Syllabus

(Students will be able to…)

1.     Design – Elements of design, principles of design and color theory

2.     Digital Graphics – Raster vs. Vector, sampling files

3.     Design Process – the creative brief, working with clients, brainstorming, consideration of your audience, promotion and ethics

4.     Software Proficiency – Vector graphics (Illustrator), raster graphics (Photoshop), page layout (Illustrator)

5.     Typography – type, fonts, letter forms and designing with type

6.     Developing and Applying Brand Identity – Logos, creating consistent look across media

7.     Design Formats – Posters, spreads & layouts

Weeks 1 – 6 – What is Graphic Design?

Class introductions and our learning potentials together. Design Solutions: Strategy, Concept, Design, Execution & Production

• What does a graphic designer do?
• How is design different from art?
• Areas of specification in graphic design

Exploring the Design Process: Thumbnails, Roughs & Comps

Assignment #1 – Elements & Principles (3 parts) Layout and Poster

• Software: Photoshop overview – the interface and tools + what it is used for in the industry
• Managing Photoshop files across other software platforms

Elements of Design: Brainstorming, process, variations & avoiding cliche’

Line, Shape, Value, Color, Texture & Visual Flow. Portfolio Basics, examples & considerations

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 – Post Card Design – Layout, Composition & Assets

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 2B: Illustrator, Shapes, Forms, Composition & Color

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Weeks #7 –13: Designing Posters – Vector Portraits, Type & Typography, Branding, Logos & Portfolios

Integrating Concept with Visual Elements – Poster Design & Poster Design History

Assignment #3 – Vector art, Vector portraits & posters

Layout and Arrangement

• Emphasis
• Scale and placement
• Software: Illustrator overview – the interface and tools + what it is used for in the industry – Mastering the Pen tool and its transcendent abilities with other software applications.
• Managing Photoshop files in Illustrator
• Basics of the type tool in Illustrator

Color & Type Continued – Additive, Subtractive (RGB, CMYK) – Mood & Perception

 Assignment #4 – Typography & Designing with Type

• Terminals and decoration
• Typographic hierarchy
• Spacing and alignment
• Kerning and leading
• Choosing type
• Type and color / scale & weight

Assignment #5 – Logos, Icons, Branding & Letterforms

Communication through products & services, promotional items, self promotion, branding, branding culture & the Internet.

Choosing a final project subject – pulling it all together / portfolio experimentation and tutorials.

Week 14 – Final Project work sessions

Week 15 – Final 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.

Class Participation:

Participation in the academic activity of each course is highly recommended and an important component of the learning process. This can play a role in the overall student academic achievement. Academic activities may include, but are not limited to, attending class, generating and submitting assignments, engaging in in-class or online activities, and/or participating in group / collaborative work. Each instructor has the right to establish their own class participation policy, and it is each student’s responsibility to be familiar with and follow the participation policies for each course. Students are encouraged to communicate with the professor and their class mates about their individual learning needs, desired skills of interest and relatedness to the process of growing as a contributor to the 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).