Introduction to Graphic Design Spring 2019

Course Info
ART 160: Introduction to Graphic Design
VAC 115
001 T/Th 8–11:50am
002 T/Th 2–5:50pm

Jake Dugard
Office: Room B17
Office Hours: M/W/F 8–11:20am

Course Description
This course surveys the discipline of graphic design through implementing basic design elements and principles to solve communication problems, introducing design thinking and conceptualization, employing critical discussion, and developing a knowledge of design tools. Students will explore the relationship between form and meaning and exploration through experimenting with materials and analog and digital tools. Although there will be short tutorials to facilitate the use of design software, this class is not built around learning software, and you’ll be partly responsible for teaching yourselves.

Art 160 is a gateway course into the Graphic Design Program, and will gauge the student’s aptitude and the suitability of your continued pursuit of this major. Continuation in the program is contingent upon two things:
  1. A grade of “C” or higher is earned in the class.
  1. Pass the Graphic Design Portfolio Review where each student’s work is evaluated and scored by the design faculty. Because of this, it is important that students keep their projects, exercises, and sketchbooks in a safe place.

Objectives
— Form a better understanding and appreciation of craft and materials
— Define and apply design principles and elements in a variety of media
— Develop a working methodology for visual problem solving
— Develop a comprehensive perspective of the discipline of graphic design

Studio Structure
Birthed out of the necessity for more compliant, factory workers, compulsory education was instituted in 1918. Students were placed in straight rows and told to obey the teacher. “Large-scale education was not developed to motivate kids or to create scholars. It was invented to churn out adults who worked well within the system. Scale was more important than quality, just as it was for most industrialists.”¹ 

This is a studio first and foremost. We will be attempting to shift 13 years (give or take) of what most people think a classroom should be into something that feels more like a shared studio space. Curiosity through experimentation and exploration is necessary. Students are encouraged to be autodidacts. In many ways, the instructor will act more as a collaborator poking, prodding, and posing questions. If in doubt, follow these rules”. Class time will primarily be used for lectures, critiques, demonstrations/tutorials, discussions, workshops, and in-class working sessions.

External communication will happen primarily through Slack.

Evaluation
Like all of the design disciplines (and the arts and humanities for that matter) graphic design is at times troublingly subjective, ever more so as new tools enable us to manipulate every aspect of how something looks, behaves, and functions across multiplying media. There are not correct solutions to visual problems and yet there is still a pressing need to rationalize judgements and preferences, to define what we consider inventive, considered, meaningful, evocative, in short ‘good design’.²

You will not receive a grade for each individual assignment but you will receive a midterm grade to help you assess your performance. Your final grade will reflect the degree to which you have met the following criteria:
— a good understanding of design concepts
— thoughtful responses to assignments
— a sustained, wide-ranging, experimental process
— responsiveness to feedback
— clear articulation of design ideas
— refined craft and presentation
— active and meaningful participation in class
— timeliness (assignments and attendance)

Criticism
Giving and receiving criticism is an incredibly important component of any design program. The purpose of critiquing work is to improve the work. Both students (and faculty) will give and receive often. Sometimes this will take the form of full-class critiques, one-on-one meetings, small group crits, or some other form where people are talking about work. Here is more information on how and why we critique.