-course materials, checking email, instant or text messaging, studying for other classes or sleeping will result in dismissal from that day’s class and count as an unexcused absence.
4. Students are accountable for turning in all work on time. Faculty will either penalize late assignments or refuse to accept them.
5. Working in groups is part of all communications work. Students who fail to do their share of work on team projects or are unwilling to participate in group problem solving will be dismissed from the teams and lose credit for projects.

Professionalism

Professionalism also involves:

1. Accepting criticism gracefully
2. Resolving problems with professors, staff and colleagues in a mature fashion.
3. Students are always welcome to seek more information about why they received a particular grade on a test or assignment, obtain guidance for how to improve work and ask for suggestions on solving problems. They are encouraged to go above and beyond the minimum work assigned and to demonstrate enthusiasm for work in their fields. In the JMC Department C work is minimal work. A and B work goes beyond the minimum.

Academic Honesty:

Creighton’s Academic Honesty Policy is listed in detail in the current Bulletin. However, in this class I expect students to adhere to the following guidelines and ethics of design:

1. All students will complete their own work. Getting “help” is ok, but I expect you to complete, and if necessary – reproduce class work on demand.
2. All work should be original. Any “ripping” of fonts or concepts will result in a grade of ZERO for that assignment.
   Use of tutorial files from online sources is allowed for learning purposes, but any elements from those sources that remain in class projects could result in a grade of ZERO for that assignment.

Integrity Pledge (from “Learning in the Academy: An Introduction to the Culture of Scholarship”)

The students and faculty of the Creighton College of Arts and Sciences comprise an academic community established within the framework of Jesuit ideals and firmly rooted in the concept of integrity.

In an effort to instill integrity in those attending this College and to reaffirm its significance along each student’s academic journey, the College has set in place an Integrity Pledge. Your instructors will from time to time present the Pledge for your signature on tests and quizzes and ask you to include it with your signature on writing assignments you submit.

The Pledge promotes a shared culture of integrity amongst Creighton students, while also acknowledging in its language that each of us holds him- or herself accountable for any attenuation or neglect of the conventions that define academic integrity.

The intent of this Pledge is not to act heavy-handedly. The College’s students and faculty strongly believe that each student intends to present his or her own original work. But the Pledge serves as a regular reminder of Creighton University’s commitment to the very highest standards of integrity—not only academic but also personal integrity.

Assignments

10%Type Exercises

10%Type and the Page

10%Designing Hierarchy (Quote)

25%Redesigning the News

35%Identity Design and Multi-page layout

10%Quizzes

100%Total

Type Exercises:

Complete the word, text and grid projects from Ellen Lupton (which are in the ClassFiles / 380 folder). You will hand in PDF files, as opposed to the printed, mounted on black board nonsense in the assignment. You are required to complete two concepts for each assignment.

Type and the Page:

Create two versions of a 8×10 advertisement using nothing but space and typography. The project may bleed off all four corners. You may only use “paper” and black at 100%, and no more than two fonts. The ads will be for the Slowdown, and must feature an upcoming event. Mandatories include the following text: SLOWDOWN (logo available on the server); The name, date, time and cost of the event; and basic location / contact information.

Designing Hierarchy (Quote or movie poster):

Create two versions of a 24″ x 36″ poster of a quote using nothing but color, space and typography (This can, of course, include picture fonts, or a SERIOUSLY reduced detail or ultra high contrast image – all vector.  No raster images) and possibly one limited-color illustrative element, which we will talk about in class. The project may bleed off all four corners (I recommend this, actually). You may only use 2 pantone colors or 1 pantone plus black at 100%, and no more than two font families. You may use blocks of color or abstracted type as image elements, but remember this is not an illustration assignment, so keep any illustrative element to a minimum.  Examples (mostly horrible typography, but okay quotes) are in a folder in JMCfiles.

Your other option is to create a poster based on a movie that was nominated for an Oscar for best film last year.  Same rules of typography and limited minimalistic illustrative elements (all vector) apply.

Redesigning the News:

Rethink the presentation of a newspaper for the 21st Century, both as a printed entity as a potential online version of the paper. You may choose whatever newspaper you please, and you may also use full color. Consider the difference between “above the fold” in online and print releases, and how you read the news. The print edition format can change to fit your vision. Use paragraph and character styles to keep yourself sane and your grade high.

Multi-page layout:

Design an 16 page catalog for Think Geek, including the new vector logo in one, two or CMYK color versions. The 16 pages can use CMYK formatted images from thinkgeek.com, and each page should have a comfortable number of products. Use space wisely, and consider whether any elements should spread across multiple pages. Paragraph and character styles are mandatory.

Identity Design:

Create a vector logo for Think Geek, carefully considering how the logo will be used in print and web applications, taking into account the clientele for the company. The logo should be saved in a standard identity package in .EPS and PDF formats in K, White, 2 colors, CMYK and RGB for online use. You may have variations for the different logos, but all should share the same overall concept, with the differences occuring in color, depth and minor details tailored to the different media.

Schedule

th 8.22introduction and account setup

m 8.27graphic design principles, Introduction to InDesign: text boxes & basic styles

w 8.29basic typography principles, font book

m 9.4 Indesign character & paragraph styles, general Interface, units

w 9.6InDesign: multiple pages, flow, templates, stroke and fill, color swatches, layers, links

m 9.11designing effective hierarchy & color models

w 9.13information as visual concept and messaging

m 9.17 the creative process, PDFs and packaging

w 9.19Critique: Type and the Page

m 9.24introduction to Illustrator: the basics of vector graphics, fill and stroke, pathfinder operations

w 9.26Illustrator: mesh, transparency, 3D,

m 10.1Raster graphics, pixels and resolution, color models, saving for print

w 10.3production time

m 10.8Critique: Designing Hierarchy, Redesigning the News Critique

w 10.10 More…

BREAKEnjoy

m 10.22brand design

w 10.24cross-media design concerns

m 10.29 advanced InDesign and Illustrator operations, text & story, bullets, opentype

w 10.31rethinking the letterform as image

m 11.5strategy & empathy, the audience

w 11.7design quiz

m 11.12Critique: Redesigning the News, Logo roughs

w 11.14strategy & empathy, the audience

m 11.19technical quiz, staying inspired, show and tell

w 11.21Thanksgiving

m 11.26production time

w 11.28FINAL CRITIQUE II

m 12.3production time

w 12.5all work due