J210 (Section 25437), Visual Communication

Fall 2009

1:15 – 2:30 p.m. Monday/Wednesday, Crestview 204

Professor: Ron Allman

Office: Crestview 117

Phone: 941-2381, Fax: 941-2582, E-mail: rallman@ius.edu

Office hours: M/W 3 p.m. – 4 p.m., T/R 4 – 5 p.m. and by appointment

Course Objectives: This course will teach you the skills and give you the knowledge necessary to communicate graphically. Areas covered will include the following: design and layout principles, typography, formatting publications, electronic publishing, informational graphics, video editing and preparation for publication.

Students with Special Needs: If you require any special assistance in meeting the class requirements due to a certified disability, please see me after class or during office hours within the first two weeks of the semester. Special accommodations or alternative-format materials will be made available. Students with disabilities may want to contact the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities.

Required Text: Tim Harrower, “The Newspaper Designer’s Handbook, sixth edition;” Robin Williams, “The Non-Designer’s Design Book, second edition.” You may wish to sign up for Lynda.com to watch instructional videos on Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Premiere Elements.

Reading Assignments: All reading assignments will be read before class and you should be prepared to discuss the reading assignment in class. I reserve the right to quiz you on the readings if I feel the reading assignments are not being done.

Attendance, Punctuality and Deadlines: You should plan to attend all class sessions, to participate in class and to stay for the entire class period. Attendance will be taken. Being late twice will be considered an absence. A total of three absences will result in a grade of “F.” Medical appointments, job interviews and part-time or full-time jobs are not considered valid excuses for absence. All assignments are due at the beginning of class. Deadline extensions will only be given under special circumstances. Make up exams will not be given. Attendance is required on in-class work days.

Class Interruptions (Cellular Phones, Pagers, Et Cetera): Cellular phones and pagers will be turned off during the class time. Please inform those who might wish to contact you during class time that your devices will be turned off. Those creating these interruptions will be asked to leave the class and will be considered absent.

Computer Rules: During class time, the computers in the lab will be used only for class work. Checking e-mail, Facebook , Twitter and YouTube is not acceptable and is a distraction to you and other students. You will be asked to leave and will be considered absent.

Grading: The total number of points you accumulate out of a possible 710 will determine your final grade. The breakdown is as follows:

1. Five design projects (100 points each / 500 points total)

2. One midterm exam (100 points)

3. One final exam (100 points)

4. Class Participation (10 points)

Points will be determined by the following chart:

A     —    674-710               B-    —    586-602               D+   —    475-496

A-    —    639-673               C+   —    539-585               D     —    461-474

B+   —    617-638               C     —    532-538               D-    —    426-460          

B     —    603-616               C-    —    497-531               F      —    Less Than 426

There will be no extra credit opportunities. Your projects will be graded on how the design problem was solved, if directions were followed, adherence to design principles, aesthetic appeal and neatness. Creativity and taking chances is encouraged and will be rewarded. Grades may not reflect the amount of time and effort put into a project.

Class Schedule

Aug. 24                             Introduction

        In Class                     • Discuss course content

        For Next Class          • Read W – pp. 11-86

Aug. 26                             Design Steps / Design Principles

        In Class                     • Discuss the five steps of the design process / define design principles

Aug. 31                             Graphic Elements / Creativity

        In Class                     • Discuss elements that make up graphic design

        For Next Class          • Read H – pp. 21, 122-123

Sept. 2                               InDesign

        In Class                     • The basics of using Adobe’s page-design software

Sept. 7                               No Class

Sept. 9                               InDesign

        In Class                     • More instruction on using InDesign

        For Next Class          • Read W – pp. 97-100, 109-116

Sept. 14                             Ad Design

        In Class                     • Project 1 assigned

                                          • Discuss advertising design

Sept. 16                             Gestalt Theory

        In Class                     • Discuss the principles of Gestalt theory

        For Next Class          • Read H – pp. 22-7, W – 121- 174

Sept. 21                             Typography / Points and Picas

        In Class                     • Discuss the history, development, use, principles and characteristics of type

Sept. 23                             In-Class Work Day

        In Class                     • Work on Project 1

        For Next Class          • Read H – pp. 18-19, 26-35, ch. 5, pp. 88-97

Sept. 28                             Project 1 Evaluation / Newspaper Design

• Project 1 due

In Class                     • Define and discuss the parts of a newspaper

                                          • Project 2 assigned

        For Next Class          • Read H – pp. 6-13, ch. 2-3

Sept. 30                             Newspaper Design / Dominant Photos

        In Class                     • Discuss newspaper page layout

        For Next Class          • Read H – pp. 86-87, 76-77

Oct. 5                                Dummies, Grids and Modular Design

        In Class                     • Discuss the underlying structures of page design

        For Next Class          • Read H – pp. 6, 119, 216-222, 224

Oct. 7                                Color

In Class                     • Discuss color theory

Oct. 12                              In-Class Work Day / Review

        In Class                     • Work on Project 2

        For Next Class          • Review notes and text for exam

Oct. 14                              Exam

        For Next Class          • Read H – pp. 202-215

Oct. 19                              Project 2 Evaluation / Magazine Design

                                          • Project 2 due

        In Class                     • Class evaluation of project 2

                                  • Project 3 assigned

        For Next Class          • Read H – ch. 4

Oct. 21                              Photography / Photoshop

        In Class                     • Discuss the world of photographic imaging

Oct. 26                              Photography / Photoshop

        In Class                     • Discuss more about photography and learn the basics of Adobe Photoshop

Oct. 28                              In-Class Work Day

• Work on Project 3

Nov. 2                               Project 3 Evaluation / Video Design

                                          • Project 3 due

        In Class                     • Discuss video editing and design, Adobe Premiere Elements

                                          • Project 4 assigned

Nov. 4                               Gestalt Theory

        In Class                     • Discuss the principles of Gestalt theory

Nov. 9                               Printing, Inks and Paper

        In Class                     • Learn the basics of production

Nov. 11                             In-Class Work Day

In Class                     • Work on Project 4      

        For Next Class          • Read H – ch. 9

Nov. 16                             Project 4 Evaluation / Web Design

                                          • Project 4 due

        In Class                     • Discuss how to create attractive, effective web designs

                                          • Project 5 assigned

Nov. 18                             More Web Design

        In Class                     • Learn Web page creation

        For Next Class          • H – ch. 6

Nov. 23                             Informational Graphics

        In Class                     • Discuss what makes a good infographic

Nov. 25                             No Class

Nov. 30                             In-class Work Day

        In Class                     • Work on Project 5

Dec. 2                                Project 5 Evaluation

                                          • Project 5 due

        In Class                     • In-class evaluation of Project 5

                                          • Review of final exam

Dec. 9                                Final Exam, 1:15 to 3:05 p.m.

Projects: Specific instructions about the individual projects will be given the days the projects are assigned. The projects are as follows: Project 1 - Ad Design; Project 2 - Newspaper Design; Project 3 – Magazine Design; Project 4 – Video Design; Project 5 - Web Design. You will be given some in-class time to work on these projects, but most of the projects will be done on your time. Projects should be done on computer as demonstrated in class. Projects are due at the beginning of class. Deadline extensions will be given only under special circumstances. Unexcused late work will not be accepted or graded.