GRAPHIC DESIGN 1. ART 115 Course Syllabus Fontbonne University, St. Louis, MO COURSE INFORMATION COURSE DESCRIPTION COURSE OBJECTIVES PREREQUISITES

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1 GRAPHIC DESIGN 1 ART 115 Course Syllabus Fontbonne University, St. Louis, MO COURSE INFORMATION Mark Oakley FALL 2012 Tu - Th, 10:30 am - 1:00 pm FA 3 credit hours Office hours negotiable, usually after class COURSE DESCRIPTION An introduction to visual communication theory and practice: elements and principles of perception and design, typography, symbols, desktop design. FA COURSE OBJECTIVES Recognize and comprehend the elements and principles of composition in graphic design. Understand and apply compositional strategies to design problems. Identify the anatomy of letterforms and recognize and differentiate between styles and families of typefaces. Comprehend and apply the theories of typography as they apply to words, sentences, and bodies of text. Identify the characteristics of color. Recognize and apply principles of color interaction and understand how color is used in graphic design. Become familiar with the different types and applications of imagery in graphic design. Exposure to relevant graphic design software and the skills essential to their effective use. Awareness of the history of Graphic Design and its significant participants. PREREQUISITES Reading Proficiency SUPPLIES Storage Media - USB Thumb Drive, ipod or other external storage device Sketchbook / notebook for taking notes, making sketches and filing handouts Other supplies may be needed during the semester

2 TEXTBOOKS Required: GRAPHIC DESIGN SCHOOL; The Principles and Practice of Graphic Design David Dabner, Sheena Calvert, Anoki Casey Wiley, 2010 ISBN REQUIRED ASSIGNMENTS Each student will be required to complete the assigned research assignments, projects, tests and exercises. The instructor will provide presentations of various concepts of graphic design and students will complete exercises based on those concepts. Students will be assigned projects which will deepen their understanding of graphic design as well as apply that understanding to contemporary, real world applications. Upon completion, th class will engage in a group critical analysis of those projects. Students will create a presentation to the class in oral, written and visual form that examines a contemporary or historical graphic designer. A digital portfolio containing all the exercises, projects and the class presentation will be submitted at the end of the semester. Students are required to be present and participate in all class critiques. The exchange of ideas and criticism that happens in active and well-formed critiques is a very valuable part of the learning experience. GRADING 40% Projects 35% Exercises 10% Graphic Designer reports 10% Qizzes 5% Class participation (including critiques) INDIVIDUAL PROJECT / EXERCISE EVALUATION This class is primarily composed of a series of exercises, projects, exams, reports and reading assignments to be completed over the course of the semester. Exercises will be be considered completed upon the instructor s approval. Each project will be graded according to the criteria presented at the assignment of that project. Elements such as composition, technical skill, creativity and presentation will always be part of those criteria. Criteria specific to each project will also be considered Tardiness in the completion of your assignment will diminish your grade.

3 ATTENDANCE 3 tardies will count the same as 1 unexcused absence. More than 2 unexcused absences may result in the lowering of your grade. No make up, or extra credit assignments, will substitute for excessive absences. If you must miss a class, me at before class starts in order to potentially receive an excused absence. Students should be on time and once in class, stay in class. It is OK to take an occasional break but if you are going to be gone longer than 10 minutes or if you need to leave before class is over, let me know. Fontbonne University Policy Information Sheet All policies that pertain to academic and student life are printed in the University Catalog. Students should keep a copy of the catalog for reference. GENERAL INFORMATION Cell phones should be on vibrate during class, especially during a critique or when the teacher or a student is making a presentation. If someone calls you during a presentation or a critique, return the call afterwards unless it is an emergency. If you are expecting an important call that you must take, let me know ahead of time. Whenever you do answer a call or have to call someone back, do so out in the hall or somewhere else where students are working (regardless of whether it s a class or an open lab / studio). You are training to be professional so professional practices will be expected. 1) Be on time. 2) Keep common work areas clean. 3) Use college provided materials conservatively. 4) Don t leave your work or materials in the classroom without permission. It may not be there when you return. 5) DO NOT REMOVE COLLEGE-OWNED MATERIAL FROM THE CLASSROOM (i.e. typebooks, paper sample books, equipment, supplies, books, etc.). 6) This is a work environment. You can still talk to friends and have some fun, but don t let it get in the way of getting work done; yours, mine or the rest of the class s. As much as possible, this class will mirror actual studio conditions. Some of the assignments will be open to a little interpretation, but they must still fulfill the criteria as well as the spirit of the project. If you feel you re having trouble with the course content or assignments, or have concerns about a critique, please feel free to talk to me in private. The purpose of school is to help you succeed and I really want to help everyone as much as possible. I can only help you if you let me know what is or might become a problem.

4 Academic Integrity/Honesty Fontbonne University is committed to graduating students who are prepared to think critically, to act ethically, and to assume responsibility as citizens and leaders. Fontbonne University expects the highest standards of integrity from its students. A violation of academic integrity includes, but is not limited to, any act of cheating, plagiarism, fabrication, and dissimulation and any act of aiding and abetting academic dishonesty. In cases where academic integrity is in question, the following definitions and policies will apply. The Fontbonne Catalog and the website provide further definitions of these violations. Individual instructors will set specific policies regarding academic integrity. In general students may expect to receive a 0 on any assignment, exam, test, or quiz and perhaps fail a course when a violation of academic integrity has occurred. Violations of academic integrity have a broad impact on the University and will result in University review and action. Faculty who observe violations of academic integrity are asked to report all violations to the Office of Academic Affairs where records of violations will be maintained for five years. University review and action may include tutorials on the appropriate use of materials, academic probation, or expulsion, depending on the nature of the offense. All procedures for disciplinary action are detailed in the Griffin Scratch and Fontbonne policy manuals. Copyrighted Materials Copyright is a law of the United States (title 17, U.S. Code) that protects original works of authorship that are fixed in a tangible form of expression whether they are published or unpublished. This includes literary (books, articles, computer programs, etc.), musical, dramatic, choreographic, architectural, audiovisual and graphic works, among others. Digital content (e-books, online articles, content found on the Internet, electronic databases, etc.) has the same protection as analog content. Fontbonne University s Copyright Policy (updated Jan. 2010) is found in Vol. II of the Fontbonne University Policy Manuals - Campus Community Policies. Please consult this source or a University librarian if you have any questions about the proper use of copyrighted material. Americans with Disabilities Act Accommodations Fontbonne University offers accommodations to students with documented physical, visual, hearing, learning, or psychiatric disabilities. Any Fontbonne student is eligible for special services or accommodations if: 1) The student self- identifies that he or she has a disability and needs accommodation, 2) The student provides appropriate and verifiable documentation of the disability, and 3) The student provides notification in a timely manner. For academic accommodations, contact the Kinkel Center for Academic Resources at For accessibility and resident hall needs, contact Student Affairs at

5 Academic Calendars The academic calendar is printed in the Semester Course Schedule for each semester and is available on a white board outside the Registrar s Office (Ryan 204). Deadlines for adding or dropping courses, withdrawals, and preregistration are included in this calendar. It is the student s responsibility to comply with all deadlines This syllabus is subject to change at the discretion of the instructor in order to accommodate instructional and/or student needs. It is the responsibility of the student to keep abreast of such changes.