ARTDM 214: Introduction to Graphic Design Syllabus (pdf version)

When Lecture: 12:45-1:35PM
Lab: 1:35-3:15PM
Mondays & Wednesdays
Fall Semester 2019
Section 3268
Units 3 units
Where Art Department, Room 303
Who James Khazar www.khazar.com
Office Hours 3:15-3:45PM M/W Room 303
Email

Course Description

This is an introductory class in graphic design, focusing on the fundamentals of graphic design including history, theory and practice. Students will use graphic design as a means of communicating ideas in a digital environment. Specific focus will be given to principles of design; balance and visual hierarchy; integration of text and image. Students will survey the history of 20th & 21st century graphic design as a basis for exploring and understanding its fundamentals. Transferable to CSU, UC

This is a hands-on class. Understanding file management and basic computer applications is important since there will be no time scheduled for introductory lessons. This class will be taught through lectures, demonstrations, exercises and project with feedback sessions and critiques.

Objectives/Student Learning Outcomes

Lectures

Objective

Maps to Reading

Maps to Projects/Exercises

Analyze visual communication as it relates to graphic design for commerce.

All readings

All projects and exercises

Identify the appropriate audience for the intended visual message.

Chapters 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14

All Projects

Evaluate and analyze successful design solutions and critique results.

Chapters 2, 3, 6, 7, 8

All Projects

Distinguish and describe 20th century graphic design movements and how they apply to current design trends.

Introduction chapter

Designer Report Project

Identify and apply formal elements of design to communicate a message.

Chapters 2, 3, 6, 7, 8

All Projects

Labs

Objective

Maps to Projects/Exercises

Create original graphic design projects at professional level, and to create graphic design projects for target audience.

Book Cover Project, Logo Design Project, Ad Campaign Project

Make use of the computer to relate a design production value to the traditional problem solving of the assignments.

All Projects and Exercises

Produce mechanical materials for publication.

All Projects

Create graphic design elements utilizing the formal elements of design.

All Exercises

Administration

Grading

Grade Values

Letter Grade Grade Score Value Score Range
A 100 < 100 - 95
A- 90 < 95 - 85
B+ 80 < 85 - 75
B 70 < 75 - 65
B- 60 < 65 - 55
C+ 50 < 55 - 45
C 40 < 45 - 35
C- 30 < 35 - 25
D+ 20 < 25 - 15
D 10 < 15 - 5
F 0 < 5 - 0

Note that DVC does not allow +/- grading. Only whole grade values (A,B,C,D,F) are recorded, so a B+ or a B- is reported as a B.

Also note that this scale was changed at the end of the semester to conform with some Canvas weirdness. But an A has always been an 100, and A- a 90, a B an 80, etc. No one will get a lower grade due to the change, in fact, more people are getting higher overal grades due to the change.

Grading Components

Exercises & Projects

Number Name Percent of Overall Grade Grade Type
Exercise 01 Point, Line, & Plane All exercises are required to be completed and while they don't add to your grade, failing any exercise will reduce your final accumulated grade by 10 points. So if you were going to get an A, you would get an A- instead, if you were going to get a A-, you'd get a B+, etc. Pass/Fail
Exercise 02 Rhythm & Balance
Exercise 03 Visual Hierarchy
Exercise 04 Design Your Name
Exercise 05 Visual Brief
Exercise 06 Drawing for Designers
Exercise 07 Color Schemes
Project00 Sketchbooks 15% A:100, A-:90, B+:80, B:70, B-:60, C+:50, C:40, C-:30, D+:20, D:10, F:0
Project01 Design History Research 10%
Project02 Posters 25%
Project03 Book Covers 25%
Project04 Identity & Logo 25%
Extra Credit Raises the lowest grade on a 25% project by one notch, so a C+ becomes a B-, a B- a B. etc.

Grading is based on assignments and participation in class and crits. Assignments must be complete to receive a passing grade.

Grading Policies

Evaluations will adhere to the DVC Fairness in Grading guidelines at: http://www.dvc.edu/communication/policies/academic/grades.html

Rules
  • All assignments are due at the beginning of class
  • Late assignments are lowered by one full grade
  • Assignments will not be accepted for grading at all after the beginning of the next class session after it's due
  • Attendance is mandatory and will be taken during class. Notify the instructor of an unavoidable absence by e-mail.
  • Projects and exercises are posted on Cabvas you so that you don’t get behind. If you do not do this, the absence will not be excused.
  • More than 2-3 unexcused absences will result in a grade drop.
  • Three unexcused absences and the instructor has the option to drop you.
  • However, it is your responsibility to drop the class. You should not assume that the instructor would automatically drop you because of absences. If you stop attending classes and don’t drop the class, the instructor will be required to give you an F.
  • Plagiarized work will be immediately failed
  • Creativity and neatness count!

Misc.
  • There are locations on campus for email and surfing the web. Don’t do these things during lectures/demonstrations/critiques.
  • Please consult your class schedule for any drop class information and P/NP grading policies, as this is the responsibility of the student.

Important Dates
August 26th Semester begins
September 6th Last day to add a full-term class
Last day to drop a full-term class and be eligible for a refund of fees
Last day to request a refund for the student activity fee
Last day to drop a full-term class, in-person, without a “W” appearing on transcript
September 6th (in person)
September 8th (online)		 Last day to drop a full-term class, online, without a "W" appearing on transcript
September 26th Last day to request P/NP option for a full-term class
September 2nd Labor Day - College closed
November 11th Veterans Day - College closed
November 15th Last day to drop with a "W" appearing on transcript
December 11th Last Class
Official DVC Important Dates Calendar, Fall 2019

Guidelines for a High Grade
(B+ or Higher)
  • Attend all classes and avoid being late or leaving early
  • Participate in critiques and volunteer constructive criticism to other student's work
  • Do your reading and research for your projects and explore more than one design solution
  • Successfully incorporate skills and disciplines acquired from earlier projects into future projects
  • Neatness counts! Turn in clean, well-presented work (well-named layers, etc.)
  • Be resourceful, be creative and when in doubt, ask

Methods
  • Lecture, Laboratory, Demonstration, Discussion, Critique

Student
Learning
Outcomes

Lecture

  1. Analyze visual communication as it relates to graphic design for commerce.
  2. Identify the appropriate audience for the intended visual message.
  3. Evaluate and analyze successful design solutions and critique results.
  4. Distinguish and describe 20th century graphic design movements and how they apply to current design trends.
  5. Identify and apply formal elements of design to communicate a message.
  6. Critically evaluate your own and other's graphic designs
  7. Identify the formal elements of design

Lab

  1. Create original graphic design projects at professional level.
  2. Create graphic design projects for target audience.
  3. Make use of the computer to relate a design production value to the traditional problem solving of the assignments.
  4. Produce mechanical materials for publication.
  5. Create graphic design elements utilizing the formal elements of design.

Suggested Text
Graphic Design Solutions

Purchasable New:
(but not referenced directly in this course):

Graphic Design Solutions

By Robin Landa
6th Edition, ©2019
Cengage Learning
Amazon
ISBN-10:1337554057

Graphic Design Solutions

Purchasable Used:

Graphic Design Solutions

By Robin Landa
5th Edition, ©2014
Cengage Learning
Amazon
ISBN-10:113394552X

Free & Downloadable:

Graphic Design Solutions

By Robin Landa
4th edition. © 2011, 2006, 2001

Download

 

Required Materials

Removable storage (USB Jump Drives: 512MB at least) for storing your assignments and backing them up. Lost files are not an acceptable excuse – back up your work!

9 x 12 Sketchbook with spiral binding, medium weight pages (60lb+)