COMD 1200, the culminating freshman design course, investigates visual communication and its relevance to graphic design. Through the process of image-making, we will integrate concepts with type and image. Students develop projects from thumbnails to final presentations while exploring multiple disciplines such as advertising, graphic design, web design, illustration, broadcast design production, and others.
Teaching/Learning Method
Group discussion (critique,) lectures, research, demonstrations, assignments, blog, reading, writing, presentation, quizzes.
Focus
Graphic designers create visual forms to communicate specific messages to specific audiences. This class focuses on developing your ability to manipulate design elements to communicate compelling, meaningful ideas.
There are not always ‘correct’ solutions—but some are more appropriate and compelling than others. Appropriate solutions are hardly ever arrived at quickly but through a series of evolutionary steps. In this class, you will develop a process that will add lifelong rational consistency to your work.
Instructional Objectives/Assessment
- Evaluate methods and criteria
- Compose form conceptually, as opposed to composing through collage
- Demonstrate competency through four projects with multiple parts
- Analyze, productively and diplomatically, during a presentation; give and receive constructive criticism during critiques
General Education Outcomes
| General education outcome covered | How the outcome is assessed |
|---|---|
| Information Literacy: Demonstrate the ability to find information through proper resources. | Research, writing and presenting a design report. |
| Oral Communication and Listening: Demonstrate the ability to discern pertinent information from irrelevant information. | Critiques demonstrate the understanding of concepts. |
| Thinking Critically: Demonstrate the ability to evaluate strengths and relevance of arguments on a particular issue. | Through student’s ability to advance concepts |
Learning Outcomes
Assignments and discussions are geared to ensure that each student:
1. Understands the production steps required to complete projects.
2. Implement design and production tools (analog and digital).
3. Integrates project pacing and deadlines.
4. Explores various aspects of a dynamic layout.
5. Employs conceptual thinking, as opposed to the collaging of images.
6. Analyzes imagery critically, productively, and diplomatically.
7. Assembles all material cleanly and professionally.
Scaffolded Process
Assignments are scaffolded: knowledge gained and completed in each assignment provides material for the next assignment. Participation, asking questions, and discussing your decisions, provides clarity for your next assignment and provides an understanding of the design principles necessary for any visual study. You must complete each project to begin the next.
Project Requirements
Experimentation is encouraged. Mistakes are part of the learning process.
However: It is critical that you present your work each day!
Clean, precise images with a resolution that ensures image clarity are mandatory for critique.
Assignments will follow professional design processes, including sketching, presentation, discussion, and final configuration.
Students will have one week after each class critique to revise their projects.
You must create/author all your images.
Course Website
We will be using this OpenLab https://openlab.citytech.cuny.edu/childers-comd1200fall2021/. site for hosting assignments, and discussions. Please create an account, sign on, and request access to the site. Questions? Please ask!
Students will refer to this website for course content and reference material. This will be our most consistent communication vehicle. It is the student’s responsibility to check the site before each class meeting for instructions.
Google Drive
address to come
All final projects must be submitted digitally.
Upload as jpgs, unless otherwise specified, to our Google Drive designated folder.
All files will be named as follows:
course_season year_project name_last name_first name
For example:
comd1200_f21_letterform white_smith_amy
Miro
We will use Miro as our work “board” during class.
GD2 F21 https://miro.com/app/board/o9J_l1W5c8Q=/
Membership is free, please enroll and bookmark the site (or download) before the first class.
Communication
Please be sure to check your Citytech email (or whichever email you provide to me on the first session) on a constant basis. I will be contacting you via email with reminders, changes, and other pertinent information. Check email at least 24 hrs before class or more often. Make sure that your email mailbox is not overloaded. It is your responsibility to manage your mailbox so that lines of communication are open and available.
Project handouts, presentations, and syllabus/calendars are posted on our website. If you misplace your project handouts you will find them on the site.
Expectations
Classes begin promptly at 6:00. To do well in this course, arrive at class on time, ready to work, with all materials and your homework completed.
Homework is graded at the beginning of class every day. Homework credit will not be given if your homework is late without a valid excuse.
We have a 15-minute break halfway through class.
Late attendance, extended breaks, and leaving early will affect your grade.
