Moorpark College Graphic Design

GR M23 – Intro to Computer Graphics Syllabus

Class Hours: 2 lecture, 3 lab (per week)

Instructor: Nancy Haberman

Surveys computer graphics applications and introduces basic web design and print issues.

Provides hands-on experience with the Adobe Creative Suite: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, and Adobe Acrobat.

Applies to Associate Degree. Transfer Credit: CSU.

This Class Meets on Wednesdays, 6pm–10:50pm in Com. 109

Best Ways to Reach Me:

Email: nancy@desktopdesign.net (It is important that you type GRM23 in the subject line so that your email is not classified as spam.)

Special Needs: If you have a disability, you are encouraged to contact ACCESS at 378-1461. Their office is just to the right of the Campus Center Building. They will help you determine what assistance is available for you.

Books and Materials:

Layout Workbook, by Kristin Cullen, Rockport, 2005 – required

Getting it Printed, 4th Edition, by Eric Kenly and Mark Beach (recommended to all students following a “print” path)

Any book that covers the Adobe Creative Suite CS5 is recommended, not required.

Related reading can be accessed through the blog or the internet. Please do not download anything from the internet nor copy anything from the classroom computers without instructor permission.

YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO USE THE INTERNET OR COMPUTERS DURING CLASS LECTURE UNLESS SPECIFICALLY INSTRUCTED TO DO SO. NO GAMES, TEXT MESSAGING, PHONE CALLS OR INSTANT MESSAGING DURING CLASS. This is for the benefit of the entire class. Please step outside the classroom if you must use your phone for emergency only.

We’re all learning all of the time. Nowhere is constant change more ubiquitous than in the world of computers, especially when it comes to software and graphic design. Often times keeping up with all of the changes in the software is pretty hard for us to wrap our brains around! This is said, not to frighten you, but to let you know that it’s not only okay, but it is your responsibility to do all assignments on time and ask questions when you get confused. Each student is expected to post his or her own assignments, contribute to class discussion by asking questions and share commentary on projects with the class.

Objectives: Gain a fundamental understanding of programs covered by working on assignments that simulate real world projects.

1.  Continued development of your knowledge and understanding of applied Graphic Design as a segment of the multimedia communications medium.

2. Understand the program’s tools and have the basic ability to use them correctly and efficiently.

3. Make steady progress in your understanding of how graphic files are constructed.

4. Create original images with integrated type or stylized lettterforms when appropriate.

5. Develop an individual style.

6. Know when each program should be used for specific results.

7. Work hard as a part of a design team; share problems, solutions, techniques, laughter.

8. Challenge yourself to go beyond the basic requirement of every project to demonstrate your new skills.

9. Have fun! More learning takes place when we are enjoying the exploration and experience!

Materials required:

1. USB Flash Drive with free space

2. Access to a Digital camera (phone or point and shoot okay), camera to USB cable (must be with you at ALL times)

3. 3- or 5-tab Manilla folders (one for each project)

4. Notebook or pad, lined or unlined, sketchbook or journal (must be with you at ALL times)

5. Color Printer*

* Access the appropriate color printer (your instructor will help you choose) for your project: the college photo lab’s color giclee printers, or the color laser in the printshop. “Print cards” will be available, by request, to make final prints of your projects.

Class overview and expectations:

Introduction to Computer Graphics surveys the Adobe Creative Suite by exploring a variety of commonly encountered graphics challenges. This class is a must for those pursuing a career in the field of business graphics, commercial art and graphic design, film, animation, the internet (web design and development), pre-press/graphic production, or the fine arts.

Experience:

Previous computer experience is not required. Prior or concurrent course work in fine arts, graphic design, printing/pre-press, multimedia or photography is encouraged. This class is a 5-hr/week class, and consists of a combination of lecture and lab time, roughly split in half. Standard expectations for college coursework are 3 hours of homework for each lecture hour, so you should expect to spend between 4 and 6 hours each week on homework. Homework assignments, projects, required reading and deadlines will be posted on the blog. Open Lab Hours will be posted after the semester’s schedules are in place for the Labs in Com109 (Mac lab) or Com151 (PC lab). The Computer Learning Center has some of the graphics programs we will be using in class and is available for student use. Students who choose to do lab work outside of the classroom are still required to be present during all class hours and are still responsible for all materials introduced during the entire class period.

Attendance: Do Not Underestimate how this affects your grade!

Attendance in class is mandatory and is a part of your grade. You are expected to arrive at class on time. To assure the recording of your attendance, it is imperative upon you, the student, to be on time as your class start time is known in advance.

Any email containing questions or other communication should be sent with subject line that is GRM23. If you must be absent, you are still responsible for everything covered in that class session and deadlines still apply to you.

Assignments:

It is your responsibility to check for updates to the assignments. When in doubt, ask questions.

All assignments will have a due date assigned and work turned in after the due date will be considered late and marked down. You will be notified by email if any assignments you turned in are sub-par and do not satisfy the requirements, in which case you will have the opportunity to rework the assignment and turn it in for full credit. Almost everything can be improved, and refinement of your assignment is part of the learning process in this class, in fact, it is part of the design process as well.

All assignments must submitted in two formats:

1. Printed in high resolution-in a manilla folder

2. Digital files posted on on the file server

3. jpg attached to email sent to instructor

4. Posted online in the class blog

You will receive more specific instructions explaining just how the format should be submitted during class.

Grades:

Your assignment success is determined by the following criteria:

1. Timeliness – have your met the published deadline?

2. Concept – do you have a “good idea?” Have you creatively visualized the idea?

3. Technique – how effectively have you communicated the idea using the appropriate tools available to you inside and outside of the classroom?

Overall grade is determined by successfully meeting the following criteria:

1. Attendance & Classroom Participation

2. Assignment Quality & Effective Communication

3. In-class exercises

4 Midterm project

5 Final project

Weight distribution:

1. Final project – 20%

2. Midterm project – 15%

3. Assignments and In-class exercises – 35%

4. Attendance and Classroom Participation – 30%

Exams:

NO written exams, but there are critiques throughout the semester. Everyone is expected to participate in the critique of the projects as part of the grade. Details of the midterm and final projects will be discussed during the course of the semester.

Extra Credit:

Students may approach the instructor at any time with concepts for extra credit projects. Weight of extra credit will be determined on an individual basis by the instructor. Projects much have the same challenges as the assigned ones if they are to be counted.