UNIT: GRAPHIC DESIGN (VISUAL COMMUNICATION)
Week 1
Jan 9 - Tuesday
IN-CLASS
HOMEWORK / BLOG - Due weekly before class; no late blogs will be accepted.
UNIT: GRAPHIC DESIGN HISTORY
Week 2
Jan 15 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Holiday: no classes
Jan 16 - Tuesday
IN-CLASS
HOMEWORK / BLOG
Jan 19, 3p - Art & Design Portfolios / Scholarships DUE
UNIT: SPACE AND FORM
Week 3
Jan 23 - Tuesday
IN-CLASS
HOMEWORK / BLOG
Week 4
Jan 29 Final day to change a class from audit to credit
Jan 30 - Tuesday
IN-CLASS
HOMEWORK / BLOG
UNIT: COLOR
Week 5
Feb 6 - Tuesday
IN-CLASS
HOMEWORK / BLOG
Week 6
Feb 13 - Tuesday
IN-CLASS
HOMEWORK / BLOG
Week 7
Feb 20 - Tuesday
IN-CLASS
HOMEWORK / BLOG
UNIT: TYPOGRAPHY
Week 8
Feb 27 - Tuesday
IN-CLASS
HOMEWORK / BLOG
Week 1
Jan 9 - Tuesday
IN-CLASS
- Introduction to the course policies and procedures, expectations, syllabus, announcements, portfolio review, introduction to your peers, etc
- Housekeeping: Set-up Blogger accounts
- What is graphic design?
HOMEWORK / BLOG - Due weekly before class; no late blogs will be accepted.
- Email your instructor from your SXU email to matusek@sxu.edu. Answer the interview question "tell me more about yourself" - be sure to include your major, link to your art if you have any online, share links to your favorite designers (or artists), include a photo of yourself or week 2 I will take one of you (this will be used in my grade book and to learn your names), etc.
- Post (your notes from class):
- What is Graphic Design?
- What do graphic designers do?
- What are the different possible career paths of a designer?
- Look up the "History of Graphic Design". Post one example of a graphic design from history and explain its function and why you chose to post it.
UNIT: GRAPHIC DESIGN HISTORY
Week 2
Jan 15 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Holiday: no classes
Jan 16 - Tuesday
IN-CLASS
- Brief history of graphic design. (We will continually reference history throughout this course - take good notes.)
- Introduction to the principles / elements of graphic design. (We will continually reference these throughout this course - take good notes.)
- Introduction to Project 1: Icon Set
HOMEWORK / BLOG
- Research icon sets.
- Post:
- 5 icon set samples, write about why you posted these samples and what you noticed about icons
- Research 5 topics you would like to create an icon set for. Brainstorm possible solutions to this design problem.
Jan 19, 3p - Art & Design Portfolios / Scholarships DUE
UNIT: SPACE AND FORM
Week 3
Jan 23 - Tuesday
IN-CLASS
- Critique - Icon Set sketches and ideation
- Presentation of web resources related to icons
- Studio-time - work on the refinement of your concept, redraw your sketches in more detail.
HOMEWORK / BLOG
- Complete your icon set.
- Post
- Project progress - This should showcase your work, changes as you conceptualize, sketches through refinement.
- Your final project including your artist statement.
Week 4
Jan 29 Final day to change a class from audit to credit
Jan 30 - Tuesday
IN-CLASS
- Critique - Icon Set
- DUE - Icon Set (see project sheet for submission details)
HOMEWORK / BLOG
- Post 5 vector illustrations from GD History
UNIT: COLOR
Week 5
Feb 6 - Tuesday
IN-CLASS
- Project 2: Introduction to a. Illustrated posters and b. web ads series
- Presentation: Posters, illustrations, color, advertising
- Studio time - research your cause
HOMEWORK / BLOG
- Design 2 posters. Bring to class for critique.
- Post your design brief / progress / process
Week 6
Feb 13 - Tuesday
IN-CLASS
- Critique: Project 2a - 2 posters
- Training: Animation
- Studio time
HOMEWORK / BLOG
- Post your progress
Week 7
Feb 20 - Tuesday
IN-CLASS
- Critique: Project 2a
- Studio Time: Work on Project 2b
HOMEWORK / BLOG
- Post - Your progress; Final versions of Project 2a & 2b with respective artist statements.
UNIT: TYPOGRAPHY
Week 8
Feb 27 - Tuesday
IN-CLASS
- Mid-term
- Critique and Submit: Project 2a & 2b
HOMEWORK / BLOG
- Post - What is typography? Post some samples of typography.
Week 9
Mar 13 - Tuesday
Mar 15 Deadline to file for 2018 Summer / Winter Graduation
Mar 17 Final Day to change a class from credit to audit or pass/fail
IN-CLASS
- Project 3: In-Progress Critique
- Presentation: Type - basic history, elements, etc; logo design elements; positive / negative space; readability
- Training: Using create outlines and manipulating type
HOMEWORK / BLOG
- Post your progress
UNIT: LAYOUT AND COMPOSITION
Week 10
Mar 20 - Tuesday
Mar 20 Grad Fest 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Mar 21 Mission Heritage Day
IN-CLASS
- Project 3: Critique and Submit; submit 3 monograms using the initials of your name.
HOMEWORK / BLOG
- Your progress, final project and statement
Week 11
Mar 27 - Tuesday
Mar 29-Apr 1 Easter Holiday
IN-CLASS
- Project 4: Package Yourself
- Logo, Identity, Portfolio
HOMEWORK / BLOG
- Your progress
UNIT: APPLICATION -PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
Week 12
Apr 3 - Tuesday
IN-CLASS
- Project 4: Logo, Identity, Portfolio
HOMEWORK / BLOG
- Your progress
Week 13
Apr 10 - Tuesday
IN-CLASS
- Project 4: Logo, Identity, Portfolio; Finish your final portfolio
HOMEWORK / BLOG
- Your progress
UNIT: INTERFACE
Week 14
Apr 17 - Tuesday
IN-CLASS
- Project 5: Web - introduction
HOMEWORK / BLOG
- Post your progress
Week 15
Apr 24 - Tuesday
IN-CLASS
- Project 5: Web
- Submission of final file archives
HOMEWORK / BLOG
- Post your progress
UNIT: FINAL EXAM
Week 16 - Attendance is Mandatory
Apr 30–5 Final Exams
May 1 - Tuesday 6:30p-9:30p
- Final presentations
Schedule Notes
- Purple denotes SXU important dates
- *Schedule subject to Change; You will be notified.