Design Fundamentals

Syllabus - Design Fundamentals

By CRAIG KUNCE

Instructor: Craig Kunce
Credits: 3
Address: 400 N 7th ST, La Crosse, WI 54601
Office: C109E (Coleman Building)
Office phone: (608) 785-9164
Fax: (608) 785-9473
E-mail: kuncec@westerntc.edu
Web site: craigkunce.com
Teaching Schedule:(also posted outside my office)
Western's Student Handbook
Western Calendar

Textbooks

Visit the Western Campus Bookstore to buy your book
1. Color Harmony Compendium, Marks, MINE, Origin & Sutton

Resource Websites

www.craigkunce.com will be used in this class.

Course Description and Objectives

Students will gain design therory knowledge and experience applying the design process, design principles and design elements to industry-quality graphic design projects.

Course Goal

To teach students how to successfully design industry-quality marketing and advertising material utilizing the design process, design principles and design elements.

Projects

Group Work
(10 pts. ea.)

Week 1: Collaborative Groups
Week 2: Creativity
Week 3: What is Graphic Design
Week 4: Brand, Concept, Style
Week 5: The Grid, Layout, Art/Photo Direction
Week 6: Typography
Week 7: Color
Week 8: Design Principles: Unity, Emphasis, Balance, Rhythm
Week 9: Design Elements: Line, Shape, Texture, Space, Motion, Value
Week 10: Design Analysis: Packaged Products
Week 11: Design Analysis: Web sites (web vs. mobile)
Week 12: Design Analysis: Multiple page brochures
Week 13: Design Analysis: Advertisements
Week 14: Design Analysis: Newspapers or Magazines
Week 15: Design Analysis: Direct Mail

Design Work

Project 1: Logo

20 B/W Thumbnail Sketches (marker or pencil) - 10 pts
3 Color Comps (in marker) - 10 pts
Present Thumbs and 3 Comps to Class - 5 pts
1 Color Tight Final Comp (in marker) - 20 pts
Present Final Comp to Class - 5 pts

Project 2: Poster (same company as logo)

20 B/W Thumbnail Sketches (marker or pencil) - 10 pts
3 Color Comps (in marker) - 10 pts
Present Thumbs and 3 Comps to Class - 5 pts
1 Color Tight Final Comp (in marker) - 20 pts
Present Final Comp to Class - 5 pts

Project 3: Packaging Re-Design (you must choose a current packaged product)

20 B/W Thumbnail Sketches (marker or pencil) - 10 pts
3 Color Comps (in marker) - 10 pts
Present Thumbs and 3 Comps to Class - 5 pts
1 Color Tight Final Comp (in marker) - 20 pts
Present Final Comp to Class - 5 pts

Project 4: Web Site and Mobile Home Page Design

20 B/W Thumbnail Sketches (marker or pencil) - 10 pts
3 Color Comps (in marker) - 10 pts
Present Thumbs and 3 Comps to Class - 5 pts
1 Color Tight Final Comp (in marker) - 20 pts
Present Final Comp to Class - 5 pts

Total Semester Points: 350

Final Grade

A = 350–315, B = 314–280, C = 279–245, D = 244–210, F = 209–0

Attendance

You must come to class. You will be graded on your ability to complete quality assignments on time. Meet the project and group work deadlines, and put a lot of effort and quality into your projects, and you will do well.

Back Up Your Work - And Keep It

Keep all of your work and/or computer files. You will need them for your graphic design portfolio. You will need an external hard drive to back up your work. Be sure to always have at least three copies of your computer files—at all times! Investing a little time now to back up your work will pay off when you loose a file or if you disk goes bad—like they tend to do—when you least expect it.

Western Student E-mail

Use your Western e-mail at least once each semeter or it will automatially deactivate. You can reactivate it through MyWestern, but it is easier to just use it each semester.

Special Needs

Please let me know within the first week if you have any special needs. We will do our best to accommodate you. If you are in need of support services or accommodations for a disability, please see me and/or the Disability Services staff, located in ARC 154, phone (608) 785-9875.

Academic Success Center and Online Writing Center

The Academic Success Center (ASC) and the Online Writing Center provide assistance with all stages of the writing process. The ASC is located in Coleman 227, and the OWC can be found at http://learn.westerntc.edu/writing center. Visit these centers to see what they have to offer.

Course Materials

Bring your art kit to class. You will need these materials to work in class—especially note taking materials, pencils, erasers, etc.

C or Better Grade Policy

You must earn a C or better grade in all classes in the graphic design degree in order to graduate. Classes with a D or F must be repeated and a C or better earned.

Project Grading

A = 100% - 90%, B = 89% - 80%, C = 79% - 70%, D = 69% - 60%, F = 59% - 0%

Cheating and Plagiarism

Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated. Your work must be original and not taken or borrowed from another source. You may be "influenced" by another designer/artist's work, but yours should look considerably different. If a student is caught cheating or plagiarizing the teacher reserves the right to drop them from the class, and pursue a program drop.

Late Projects/Assignments Policy

• Late 1–7 days = lose 20% (2 letter grades)
• After 7 days = zero points
• Missed in-class group work, projects and presentations cannot be made up = zero points

Drop Policy

I do not drop students from my class.
You will receive the grade you earned in the class at the end of the semester. If you need to drop the course, for whatever reason, you must do it yourself within the appropriate timeframe.

Mutual Respect

I expect all of you to conduct yourself in a professional, courteous, and respectful manner. Please be respectful of your fellow classmates--it makes for a positive learning environment. My goal is to create and maintain and safe creative environment where all student, not matter their skill level, feel comfortable showing their work and receiving feedback and constructive criticism.

Speak To Me About Issues

Please talk to me if you have a situation or issue that may affect your progress in class. I am reasonable, we can usually work these issues out before they affect your grade and success in the class.

Western College-Wide Learning Outcomes

Use effective communication skills
Apply mathematical concepts
Transfer social and natural science theories into practical applications
Demonstrate ability to think critically
Demonstrate ability to value self and work ethically with others in a diverse population
Use technology effectively
Make decisions that incorporate the importance of sustainability

Graphic Design Program Outcomes

Apply the principles of design to develop strategic marketing and communication products and services
- Direct Measures
  - Portfolio Presentation
  - Verbal and Written Critiques
- Criteria
  - You select appropriate assets for a given project
  - You effectively use typography, illustration, photography, color and layout to meet design objective
  - You demonstrate appropriate writing and editing skills
  - You follow industry standards and respond to current trends
Demonstrate proficiency in the use of design software, tools and technology
- Direct Measures
  - Portfolio Presentation
  - Digital file review
  - Verbal and Written Critiques
- Criteria
  - You select appropriate tools, software and technology for the project
  - You use appropriate tools, software and technology to meet project requirements
  - You apply tools, software and technology according to current industry standards
  - You demonstrate neat, precise and efficient production techniques that meet established standards and guidelines
Implement creative solutions from concept through completion using a formal process
- Direct Measures
  - Portfolio Presentation
  - Verbal and Written Critiques
- Criteria
  - You define the design problem
  - You research solutions to the design problem
  - You develop and revise options for solving the design problem
  - You follow a formal design process by producing thumbnails, roughs, and comprehensives
  - You implement solutions to the design problem
  - You evaluate results
  - You articulate the specific strategic, aesthetic, media and production considerations that influenced the final product
Apply effective legal and ethical business practices and project management skills
- Direct Measures
  - Portfolio Presentation
  - Verbal and Written
- Critiques
  - You utilize legally obtained software, images and fonts
  - You apply project management strategies effectively to meet customer and market demands
  - You describe pricing and estimating guidelines
  - You demonstrate environmental and social responsibility
  - You collaborate with other members of the design and production team
Communicate artwork rationale in formal and informal settings
- Direct Measures
  - Portfolio Presentation
  - Verbal and Written Critiques
  - Industry Interviews
- Criteria
  - You collaborate and communicate with members of the design team
  - You articulate rationale using design vocabulary
  - You listen to others and re-frame or re-interpret their point of view for clarification
  - You communicate design rationale in terms the client can understand
Collaborate with Clients/Industry
- Direct Measures
  - Portfolio Presentation
  - Verbal and Written Critiques
- Criteria
  - You collaborate with a real business/org to complete a design project
  - You articulate rationale using deign vocabulary
  - You communicate design rationale in term the client can understand
  - You demonstrate strong understanding and applicaiton of Learning Outcomes 1–5

Instructor Evaluation

(Click here to take Craig's instructor evaluation)