BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE
The City University of New York
Department of Media Arts and Technology
Course Title: MMA 100 – Foundations of Digital Graphic Design
Semester: Spring 2019
Day/Time: Wednesdays – 5:30pm – 9:10pm – Classroom: Fiterman room 706
Professor Ryan Seslow – rseslow@bmcc.cuny.edu or ryan@ryanseslow.com
Office Hours: Wednesdays – 4:30pm – 5:30pm, Fiterman room 706
3 Credit Hours (2 Hours Lecture, 2 Hours Lab) – Prerequisite: ACR 094, ENG 088, and ESL 062
Course Description:
This image-based course will introduce graphic design as the foundation upon which effective visual communication is built. Investigation of the elements and principles of graphic design will lead to specific design problems and their solution. The development of ideas and the ability to communicate them effectively will be covered. Discussion of both vector and bitmap-based digital graphic platforms will begin progress toward industry-standard computer proficiency.
Class Resources:
Class Website: https://openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu/mma100-seslow-spring-2019/
We will be using a class website via the CUNY BMCC OpenLab platform to learn, support, discover, share, experiment, present and archive our course work. Our class website is a growing resource and repository of information.
Students will be expected to refer to the course website each week to obtain assignments, participate in discussions, submit their research and post their work on a regular basis. All students must sign up via e-mail to receive updates.
Recommended Text Book & Resources:
Text book: Introduction to Graphic Design: A Guide to Thinking, Process and Style – Author: Aaris Sherin, Publisher: Bloomsbury Visual Arts, ISBN: 978-1472589293
Text Book – Graphic Design: The New Basics Paperback – Author: Ellen Lupton, Jennifer Cole Phillips – Publisher: Princeton Architectural Press, 1st Edition, ISBN# 1568987021; 978-1568987026
* Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign Visual Quickstart Guides (Peachpit Press)
* Lynda.com & Adobe Tutorials (adobe.com)
Use of Technology: Software used: Adobe Creative Suite 6 with Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign.
Students will need a portable media system for storing and backing up their work (a flash drive or external drive works well) Students should also consider creating an account on Dropbox. Students are 100% responsible for their files and maintaining them.
*Students will bring a sketchbook, pencils and an eraser to each class.
BMCC Computer Labs: Labs are in Fiterman Hall, Chambers Street and the Murray Street buildings. Please see the school website for the schedule: http://www.bmcc.cuny.edu/it
Evaluations and Requirements:
Class and homework assignments: ———- 50%
Midterm Project: ———————————- 15%
Final Project: ———————————- 20%
Class performance and attendance: ———- 10%
Final Assessment blog post ——————– 5%
Assignments must be posted to our website and or handed in on time. Points will be deducted on work handed in late. There will be some in-class assignments as well as homework to be done outside of class. Assignments can always be revised and re-submitted for the consideration of a better grade.
Grading Scale: (this class uses the CUNY grading scale)
- The grade of A is awarded for excellence. An A student turns in all work consistently with very high standards of quality, creativity, and original thinking. This student also performs exceptionally in presentations and critiques.
- The grade of B is awarded to students who have turned in all work consistently with high quality standards. The work shows creative thinking, extra effort, and care in presentation. B students have demonstrated knowledge that surpasses the basic material and skills of the course.
- The grade of C is earned when all class work is turned in and the student has mastered the basic material and skills of the course.
This student participated in class and demonstrated knowledge of the basic material and skills.
- The grade of D or F is given for work that is incomplete, late, and/or does not demonstrate mastery of the basic material and skills of the course.
| Course Student Learning Outcomes
(Students will be able to…) |
Measurements (means of assessment for student learning outcomes listed in first column |
| 1. Demonstrate software proficiency in industry standard bitmap and vector graphics.
|
1. Homework assignments |
| 2. Demonstrate an understanding of the principles and elements of design and color theory.
|
2. Assignments and critiques |
| 3. Create an effective page layout that incorporates principles of graphic design.
|
3. Midterm and final project |
| 4. Demonstrate an ability to use text as a visual vehicle of communication design.
|
4. Homework assignments |
| 5. Solve relevant issues of logo design and identity branding.
|
5. Identity branding assignments |
Outline of Topics:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| COURSE OUTLINE: (Schedule is subject to change as needed)
Week 1 – What is Graphic Design? Class introductions and our learning potentials. Design Solutions: Strategy, Concept, Design, Execution & Production
Exploring the Design Process: Thumbnails, Roughs & Comps Assignment #1 Week 2 – Elements of Design: Brainstorming, process, variations & avoiding cliche’ Line, Shape, Value, Color, Texture & Visual Flow. Portfolio Basic, examples & considerations Assignment #1a Week 3 – Principles of Design: Positive and Negative Space, Composition / Figure ground Balance, Emphasis, Rhythm, Unity Working with Raster software – Photoshop / scanning Framing: cropping, bleeds, borders and margins Assignment #2 Week 4 – Layouts and Visual Relationships Using a Grid Format / Other Layout Formats Contrast, Repetition, Alignment, Proximity Color Theory – The color wheel, making color choices Primary color systems: RGB (additive) and CMYK (subtractive) Assignment #3 Week 5 – Typography Letterforms / Designing with Type –
Assignment #4 Week 6 – Color & Type Continued Additive, Subtractive (RGB, CMYK) – Mood & Perception
** Midterm Project Discussion, expectations, process & presentation Week 7 – Midterm Project Workshop – Full class lab session Week 8 – Midterm Project Workshop – Full class lab sessions with draft presentations Week 9 – Midterm project Critique – Full class group critique Week 10 – Layout and Arrangement
In class assignment #5 Week 11 – Visual Identity and Branding, Imagery in Design: Logos, Symbols Logos and Visual Identity, Creating a logo design brief Type in Logos, Symbols, Icons & Pictograms What is Visual Identity? Brands and Branding, research, discovery and process Assignment #5A Week 12 – Designing Posters Integrating Concept with Visual Elements Poster Design & Poster Design History Assignment #6 **Final Project Discussion, expectations, process & presentation Week 13 – Final Project Workshop – Full class lab session Final projects thumbnails and development. Week 14 – Final Project Workshop Final projects & portfolio preparation workshop continued. Week 15 – FINAL PROJECT PRESENTATIONS / Full Class Critique
Below are the college’s general education learning outcomes, the outcomes that checked in the left-hand column indicate goals that will be covered and assessed in this course.
BMCC is committed to the health and well‐being of all students. It is common for everyone to seek assistance at some point in their life, and there are free and confidential services on campus that can help. Single Stop www.bmcc.cuny.edu/singlestop, room S230, 212‐220‐8195. If you are having problems with food or housing insecurity, finances, health insurance or anything else that might get in the way of your studies at BMCC, come by the Single Stop Office for advice and assistance. Assistance is also available through the Office of Student Affairs, S350, 212‐220‐ 8130. Counseling Center www.bmcc.cuny.edu/counseling, room S343, 212‐220‐8140. Counselors assist students in addressing psychological and adjustment issues (i.e., depression, anxiety, and relationships) and can help with stress, time management and more. Counselors are available for walk‐in visits. Office of Compliance and Diversity www.bmcc cuny.edu/aac, room S701, 212-220-1236. BMCC is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive learning environment free of unlawful discrimination/harassment, including sexual harassment, where all students are treated fairly. For information about BMCC’s policies and resources, or to request additional assistance in this area, please visit or call the office, or email olevy@bmcc.cuny.edu, or twade@bmcc.cuny.edu. If you need immediate assistance, please contact BMCC Public safety at 212-220-8080. Office of Accessibility www.bmcc.cuny.edu/accessibility, room N360 (accessible entrance: 77 Harrison Street), 212-220-8180. This office collaborates with students who have documented disabilities, to coordinate support services, reasonable accommodations, and programs that enable equal access to education and college life. To request an accommodation due to a documented disability, please visit or call the office. College Attendance Policy At BMCC, the maximum number of absences is limited to one more hour than the number of hours a class meets in one week. For example, you may be enrolled in a three-hour class. In that class, you would be allowed 4 hours of absence (not 4 days). In the case of excessive absences, the instructor has the option to lower the grade or assign an F or WU grade. BMCC Policy on Plagiarism and Academic Integrity Statement Plagiarism is the presentation of someone else’s ideas, words or artistic, scientific, or technical work as one’s own creation. Using the idea or work of another is permissible only when the original author is identified. Paraphrasing and summarizing, as well as direct quotations, require citations to the original source. Plagiarism may be intentional or unintentional. Lack of dishonest intent does not necessarily absolve a student of responsibility for plagiarism. Students who are unsure how and when to provide documentation are advised to consult with their instructors. The library has guides designed to help students to appropriately identify a cited work. The full policy can be found on BMCC’s Web site, www.bmcc.cuny.edu. For further information on integrity and behavior, please consult the college bulletin (also available online). |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
