Syllabus - Graphic Design Portfolio
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
There is no textbook for this class. This Web site will be used with additional handouts as needed.
Resource Websites
www.craigkunce.com will be used in this class.
Course Description and Objectives
Students will gain experience in all aspects of the job search including:
• Where to find jobs • Mailing resumes • Answering difficult interview questions
• Reading a job posting • Color Samples Page • Dressing for an Interview
• Researching employers • References • Presenting your portfolio
• Resume writing • Artist’s portfolio • Questions to ask employers
• Cover letters • Interviewing • Informational interviews
• Job applications • Thank you letters • Negotiating salary
• Selling your abilities • Locating employers • Following up and getting hired!
Course Goal
Students will learn how to find a job opening, create job search materials (including a graphic designer’s portfolio), acquire the skills needed to apply and interview for a job, and learn how to successfully negotiate getting hired. Students will also gain valuable experience learning to rely on themselves, and their own resourcefulness to succeed in class and life.
Projects
- Project 1 - Find A Job (25 pts)
- Project 2 - Resume (50 pts)
- Project 3 - Cover Letter (25 pts)
- Project 4 - Color Samples (25 pts)
- Project 5 - PDF Portfolio (25 pts)
- Project 6 - Portfolio Web Site (50 pts)
- Project 7 - Interviewing (50 pts)
- Project 8 - Portfolio (100 pts)
- Project 9 - Present Portfolio (50 pts)
- Project 10 - Western’s Annual Portfolio Review (50 pts)
Total Points 450
Final Grade
A 450–405, B 404–360, C 359–315, D 314–270, F 269–0
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.
Take the Graduate Survey
Click here to take the annual graphic design graduate survey
