Syllabus
The rules we play by
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Objectives | At the conclusion of this course, a student should feel comfortable using design elements while developing concepts for solution based design. They will have a group experience working with an IBC company. Produce a simple web site. Design, concept and produce a 3D card/game package. Become aware of beauty and communication in the ordinary. Graphic Design is a course that will help in preparing your portfolio and build on the skills you acquired in Introduction to Graphic Design and Typography. The projects each include a research component. The ability to conduct and use this research is a vital part of being a graphic designer.
BYU-Idaho Learning Model
The learning model in this course is the BYU-Idaho Learning Model. In brief it consists of Prepare, Teach One Another and Ponder & Prove. For a more detailed description of the model and the expectations of everyone involved in the learning process please go to BYU-Idaho Learning Model.
Contents
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Assignments
There will be 5 major assignments with the desired outcome listed below.
Assignment No. 01 | outcome | learn to look at the things in out everyday life as elements to use in design.
Assignment No. 02 | outcome | observe and document the same object 100 times always looking for new ways to make better and more interesting images. Then use the images to produce a themed booklet.
Assignment No. 03 | outcome | Explore typography with the use of paragraph and character styles and Cascading Style Sheets (CCS)
Assignment No. 04 | outcome | gain an experience working with a group of designers for an IBC company and produce great design while meeting the clients needs.
Assignment No. 05 | outcome | make a collection of 50 items and then develop a concept that ties all of them together. Produce a well crafted box with 50 cards
Labs
The labs are small projects that cover basic skills required to complete this course. They will be accounted for in several ways and are part of your final grade. Quizzes, blog posts and teaching other students will be the most common.
Preparation & Participation
Readings discussions and class critiques require a sharing of ideas and opinions and are an integral part of this course. Each of you has an obligation to yourself and to your classmates to attend each class and to share your thoughts. You are expected to give and receive constructive feedback. Class preparation & participation is part of your grade. It is important that you attend and are prepared for every class.
A point will be given to each student who has completed all (100%) of the required preparation. I will call roll everyday a simple yes or no will indicate your prepared status. When the need arises to divide the class into working groups, they will be made up of groups of prepared students and unprepared students.
Points will also be given for participation in class discussions and critiques. Assisting other students is participation. If you complete the assigned task before the other students instead of waiting for everyone to finish, find someone to help.
These points add up and are a part of your final grade.
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Grading
Grades will be posted on Blackboard. All work is due at the beginning of class. If you are late to class, the work due that day is considered late.
Assignments may be reworked and turned in for re-grading. This option is available if the assignment is turned in on time. Both the original project and reworked project need to be turned in and meet all the expectations of the final critique.
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Course Evaluation
70% Assignments
20% Labs
10% Preparation &Participation
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Grade Scale
Most exams and projects will be graded on a standard 100-point scale. Letter grades receive the following numeric equivalents:
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Grade Scale
A = 90-100
B = 80-89
C = 70-79
D = 60-69
F = 0-59
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A = Extraordinary work.
Extra effort. Exceptional quality in problem solving, communication and design. Student’s work goes beyond the assignment. Student pursues concepts and techniques above and beyond the required work for the course.
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B = Superior work.
Extra effort. Quality problem solving, communication and design. Student pursues ideas and suggestions presented in class and complete assignments above the required expectations.
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C = Required work.
Required effort. Student demonstrates their ability to analyze and participate in class using information gained through lectures, reading, and individual study.
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D = Poor work.
Student produced less than the required work for the course. Student simply repeats information given in class mechanically and even that does not demonstration required expectations for the course.
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F = Failure
A failure to complete course work with any effort or care.
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Attendance
As this is a design course, your preparation and attendance is mandatory. You may miss up to three class periods with no effect upon your grade. So that you can make a good decision, the fourth absence will result in a failing grade (F). Arriving late, early departures, lack of participation (studying for another class, failing to bring necessary supplies) or any other actions that take your attention away from the class may constitute an absence.
Prompt and consistent attendance demonstrates professional behavior. In order for you to succeed in this course and to receive the information necessary to complete course assignments, you need to be present and on time for every class. If you miss a class, it is your responsibility to obtain the notes from a willing and responsible classmate before the next class. I may clarify assignment details. However, every attempt must be made to obtain general information from your classmates before discussing the details with me. All work including: sketches, roughs, and research are due on the assigned class date.
Attendance will be taken each day. It may be at the beginning or end of the class period.
I need to be informed of any school excused absences before the absence and require an official release form signed by the instructor.
Final Critiques
Professionalism is expected. You should dress for a business meeting, have a planned presentation based on objectives with a beginning, middle, and end. Present well crafted work that meets the needs of a target audience.
On the day of a final critique the class will begin promptly at 10 minutes after the hour. This time should be used to clean, organize and design a professional atmosphere in the classroom. All backpacks, coats, and other unnecessary supplies for the critique should be stored where they will not interfere with the professional atmosphere of the presentations.
If you arrive late or fail to meet all the requirements of the project, feel free to participate, but know that your work will not be critiqued.
So that you can respond to the comments made during the final critique you have until the beginning of the next class period to make any revisions.
Late Work
Final Work | any work that is not ready for the final critique is late. All late work will receive a 10% grade cut. No work will be accepted later than 5:00 pm one week following the final critique. Incomplete work will not be graded.
Process steps | along the way preparation & participation points will be given. These points can not be made up. It should be noted that all process steps are due with the final project and should be completed by the final critique.
Labs | will depends on each assessment
Trauma Excuse
Each student is granted one trauma excuse. It should be used on days when a final assignment is due. The result is an extension until 5:00 pm the next school day. It doesn’t matter to me what you use it for. Just be aware that life throws a few curve balls from time to time and you want to have it when it really matters. Attendance at the final critique is required in order to use the trauma excuse.
Readings
Over the course of the semester readings will be assigned and discussed in class. This is one of the most important parts of the class and should be taken seriously. In a constantly changing field that you know little about it is vital for you to have current information and process the information. You should have opinions about and know the issues that the industry is facing. These opinions should be based on research and analysis from a variety of sources. You should talk about these issues amongst yourselves and seek solutions.
The assigned readings are models for the kinds of essays that will be required from you in this course. If you want to make a difference in your chosen field of study it is most likely to happen if you are talking, writing and publishing about the issues that are important to the industry.
Craftsmanship
It is expected that you approach every aspect of this class with the highest level of craftsmanship. Because the medium of the web is relatively new to most of you it is common to put too much focus on the technology. Don’t forget you are designers. I expect projects to be well crafted physically and digitally with logical presentations and conclusions. Use all of the skills you have acquired in other classes to present your work in it’s best context.
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Deadlines
Assignments are due at the beginning of class. Do not skip a class if you do not have your assignment(s) to turn in. Come to class anyway, because class participation is a part of your overall grade. Of course, sometimes there are extenuating circumstances that will cause you to have to turn in an assignment late, like a severe illness or a family death. You must contact me to talk about your situation in order to prevent an automatic lowering of your grade. Proper documentation will be required.
Assignments build upon each other. It is important that each project step is completed on time.
Technology Policy
The personal use of all electronic devices during class is strictly prohibited. If one of these devices disturbs the class, audibly or other wise the class members will gladly accept a morsel of nutritional value* the next class period to make up for the disturbance. This includes listening to an iPod, in coming calls, talking or text-messaging on a cell phone, Checking e-mail on a Blackberry, etc. All such devices must be turned off. Medically necessary electronic devices (such as hearing aids) are exceptions.
Morsels of Nutritional Value | cookie sized consumables with absolutely no use of raisins.
It is also inappropriate to leave the classroom during class to take or receive electronic communications.
E-mail, youTube, instant messaging, twitter, and the next communication fad should be reserved for your personal time outside of class.
Laptops will be used at times over the semester but in-class use will be limited. I am concerned that students have a perception that working on their projects while a class discussion or critique is going on is an appropriate use of class time. Working on your own projects is a good thing but not when your efforts and attention should be focused on other class activities. If your expectation is that other members of the class give you feed back and help build an atmosphere of learning, you owe them the same courtesy. Using a computer for anything other than a specific assigned task or taking notes, is not beneficial to yourself, other class mates or the instructor.
Printing should be completed before the beginning of class. The sound of the printer is a distraction and if it becomes necessary, I will turn off the printer. Do not print during the beginning of class when I am giving instructions for the day. Never print during a student, faculty, or guest presentations.
Technology Issues
Let’s face it: technology breaks. Servers go down, transfers time out, files become corrupt. The list goes on and on. These are not considered emergencies. They are part of the normal production process. An issue you may have with technology is no excuse for late work. You need to protect yourself by managing your time and backing up your work.
Browser
This course will use Mozilla Firefox as its primary target browser. All content created for this course should display as you intended in the latest version of Firefox. If content does not display as intended in the latest version of Firefox, your grade will be adversely affected. We will design and develop for 1024×768 screens (important content is kept “above the fold” in an area no greater than 960 pixels wide by 600 pixels high).
Plagiarism/Copyright
It is illegal and unethical to use someone else’s work without properly crediting the sources, whether online, in print, or other. If you are not sure whether to credit a source, or to quote or paraphrase, or to use original language, please ask me in advance, or err on the side of citing the source you are using. All work for this course must be original artwork or you must have written permission to use the artwork. If you are using someone else’s work in part or in its entirety you must include their written permission when handing in your assignment.
Other
The energy you put into this class and your work will be very beneficial. I am available to help you reach your goals and succeed, but you must put forth the effort. If you have general questions, post it to the blog. That way, your fellow classmates can help you if I am not immediately available. If you need to contact me about a personal situation, you can reach me via e-mail.
This syllabus is subject to change.
