GDES 3910 GRAPHIC DESIGN INTERNSHIP PRACTICUM Class meeting Office hours M / W 12:00 12:50 By appointment Phone E-mail 334.844.3389 wangwe1@auburn.edu
COURSE POLICIES COURSE DESCRIPTION 2 Hr. Credit // This course is designed to complement the students studio education by exposing them to the professional practices of Graphic Design. The format of the class will help the students engage with the professional side of graphic design through portfolio presentation, resume and cover letter writing and the tactics of searching for an internship. COURSE OBJECTIVES Through the Internship Practicum, the students will 1) develop an understanding of the process of portfolio preparation and presentation, 2) gain experience in resume and cover letter writing 3) learn how to present themselves and their work in a professional environment, and 4) cultivate relationships with firms in order to secure an internship for credit. LAB RULES: No food or drink No spray glue or fixatives No loud music No cell phones Taking this course does not guarantee internship placement, but rather prepares the student to apply to internships and guides them through the process. To be clear, it is the students responsibility to secure an internship and this course in no way guarantees internship placement. COURSE PREREQUISITES // GDES 2210 and 2220 + acceptance into the GDES program STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: Students who need accommodations are asked to electronically submit their approved accommodations through AU Access and to arrange a meeting during office hours the first week of classes, or as soon as possible if accommodations are needed immediately. If a student has not established accommodations through the Office of Accessibility, but needs accommodations, they should make an appointment with the Office of Accessibility, 1228 Haley Center, 844 2096. ATTENDANCE It will be the policy of this class to allow a maximum of two unexcused absences during the semester. Excessive absences (more than two) may result in a lower course grade. If a student is unable to attend class for some other reason, they should e-mail the instructor. After two unexcused absences the final grade will be dropped by one letter grade per absence over two. Six absences is grounds for a failing grade regardless of the work completed. Three tardies are equivalent to one absence. It is the student s responsibility to keep up with their own absences to know their standing in the class. GRADING + EVALUATION The students work should exhibit clear communication in both its visual and written components. The projects will require the generation of their own original copy based on research. Writing skills are invaluable to designers, so the writing should be well composed and succinct. As writing skills are invaluable to designers, this will affect project grades. Evaluation of final projects will be based on evidence of well-reasoned ideas/concepts, visually effective execution, and good craftsmanship. Criteria used will be the instructors evaluation of whether or not the projects submitted by the student fulfills the intent of the course and whether or not the project meets the professional standards set forth in class. Plagiarism will constitute the professor to follow the policy outlined in the Tiger Cub (see Academic Policy below). Work turned in after the specified deadline receives a grade no greater than a D (see below). Roll will be called at the beginning of each class. In the event of a student not being able to complete all the course work on time, it is their responsibility to initiate a meeting with the instructor to discuss possibility of the grade of Incomplete (IN) being issued for the
course. It is also the students responsibility to seek out the instructor to know their progress throughout the semester. (See grading scale below.) GRADING SCALE F Little or no work completed D Lack of ideas and effort, poor craftsmanship, and little time invested in preliminary work and idea development or late or incomplete work. C Average work. Fulfills the requirements of the assignment only adequately. Ordinary work with little effort in craftsmanship or attention to details B Above average work that is a result of good craftsmanship and idea development. Care is taken at all stages of the design process. This grade may be given if the idea and effort are strong but the final product falls short of the ambition of the concept. A Unusual and superior work that combines both excellent craft and ideas. Exhibits consistent effort through the entire process as well as constant involvement in class discussions. ASSIGNMENTS/PROJECTS Online Portfolio // An online portfolio will be created and designed using an external online web portfolio site such as Cargo Collective or Square Space. The student will be required to create 6 project pages, a Home page and an About page at minimum. Each project page will need to showcase a design project created in one of their main design courses. Work will not be revised, rather it will be photographed or imagery prepared to upload that best showcases the project and its strengths. In addition, a short 100 150 word description of each project will be created. The About page acts as an introduction to the student, their professional work and goals. (30% of grade) PDF Portfolio // A digital portfolio that showcases selected student work, which can be customized for each internship application. 5 20 pages. Horizontal format (1920px by 800px). File size should be small enough for e-mail. (30% of grade) Resume // A working professional resume will be written and designed by the student. (20% of grade) Cover Letter // A working professional cover letter template that can individualized for each internship application. (20% of grade) DEADLINES Deadlines will be set for each part of the Practicum course: Online Portfolio, PDF portfolio, Cover letter and Resume, see schedule above. In the event of a student not being able to complete all the course work on time, it is their responsibility to initiate a meeting with the instructor to discuss possibility of the grade of Incomplete (IN) being issued for the course. It is also the students responsibility to seek out the instructor to know their progress throughout the semester. (See grading scale above.) ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY All portions of the Auburn University student academic honesty code (Title XII) found in the Tiger Cub will apply to university courses. All academic honesty violations or alleged violations of the SGA Code of Laws will be reported to the Office of the Provost, which will then refer the case to the Academic Honesty Committee. As the Student Academic Honesty
Code clearly states, plagiarism is stealing using the words or ideas of another as if they were one s own. Additionally, the graphic design professional organization AIGA (American Institute of Graphic Arts) states in chapter 26 of their text AIGA Professional Practices in Graphic Design, that plagiarism is determined when an ordinary observer who looks at an original work and an alleged copy will believe one to have been copied from the other. If the similarity is great enough, it will not be necessary to prove the alleged infringer had access to the original work to do the copying. SUGGESTED TEXTS Building Design Portfolios: Innovative Concepts for Presenting Your Work by Sara Eisenman How to Create a Portfolio and Get Hired: A Guide for Graphic Designers and Illustrators by Fig Taylor
CALENDAR Week 1-2 Syllabus Overview / Portfolio image prep / Resume + Cover letter began / Research firms and deadlines Week 3 Online Portfolio and PDF Portfolio began / Tight Rough Resume text due as a pdf Document Week 4 Finalized Portfolio text due as a pdf Document / Online Portfolio and PDF Portfolio finalized / Write tight rough Cover letter to be used as template + begin design of Final Resume Week 5 PDF Portfolio due / Finalize firms list of application Week 6 Final Resume due Week 7 Final Cover Letter template due / Write specific cover letters for firms / Online Portfolio due with Resume uploaded Week 8 16 Contact firms / Set up interviews / Interview / Advisement with instructor Remember you must secure an internship in order to be eligible for the GDES 3920 Internship course which should be on your fall schedule.
JANUARY 13 W Syllabi / Discuss Resume writing and portfolio / Portfolio image prep / Research firms and deadlines 18 M 20 W NO CLASS / MLK Holiday Work Day / Finalize portfolio imagery / Start Online Portfolio text and resume text 25 M 27 W Work Day / Finalize resume text / Online portfolio design and text TIGHT ROUGH RESUME TEXT DUE as a pdf document / Turn in on Canvas before class / Print a hard copy FEBRUARY 1 M 3 W Work Day // Portfolio text and site FINALIZED PORTFOLIO TEXT DUE as a pdf document / Turn in on Canvas before class / Print a hard copy 8 M 10 W Work Day // Research and create a firms list of application FINAL PDF PORTFOLIO DUE / Turn in on Canvas before class / Print a hard copy 15 M 17 W Work Day // Resume finalized and designed / Work on Cover letter FINAL DESIGNED RESUME DUE / Turn in on Canvas before class / Print a hard copy 22 M 24 W Work Day // Write final cover letters FINAL COVER LETTER TEMPLATE DUE / ONLINE PORTFOLIO DUE with resume uploaded / Turn in on Canvas before class MARCH 29 M 2 W Discussion / firm research and etiquette on contacting firms Establish a firm list / Set up interviews / Interview / Advisement with faculty 7 M 9 W 14 / 16 SPRING BREAK // NO CLASS 21 M 13 W 28 M 30 W APRIL 4 M 6 W 11 M 13 W 18 M 20 W 25 M 27 W REPORT ON INTERNSHIP APPLICATION PROGRESS