Assignment #1
The Elements & Principles of Design
This is a 3-part project. (Working with Adobe Photoshop)
Elements – Color, Line, Mass, Movement, Space, Texture, Type & Value
Principles – Balance, Contrast, Direction, Economy, Emphasis, Proportion, Rhythm & Unity
Elements & Principles Vocabulary (HERE – Links to an external page.)
The Elements & Principles of Design are the governing vocabulary that define, illustrate and communicate how Graphic Design functions all around us. These terms are of great value and importance and should be understood and applied by designers.
***Here is the photoshop demonstration with Assignment #1 part 2 from 9/14 (Tutorial)
https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/vN3PfycaIz2xm0BjRStbfBwKq4WXSrGGExSDL1MDcM53ADty8rZPgwT4pPcF-YyR.GqWVv6Z5VCTUMFdUPasscode: +d@H1Wb3
***Here is the photoshop demonstration with Assignment #1 part 1 from 9/7 (Tutorial) forgive me as a portion of the recording was edited****
Passcode: i3BYE!!Z
Here is a video tutorial from Assignment #1 – Part 1 (from last semester) it will be helpful as a recap 
Passcode: pL#b*7@Z
Assignment Specifications: Students will generate a series of visual examples and solutions to visually help define, communicate and illustrate the vocabulary of the elements & principles of design. Each term will display a visual image example using the vocabulary listed in the PDF above.
Outcome – Students will save two file variations of the project – 1 – as a photoshop psd. file as well as exporting the files as a .jpeg for the web (demonstrations will be shared in a class video)
Size: – 12″ X 12″ inches (or a little larger perhaps?) – The final design will be 2 composite designs of 8 squares composed and arranged by each student. (2 -files will be created – one for the elements of design and one for the principles of design)
Process: Part 1 – Images! We need search for and collect images. The images can be found from research and investigation via the Internet and class resources, books or magazines that you may have, or perhaps you will photograph your own references? Each term for the elements of design will be illustrated and applied by cutting, formatting and placing the examples into a composite (the example below is simply one example, you will create your own.) Students will generate their own examples of each term using techniques learned in class with photoshop.
***For Week #1 – Please focus on becoming familiar with the vocabulary terms and simply gather your images and have them ready for our next class time. ***
R&D – Where will you find visual inspiration and research?
Production: Students will prepare their final works in screen resolution format and application on the web (RGB format – we shall discuss!)
Let’s look at where we find image resources and referencing.
***Here is the photoshop demonstration with Assignment #1 part 1 from 9/7 (Tutorial) forgive me as a portion of the recording was edited****
Passcode: i3BYE!!Z
Click on the image above to download the .psd photoshop file to use as a template.
Part 2-
Below is an example of part 2 of the assignment. (both in progress and a completed example) By completing part 1 as displayed above student will design a poster / illustration that brings together all 16 terms with an accompanying image you can use the same ones or change them up). This is a nice example below. Students can select the size that they would like to work in. I suggest 11 X 14 inches or 11 X 17 inches. You may work in a vertical or horizontal direction with your dimensions.
***Here is the photoshop demonstration with Assignment #1 part 2 from 9/14 (Tutorial)
https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/vN3PfycaIz2xm0BjRStbfBwKq4WXSrGGExSDL1MDcM53ADty8rZPgwT4pPcF-YyR.GqWVv6Z5VCTUMFdUPasscode: +d@H1Wb3
***Part 3 – (extra credit- not mandatory)**
In part three you will chose any 8 terms from the elements & principles vocabulary that you wish to work with as your subject. We will be applying these 8 terms by making a series of designs that are not codependent on “representational imagery” and uses only basic shapes, color and form. We will be working with in the shape of a 6″ inch square to complete these designs.
Submission guidelines:
When your assignment / assignments have been completed please add them to our class Google Drive shared folder – (the link to the folder is located in our course Blackboard page.) Please send me an e-mail when your work is ready for review – rseslow@bmcc.cuny.edu
*Please make sure to create a folder for yourself with your first and last name and please name your files with your name – Example file name(s) look like this below:
Ryan_Seslow_Assignment#1.JPG
Ryan_Seslow_Assignment#1part2.JPG
