J210 (Section 17365), Visual Communication

Spring 2008

6 – 7:15 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 7:30 p.m. – 8:30 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, logos, formatting publications, electronic publishing, informational graphics 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; Elizabeth Eisner Reding, QuarkXPress 6

 

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 five 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.

 

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

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

2.        2.   One exam (100 points)

3.        3.   One final exam (100 points)

4.        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, 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

 

Jan. 8                                 Introduction

        In Class                     • Discuss course content

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

 

Jan. 10                               Design Steps / Design Principles

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

 

Jan. 15                               Graphic Elements / Creativity

        In Class                     • Discuss elements that make up graphic design

        For Next Class          • Read H – pp. 18, 145-147, 154

 

Jan. 17                               Logos

        In Class                     • Discuss how to design and create effective logos

                                          • Project 1 assigned

        For Next Class          • H – pp. 20-21

 

Jan. 22                               QuarkXPress / Scanning

        In Class                     • The basics of using the leading page-design software

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

 

Jan. 24                               QuarkXPress / Scanning

        In Class                     • More instruction on using Quark and how to use the scanner

 

Jan. 29                               Gestalt Theory

        In Class                     • Discuss the principles of Gestalt theory

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

 

Jan. 31                               Typography / Points and Picas

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

 

Feb. 5                                In-Class Work Day

        In Class                     • Work on Project 1

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

                                         

Feb. 7                                Project 1 Evaluation / Advertising

                                          • Project 1 due

        In Class                     • Discuss advertising design

                                          • Project 2 assigned

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

 

Feb. 12                              Color

        In Class                     • Discuss color theory

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

       

Feb. 14                              Parts of a Newspaper

        In Class                     • Define and discuss the parts of a newspaper

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

 

Feb. 19                              Newspaper Design / Dominant Photos

        In Class                     • Discuss newspaper page layout

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

 

Feb. 21                              Dummies, Grids and Modular Design

        In Class                     • Discuss the underlying structures of page design

 

Feb. 26                              In-Class Work Day / Review

        In Class                     • Work on Project 2

        For Next Class          • Review notes and text for exam

 

Feb. 28                              Exam

        For Next Class          • Read H – pp. 88-97

 

March 4                            Project 2 Evaluation / Front Page Design

                                          • Project 2 due

        In Class                     • Class evaluation of project 2

                                          • Project 3 assigned

        For Next Class          • Read H – ch. 4

 

March 6                            Photography / Photoshop

        In Class                     • Discuss the world of photographic imaging

 

March 11                          Photography / Photoshop

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

 

March 23                          In-Class Work Day

                                          • Work on Project 3

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

 

March 18                          Project 3 Evaluation / Magazine Design

                                          • Project 3 due

        In Class                     • Discuss magazine design

                                          • Project 4 assigned

 

March 20                          Printing, Inks and Paper

        In Class                     • Learn the basics of production

 

March 25 & 27                 No Class

 

April 1                              In-Class Work Day

        In Class                     • Work on Project 4     

        For Next Class          • Read H – ch. 9

 

April 3                              Project 4 Evaluation / Web Design

                                          • Project 4 due

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

                                          • Project 5 assigned

 

April 8                              More Web Design

        In Class                     • Learn Web page creation

        For Next Class          • H – ch. 6

 

April 10                            Informational Graphics

        In Class                     • Discuss what makes a good infographic

 

April 15                            In-class Work Day

        In Class                     • Work on Project 5

                                         

April 17                            Project 5 Evaluation

                                          • Project 5 due

        In Class                     • In-class evaluation of Project 5

                                          • Review of final exam

 

April 29                            Final Exam, 5:45 p.m. to 7:35 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 - Logo Design; Project 2 - Ad Design; Project 3 - Newspaper Design; Project 4 – Magazine 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. Some of these projects can be done without computers, with the notable exception of the Web pages. 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.