Contents
GRAPHIC DESIGN PRINCIPLES
Course Coordinator
- Name: Jenna Spevack
- Title: Professor Communication Design
- Email: jspevack@citytech.cuny.edu
- Office: N1127
- Teaching: profspevack.com
- Research: jennaspevack.com
Coordination Site
Model Course
This Model Course is an openly available, fully developed web-based instructional resource containing course info, learning outcomes, suggested weekly topics and projects, video resources, quizzes, rubics, grading policy, and more.
The model course is available for cloning on the OpenLab. While logged in, click on the “Clone This Course” link. Contact the OpenLab Team with questions.
If you use Blackboard, review the Model Course content and structure for use in your Blackboard course.
Course Description
This foundation design and color theory course explores graphic communication through the understanding of the elements and principles of design, as well as the design process, including idea development through final execution. Students develop basic skills in two-dimensional design, color, and content creation while employing the design process of research, sketching, and experimentation. Communication designers use the concepts explored in this course in careers such as advertising, graphic design, web design, illustration, broadcast design, photography, and game design.
Learning Outcomes
Through hands-on experiments, collaborative learning, and individual projects, students will demonstrate:
- visual literacy using basic design elements and principles to understand and create visual media
- design process and practice utilizing effective time management and project organization
- accurate use of design vocabulary to articulate ideas and concepts in written and verbal peer critique
- an inspired personal vision to enable curiosity, creative problem-solving, and design thinking.
Syllabus
The following syllabus presents the college approved course requirements, learning outcomes, suggested weekly course outline, etc. Your students should meet the defined learning outcomes and COMD Standards, but please adapt the weekly outline, project guidelines, and grading scheme, as needed.
- COMD 1100 Syllabus (google drive)
Best Practices
Please review the Best Practices. These standards apply to all courses, whether web-enhanced, hybrid, or fully online, and may be used to inform peer evaluation of teaching.
Course Resources
This course utilizes the following Open Educational Resources (OER) and/or zero cost resources:
- Graphic Design Thinking : Beyond Brainstorming, edited by Ellen Lupton, Princeton Architectural Press, 2011. ProQuest Ebook Central [City Tech Library Card Required]
- Lupton, Ellen, and Jennifer Cole Phillips. Graphic Design : The New Basics, Princeton Architectural Press, 2008. ProQuest Ebook Central [City Tech Library Card Required]
- Leborg, Christian. Visual Grammar, Princeton Architectural Press, 2006. ProQuest Ebook Central [City Tech Library Card Required]
Foundation Resources
Please review and share the following resources with your Foundations students.
- COMD Student Advisement
- COMD Sophomore Review (All foundation courses must require students to upload two final projects to their ePortfolio. See link for details.)
- COMD Student Clubs
- Ink Club
- Art & Design Club
- Moving Pixels club
- Grace GalleryBFA Show Submissions
- ASAP
- Atrium Learning Center
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