COJO 256 Design Concepts

Transcription

1 In COJO 256, our goal is to provide you with a basic understanding of design elements and principles. Our emphasis is on typography, grid-based architecture and color, with hands-on projects to be completed using Adobe Illustrator and Adobe InDesign. The information in this syllabus is available on the class website at this address: courseweb.stthomas.edu/mjodonnell/cojo256 The class website also has everything you need to complete your assignments, including: Syllabus information: Grading standards and other information. Technology information: Software and hardware requirements. Schedule: A day-by-day schedule for class. Tests: A list of what will be on each test. Resources: A page of links to books and Web pages on design, including glossaries on typography, color and design. Lecture notes: The notes from lectures in PDF format. Learning objectives The student who successfully completes this course should be able to: describe the basic principles of typography, architecture and color as they apply to the design of documents. create logos and sig cuts using Adobe Illustrator while applying the basic principles of design. create print documents using Adobe InDesign while applying the basic principles of design. express a personal approach to design or a philosophy of design that guides the student in doing his or her work. COJO 256 Design Concepts Spring 2017 The Essentials Instructor: Michael O Donnell, Associate Professor Office: 122 OEC Phone: Electronic mail: mjodonnell@stthomas.edu Office hours: 10 a.m. noon Monday Thursday Class time: 3:25 p.m. 5 p.m. Mondays & Wednesdays Classroom: 312 OEC Class website: courseweb.stthomas.edu/ mjodonnell/cojo256 Grading Components Your final grade will be determined by four (4) components: Tests 20% Design projects 50% Design activities 20% Class participation 10% 1

2 Tests Each test will cover the assigned material plus a few review questions from previous tests. This gives you a chance to improve your knowledge of the material over the course of the semester. The philosophy of this kind of testing is that you must do well to pass, but that you also should have the time you need to absorb the material. The test schedule lays out the material covered on each test. By the end of the semester, if you do well on the final test, your improvement will be duly noted and credited. Here is how the test grades will be distributed: A percent A percent B percent B percent C percent F 70 percent or less A page from one of the existing copies of Gutenberg s Bible. This one resides at King s Library, The British Library. Design projects See the day-by-day schedule for information on when each project is due. Your project grades will be based on mastery; the goal is to master the skills and concepts thoroughly. If you do your best and follow through thoughtfully on all assignments, you ll do fine. But mastery also means just that. You should expect to get assignments back to be done over if they show serious problems or a lack of effort. Your layouts will be carefully evaluated according to these criteria: Originality. Does the work show risk-taking and experimentation? Clarity. Does the work make a clear statement about its content? When more than one story or text element is used, is it clear which is most important? Are elements organized so that their relationships are clear? Cohesiveness. Does the assignment feel unified? Do display type, pictures and captions work with the text? Appropriateness. Does the assignment reflect concepts learned in lecture and readings? Are your choices appropriate to the subject matter? Editing. Are titles on the mark? Do subheads make sense? Do summary paragraph, drop quotes, blurbs and other devices enhance the message? Do captions tie the text and photos together? Is everything accurate? Is the page free of spelling, grammar and style errors? Polish. Is typography clean? Is the page free of technical glitches? Is internal space consistent? Do page elements line up properly? Are special characters used correctly? On every assignment, you ll be asked to explain why you did what you did. With each assignment, turn in a one-page synopsis describing the decisions you made, why you chose a particular typeface, how you organized 2

3 A design for an all-capitals alphabet derived from Roman lettering on Trajan s Column, from a book by L. C. Evetts published in Modern versions of Trajan give a geometric construction to the hand-carved letters. your work. In most cases, no right answer exists, so you ll have to back up what you say from readings and lectures. We ll grade you on the thought and reasoning behind the final product, your attention to detail and your effort. Class participation and attendance Seventy percent of success in life is showing up. Woody Allen My philosophy is that you are adults capable of making social, occupational and economic decisions to meet your goals and capabilities. Attending class, therefore, is up to you. But here are a few things to consider: Woody Allen s statement about showing up has proved true over and over. The reverse has also proved true: You will not do well in this class if you miss the lectures, computer instruction sessions and general discussions. We will cover a lot of material and perform many complex tasks, so falling behind is not an option. I do not conduct private lectures or instruction for students who miss class. If you miss class, you must get the information from a fellow student and from online notes. I will always answer specific questions for any student. I am somewhat flexible about deadlines. But if you are struggling, you must communicate with me, seek help where needed and complete the task in a reasonable time. The greatest sin is to skip class or miss a deadline without communicating with me. That is simply unprofessional. If you are going to miss class or have missed a class, the polite, professional thing to do is to send me an , preferably before the class, to tell me what s going on. Exceptions might be made for students who keep in touch and have compelling issues that interfere with school work. Turning in assignments To save you money and time, you will not print out your projects. To turn in an assignment: Create a folder in One- Drive and share it with me. My address is mjodonnell@stthomas.edu Name your OneDrive folder like this: 256-yourlastname Note that this uses a hypen and NO SPACES. When you have a project completed, place in your shared OneDrive folder: the original file all images you used. You MUST name your files correctly: ex1-yourlastname.ai ex1-yourlastname.indd p1-yourlastname.ai p1-yourlastname.indd Woody Allen 3

4 Part 1 Introduction to Design Lessons in Illustrator: 1. Interface, basic tools 2. Rectangles, ellipses 6. Manipulating text Jan. 30 Introduction What is Design? Feb. 1 Gestalt, Logos and sigcuts Begin Exploration 1: Good and bad logos Due Monday, Feb. 6 Feb. 6 Intro to Illustrator Begin Exploration 2: Sigcut for a classmate Due 5 p.m. Fri., Feb. 10 Feb. 8 Illustrator help session Work in class LECTURES IN BOLD Part 2 Composition, type Spiekermann, Ch. 1-3, 5-6 Illustrator Lessons 3. The pen tool 4. Bezier curves 5. Tracing from photos Typography handout Feb. 13 Basics of composition Feb. 15 Begin Project 1, AEJMC convention logo 1st answer due 9 a.m. Monday, Feb. 27. Final answer due 5 p.m. Friday, March 3 Feb. 20 Identifying type and type personality Feb. 22 Illustrator help session Work in class Feb. 27 Type History and Technology March 1 TEST 1 Work in class Part 3 Measuring, using type Spiekermann, Ch. 4, 8-9 InDesign Lessons 1. Tools, text boxes, flowing text 2. Paragraph styles, baseline grid March 6 Type Hierarchy March 8 Begin Project 2, menu for Ada s Famous Deli 1st answer due 9 a.m. Monday, March 27 Final answer due 5 p.m. Friday, March 31 March 13 Measuring, fitting type Exploration 3: Measuring type in books and magazines (in class) March 15 InDesign help session Work in class March 27 Book construction Exploration 4: Imposition (in class) March 29 TEST 2 Work in class Part 4 Architecture, grids Spiekermann, Ch. 7, 10 InDesign Lessons: 3. Images, master pages, page numbers 4. Character styles, lists, paragraph rules April 3 Page proportion Page grids April 5 Begin Project 3, John Donne essays booklet First answer due 9 a.m. Wednesday, April 19. Final answer due noon Monday, April 24. April 10 Page architecture April 12 InDesign help session Work in class April 17 EASTER BREAK April 19 TEST 3 Work in class Part 5 Color, photos Photo Quick Guide April 24 Pictures on a page April 26 Begin Project 4, The Bookie magazine layout First answer is due Monday, May 8. Final answer is due Wednesday, May 10. May 1 Color and color models May 3 TEST 4 Work in class Part 6 Finishing up ACTIVITIES Begin Project 5, CD jewell case insert We will go over first answer in class May 10 Final answer due 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 17 May 8 Exploration 5: PhotoShop (in class) May 10 InDesign, PhotoShop help Work in class FINALS WEEK During final time, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 17, help with finishing up any projects. TEST 5 is a comprehensive take-home due at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 17.

5 Day-by-day Schedule NOTE: The semester is divided up into six parts. Each part includes lecture sessions and work sessions. PART 1 Readings, activities 1. LESSONS IN ILLUSTRATOR. Several video tutorials to help you learn Adobe Illustrator are posted on the Illustrator & InDesign video page. The templates used can be downloaded as a single ZIP file. Lesson 1: The interface and basic tools. How to open an page; selection and direct selection tools; stroke and fill. Lesson 2: Rectangle and ellipse tools Tools for drawing basic shapes; compound paths; arranging layers. Lesson 6: Manipulating text Introduction to the text tool; the character palette; fill and stroke with text; creating outlines. Download the template text_01.ait template). 2. DO Exploration 1, due 9 a.m. Monday, Feb. 6: Find one logo you believe represents good design and one logo you believe represents bad design. Paste the good and the bad logos into a Word document. Under each, write a few notes stating why you believe the design is good or bad. Upload the Word document to the OneDrive folder you have shared with me. Name it ex1-yourlastname.ai 3. DO Exploration 2, due by 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10 Use Adobe Illustrator to create a sig cut for a classmate. Use what you know about Gestalt and what makes a good sig cut. Upload the finished Illustrator file to your OneDrive folder. Name it ex2-yourlastname.ai. The winning entry for the 2014 AEJMC convention logo was designed for this class by Genevieve Cossette. Required texts SPIEKERMANN, Erik and E.M. Ginger: Stop Stealing Sheep & Find Out How Type Works (2nd Edition). Mountain View, Calif: Adobe Press, Lecture notes and other handouts as assigned. Jan. 30 Introduction to COJO 256: Design Concepts Lecture: What Is Design? Feb. 1 Lecture: Gestalt, logos and sig cuts Begin Exploration 1: Good and bad logos Feb. 6 Intro to Illustrator Begin Exploration 2: Sig cut for a classmate, due 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10 Feb. 8 Illustrator help session Work in class 5

6 PART 2 Activities, readings 1. READ Spiekermann, Chapters 1-3, 5-6. Be prepared to discuss what you ve read. 2. ACTIVITIES IN ILLUSTRATOR. Continue the video tutorials; the necessary files can be downloaded as a single ZIP file. Lesson 3: Introducing the pen tool. Lesson 4: Drawing bezier curves. Lesson 5: Tracing a shape from a photo, 3. Search for images that might be used for Project 1: AEJMC convention logo. 4. Begin planning for Project 1: AEJMC convention logo. Your first answer is due Monday, Feb. 27. Feb. 13 Lecture: The basics of composition. We will look over your good and bad logos. Feb. 15 Being Project 1, AEJMC convention logo 1st answer is due 9 a.m. Monday, Feb. 27. Final answer is due 5 p.m. Friday, March 3. Read the brief carefully; we will set you up in class Erik Spiekermann Feb. 20 Lecture: Identifying type; type personality. Feb. 22, 2012 We will work in class on refining our Adobe Illustrator technique, especially those tools you will need for Project 1. Feb. 27 Lecture: Type history and technology First answer is due for Project 1: AEJMC convention logo. March 1 TEST 1: See the reading list for what is on it. PART 3 Assignments 1. READ Spiekermann, Chapters 4, ACTIVITIES IN INDESIGN. Begin the video tutorials on Adobe InDesign posted on the class website. Lesson 1: Basic tools, setting up text boxes, flowing text. Lesson 2: Paragraph styles, using the baseline grid. 3. BEGIN Project 2: Bill of fare for Ada s Famous Deli in Chicago. Your first answer is due 9 a.m. Monday, March 31. Your final answer is due 5 p.m. Friday, April 4. March 6 Lecture: Type hierarchy March 8 Begin Project 2, menu for Ada s Famous Deli. 6

7 March 13 Lecture: Measuring and fitting type. Exploration 3: Measuring type in books and magazines March 15 We ll work on refining our InDesign technique, especially as it relates to Project 2. March 27 Lecture: Book construction Exploration 4: Imposition of a booklet March 29 TEST 2: See the reading list for what s on it. Work in class PART 4 Assignments 1. READ Spiekermann, chapters 7, FINISH Project 2: Bill of fare for Ada s famous deli; final answer due 5 p.m. Friday, March ACTIVITIES IN INDESIGN. Begin the video tutorials on Adobe InDesign posted on the class website. Lesson 3: Placing images, text wrap, master pages and page numbering. Lesson 4: Character styles, bulleted lists, paragraph rules. 4. BEGIN Project 3: Booklet of meditations by John Donne. First answer due 9 a.m. Wednesday, April 19. Final due noon Monday, April 24. The bookie Max Weisberg in his St. Paul kitchen. April 3 Lecture: Page proportion. Lecture: Page grids April 5 Begin Project 3: Booklet of meditations by John Donne April 10 Lecture: Page architecture April 12 InDesign help session, work in class April 17, 2017 EASTER BREAK April 19 TEST 3: See the reading list for what s on it 7

8 PART 5 Assignments 1. REVIEW Photo Quick Guide. 2. BEGIN Project 4: The Bookie magazine layout. Read the brief carefully. First answer is due Monday, May 8. Final answer is due Wednesday, May 10. April 24 April 26 May 1 May 3 Lecture: Pictures on a page. Begin Project 4: The Bookie magazine layout Lecture: Color and color models TEST 4: See the reading list for what s on it We will work in class. PART 6 Raymond Loewy is known as the father of industrial design. His print work also is worthy of study. READINGS, ACTIVITIES 1. BEGIN Project 5: CD jewel case insert. May 8 May 10 We will go over your first answers during class on May 10. Final answer is due 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 17. Begin Project 5: CD jewel case insert. Read the brief carefully. Exploration 5: PhotoShop exercise. InDesign and PhotoShop help. Work in class. FINALS WEEK 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, May During final time, I will be in the classroom to help you finish any projects. 2. You will receive a comprehensive take-home final, your last opportunity to improve your test grade. It is due 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 17. TEST SCHEDULE TEST 1: March 1 Spiekermann, Chapters 1-3, 5-6. Lecture: What is design? Lecture: Logos, Sig Cuts. Lecture: Basics of composition. Lecture: Type Personality. Lecture: Type History, Technology TEST 2: March 29 Lecture: Type Hierarchy. Spiekermann, Chapters 4, 8-9. Lecture: Measuring, fitting type. Lecture: Book construction. TEST 3: April 19 Spiekermann, Chapters 7, 10. Lecture: Page Proportions. Lecture: Page grids. Lecture: Page architecture. TEST 4: May 3 Lecture: Pictures on a page. Lecture: Color models, theory. FINAL: Due May 17 You will receive a take-home final, due at 3:30 p.m. May 17. 8