{"id":4,"date":"2018-07-20T14:25:46","date_gmt":"2018-07-20T14:25:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/mma235-spring2025\/syllabus\/"},"modified":"2025-01-28T19:59:59","modified_gmt":"2025-01-29T00:59:59","slug":"syllabus","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/mma235-spring2025\/about-this-class\/syllabus\/","title":{"rendered":"Syllabus"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/b>BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE<\/b><\/p>\n

The City University of New York<\/p>\n

Department of Media Arts and Technology<\/b><\/p>\n

\n

Title of Course: <\/b>MMA 235 – Visual Communication and Design <\/b><\/p>\n

Section: <\/b>1000 <\/b><\/p>\n

Semester: <\/b>Spring 2025<\/p>\n

Class Day & Time: <\/b>Thursdays, 10AM-1:40PM<\/p>\n

Classroom: <\/b>Fiterman room 1006 <\/b><\/p>\n

Class Modality: <\/b>In Person<\/p>\n

Class<\/b><\/span> <\/b>Website<\/b><\/span> <\/b>Link<\/b><\/span> <\/b>-> <\/b>https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/mma235-spring2025\/<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

\nInstructor Information: Prof. Ryan Seslow<\/b><\/p>\n

Office Hours:<\/b> Before class or by appointment<\/p>\n

Email:<\/b> rseslow@bmcc.cuny.edu<\/span><\/a> <\/span><\/p>\n

Course Description: <\/b><\/p>\n

This class builds upon principles and skills learned in Foundations of Digital Design (MMA 100). Students will apply the principles underlying effective visual communication to increasingly complex design problems. Projects may include poster design, symbols and logos, editorial design, information design, visual identity and branding and other design systems. Critical analysis of design problems and the creative design process will be emphasized. Students will complete reading and writing assignments in addition to problems in visual communications and design.<\/p>\n


\nCredits: 3<\/b><\/p>\n

Prerequisites: MMA\/ART 100<\/b><\/p>\n

Basic Skills: (ENG 88 or ESL 94) and ACR 94<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Course Student Learning Outcomes
\n(Students will be able to\u2026):<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Measurements (means of assessment for student learning outcomes listed in first column)<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

1. Create 3 highly developed and refined pieces for your design portfolio<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Possible Portfolio Projects:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • An illustration of pre-written text<\/li>\n
  • A visual identity system<\/li>\n
  • A booklet with emphasis on illustration and typography<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

2. Apply a deeper knowledge of Adobe Illustrator, and how to use Illustrator with Photoshop and InDesign. Remember which program to use for what and when.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2022 quizzes
\n<\/span>\u2022 design and portfolio projects<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

3. Analyze examples of visual communication design from professional industry.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2022\u00a0journal\/sketch book<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

4. Describe and discuss visual communication design work created in the classroom.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2022 project presentations<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

5. Evaluate visual communication design work created in the classroom.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2022 peer critiques with graded participation evaluations<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Below are the college\u2019s general education learning outcomes, the outcomes that are checked in the left-hand column indicate goals that will be covered and assessed in this course.\u00a0 <\/span>(Check at least one.)<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n\n

General Education Learning Outcomes<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Measurements <\/b><\/span>(means of assessment for student learning outcomes listed in first column)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

<\/td>\n\n

Communication Skills- Students will be able to write, read,
\nlisten and speak critically and effectively<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n\n

Quantitative Reasoning: Students will be able to use
\nquantitative skill and the concepts and methods of mathematics
\nto solve problems.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n\n

Scientific Reasoning- Students will be able to apply the
\nconcepts and methods of the natural sciences<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n\n

Social and Behavioral Science- Students will be apply the
\nconcepts and methods of the social sciences<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n\n

Arts & Humanities- Students will be able to develop
\nknowledge and understanding of the arts and literature through
\ncritiques of works of art, music, theatre and literature.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n\n

Information & Technology Literacy- Students will be able to
\ncollect, evaluate and interpret information and effectively
\nuse information technologies.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Designing personal portfolio projects.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

<\/td>\n\n

Values- Students will be able to make informed choices based
\non an understating of personal values, human diversity,
\nmulticultural awareness and social responsibility.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n\n

Recommended Text: (NOT Mandatory)<\/p>\n

Students may use the online companion, but it is not as complete as the book.<\/p>\n

Graphic Design: The New Basics Paperback:
\nSecond Edition, Revised and Expanded.<\/p>\n

Author:\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>Ellen Lupton, Jennifer Cole Phillips
\nPublisher: Princeton Architectural Press, 2nd Edition
\nISBN: 161689332X<\/span>; 978-1616893323<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Supplies:<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Google drive (the shared class link will be placed on our Brightspace page, a high capacity USB drive (look for at least<\/b> 4 gigs) You may also use a large capacity portable hard-drive for this class.<\/p>\n

Optional Materials:<\/p>\n

Sketchbook for project ideas \u2013 approx. 8.5\u201d x 11\u201d (Minimum size 5\u201dx7\u201d)<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Sketch pencils (such as: 3H, 2B, 4B)<\/li>\n
  • Erasers<\/li>\n
  • A couple of black [Sharpie] Markers (thin & thick ideally)<\/li>\n
  • Color Drawing Media (can be any or all of these: Color Pencils, Colored Ink, etc)<\/li>\n
  • Scissors & an x-acto knife (an x-acto cutting matt will be needed)<\/li>\n
  • Gluestick or StudioTac (adhesive sheets) and tape<\/li>\n
  • Collected imagery from magazines, newspapers, printouts, (etc) that you are interested in for scanning purposes and inspiration. You can also start to collect digital images on a blog or tumblr site or even on Pinterest.<\/li>\n
  • Helpx.adobe.com and\/or LinkedInLearning.com, etc. \u2013 LinkedInLearning is paid for you by BMCC!
    \n<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    A good art supply store:
    \n<\/b>Blick Art Materials<\/span>, 1-5 Bond Street, NY, NY 10012-212-533-2444<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Grades
\nand Grading:<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

The final grade will consist of exercises, assignments, the final sketch\/notebook, final portfolio, attendance and class participation. You are encouraged to meet with me during classtime to discuss your progress.<\/p>\n

To get a final grade of A in this course, you must: 1) follow instructions, 2) complete all of your work on time, 3) prove that you can use the computer as instructed in class, 4) produce well designed, creative, original solutions to assignments \u2013 appropriate to this class level (or better), and 5) demonstrate a professional demeanor and have outstanding participation.<\/p>\n

A grade of A\/A- <\/b> is given for outstanding work that exceeds requirements and demonstrates deep and independent thinking beyond the assignment or course material. Students with excessive absence cannot<\/b> earn this grade because they\u2019ll have missed the participation points.<\/p>\n

A grade of B+, B, B- <\/b>is given for good work that completely fulfills all of the requirements of the assignment, or of the course, in a conscientious and dedicated manner.<\/p>\n

A grade of C+, C, C- <\/b>is a passing but unsatisfactory grade.<\/p>\n

A grade of D+, D, D-<\/b> indicates that work does not rise to the level expected of a serious student.<\/p>\n

A grade of F<\/b> is given for work that does not fulfill the requirements of the assignment or of the course.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

RESOURCES<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Tutoring
\n<\/b><\/span>For MMP and MMA tutoring, please visit BMCC\u2019s\u00a0<\/span>tutoring schedule<\/span>: http:\/\/www.bmcc.cuny.edu\/lrc\/schedule.jsp<\/span><\/a><\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Use of Technology<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

The computer component is organized around Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop CC with emphasis on Adobe Illustrator.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Evaluation and
\nRequirements
\nof Students:<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

It is the individual student\u2019s responsibility to be informed of the assignments by watching the course website. Grades will be calculated based on: timely submission, efforts and results of assignments.<\/p>\n