Credits, Hours
3 Credits, 6 hours (1 lecture, 5 lab)
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This basic design and color theory course explores graphic communication through the understanding of the elements and principles of design, as well as the design process,
including idea development through final execution. Students develop basic skills in two-dimensional design, color and content creation while employing the design process of research, sketching and experimentation.
Communication designers use the concepts explored in this course in disciplines such as advertising, graphic design, web design, illustration, broadcast design, photography, and game design.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
Instructional Outcomes /Assessments
For the successful completion of this course, students should be able to: |
Evaluation methods and criteria: |
Define and describe five families of type and their visual characteristics (Old Style, Transitional, Modern, Egyptian, San Serif). Define and describe other categories of type families such as display and novelty fonts |
Students will demonstrate competency through written test and selection of typefaces for assignments |
Define and describe critical components of type anatomy (baseline, meanline, capline, serifs, ascender, descenders, counters, others). |
Students will demonstrate competency through written test and selection of typefaces for assignments. |
Describe variations of type structure (bold, italic, condensed, extended). |
Students will demonstrate competency through written test and selection of typefaces for assignments. |
Utilize typographic grid components (trim size, margins, columns, gutter) and assemble a grid using specific software. |
Students will demonstrate competency through written test and preparations of class projects using InDesign. |
Utilize variation in type alignment (FL/RR, FR/RL, Centered, Justified, Force Justified). |
Students will demonstrate competency through written test and performance of assignment dealing with this topic. |
Understand and utilize terminology and procedures for Adobe InDesign in order to comprehension basic and correct usage complete assignments and participate in class of computer graphics such throughout the discussions. |
Students will demonstrate comprehension basic and correct usage of computer graphics such throughout the course in class participation and on written assignments. |
Create and edit elements of a document according to specifications by using Adobe InDesign. |
Students will demonstrate practical skills in to preparing page layouts. |
TEACHING/LEARNING METHODS
- Presentation and discussion
- Lectures
- Readings
- Demonstrations
- Assignments
- Tests
- Sketch book
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Class activities and homework, projects and assignments explanations, schedule of projects and their due dates, grading strategy and other information will always be posted on the class site http://ellenclass.com
Students are responsible for listening and reading all the instructions, including homework assignments and project texts, and following them. If for some reason a student missed an explanation or an announcement in class, the information is always written clearly on the class site. If a student is absent, he/she is still responsible for submitting homework on time as it is always available on the class site.
All homework assignments are due the following class meeting unless otherwise indicated.
Work submission:
All work in progress and final projects have to be:
1. Printed and
2. Uploaded to your dropbox
- Handmade projects (if any) should be professionally photographed by your camera
- Computer projects – digital files submission
GRADING POLICY
Grades will be awarded using the College’s standard grading scale. Your performance will be evaluated considering effort applied, studying given materials, class participation and your work level, which will reflect how well you explored and integrated the design concepts and practices introduced in this course.
The grading calculation table with scores distribution is on your class website
NUMERIC GRADE RANGE (College catalog, page 30)
| A | 93-100 |
A - |
90-92.9 |
B + |
87-89.9 |
B |
83-86.9 |
B - |
80-82.9 |
C + |
77-79.9 |
C |
70-76.9 |
D |
60-69.9 |
F |
59.9 and below |
CLASS PARTICIPATION.
Effective student participation is demonstrated by:
- Posting and commenting on the OpenLab site, including contributing to the Visual Library, submitting your work, contributing to discussions, or giving peer feedback.
- Participating in critiques, presentations, and discussions.
- Following best practices for online learning.
- Class preparedness: checking the main class website for instructions, studying materials without procrastination and submitting your work on time.
- Punctuality: arriving to class meetings on time and staying until class dismission.
- Asking questions, volunteering answers, and helping other students. Asking for clarification and expressing concerns as your needs arise: no hoarding worries or holding back frustrations.
- Paying attention during live demonstrations and presentations, not doing other things.
- Following instructions and taking notes
- Following online meeting etiquette: muting your phone, other devices, or applications during class meetings; muting Zoom microphone when you are not speaking.
- Communicating online: conducting your online posts and replies with respect for others, which include courtesy, dignity and appropriate language at all times.
SUPPLIES
- Sketch book 9"x12" (or similar size)
- Pencils different softness (B, HB, H)
- Good quality eraser
ATTENDANCE
A class roster roll will be taken at the beginning of each class. Students arriving after the roll is taken will be marked “Late.” Arrival more than 15 minutes after the start of class will be marked as absence.
Note: a student’s responsibility is to remind the professor at the end of the class session that he/she was late and to check that the mark is changes to “Late”; otherwise the “Absent” mark will remain.
If absences are excessive, the instructor will alert the student that he or she may be in danger of not meeting the course objectives and participation expectations, which could lead to a lower grade.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY STANDARDS
Students and all others who work with information, ideas, texts, images, music, inventions, and other intellectual property owe their audience and sources accuracy and honesty in using, crediting, and citing sources. As a community of intellectual and professional workers, the College recognizes its responsibility for providing instruction in information literacy and academic integrity, offering models of good practice, and responding vigilantly and appropriately to infractions of academic integrity. Accordingly, academic dishonesty is prohibited in The City University of New York and at New York City College of Technology and is punishable by penalties, including failing grades, suspension, and expulsion.