Agenda Week 3 (9/15/2026 – 9/17/2026)

Class 5
Day & Date: Tuesday, September 15th, 2026
Meeting Info: In-person in P125
Topics:

  • Project #1 due: Positive and Negative Patterns
  • Finish presentations/critique
  • Intro Project #2: Curious Compositions Concepts: Shape (organic/geometric), Frame, Figure-Ground (stable/ambiguous), Positive/Negative Space, Unity, Economy
    Activities:
  • Make sure Project #1 blog posts are up on openlab (title, categories, tags, images, reflection)
  • Group critique: all students present final inked patterns, discuss line quality, composition, and connection to chosen song
  • Peer feedback exchange
  • Project 2: Discover Stage – Make a Mind Map
  • Present project overview, learning outcomes, and the 4 required compositions (2 stable, 2 ambiguous figure-ground)
  • Guided mind-mapping exercise: write “Curiosity” at center, branch out associated words/drawings, organize and highlight 2 core concepts
    Homework:
  • Bring sketchbook, pencils, and phone/camera to next class for Project #2 kickoff

Class 6
Day & Date: Thursday, September 17th, 2026
Meeting Info: In-person in P125
Topics:

LAB time for Project 2
Activities:

  • Complete mind map if not finished in class
  • Write a 1-paragraph reflection on the 2 chosen curiosity concepts (why they spark curiosity, what it feels like)
  • Bring mind map + reflection to next class to begin thumbnail sketches (Define stage)
  • Discussion on Develop Stage https://openlab.citytech.cuny.edu/comd1100fall2026/project-2-curious-compositions/#3_Develop
    Homework:
  • Complete bring mind map + reflection to next class to begin thumbnail sketches (Define stage)

Agenda Week 2 (9/8/2026 – 9/10/2026)

Class 3

Day & Date: Tuesday, September 8th, 2026
Meeting Info: In-person in P125
Topics: https://openlab.citytech.cuny.edu/comd1100fall2026/project-1/

Materials: Sketchbook, pencils, inking pens, Bristol Board 9×12″, ruler, & tracing paper 9″x12″.

  • Define stage overview: moving from thumbnail sketches to a refined grid composition
  • Grid layout specs: 1/2″ top margin, 3″x3″ squares with 1/2″ spacing, 1″ margin between columns, name/title/semester at bottom

    Activities:
  • Demo: laying out the 6-square grid on Bristol board using a ruler
  • Select 6 strongest pattern squares from sketchbook thumbnails
  • Begin redrawing/refining selected patterns lightly in pencil within the grid

    Homework:
  • Finish lightly redrawing all 6 patterns into the grid layout
  • Bring inking pens and Bristol board to next class

Class 4


Day & Date: Thursday, September 10th, 2026
Meeting Info: In-person in P125
Topics: https://openlab.citytech.cuny.edu/comd1100fall2026/project-1/

  • Develop stage: inking the final composition, cleanup, and protecting the work
  • Deliver stage prep: photographing and posting to the class blog

    Activities:
    • Studio time: ink the full final composition using inking pens
      • Erase all pencil lines/measurements; tidy up the piece
  • Demo: packaging and protecting work with tracing paper
  • Review photographing tips (lighting, composition) and blog post requirements (title, categories, tags, reflection)

    Homework:
  • Photograph finished, inked composition in good lighting
  • Write and publish blog post: “Project 1: Positive and Negative Patterns” with Discover/Define/Develop sections, images, and written reflection
    Tag post: Category “COMD1100 Project #1,” Tags “Deliver, Negative and Positive Shapes” Project #1 due Tuesday, September 15th (before next class)

Project 1 Post

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bsc_qpFplJM&list=RDBsc_qpFplJM&start_radio=1

Starting with gathering ideas for this first project, my ideas were all scrambled since there were many songs I could choose from. Recently I went to Bruno Mars concert with my mom and felt very emotional with many songs, mainly the touching ones but this one makes me have a rush of adrenaline: Something Serious, is an upbeat, bouncy and energetic song for me, with peak moments and climax of the song, the instruments play along with the rhythm, it’s just “chef kiss” type of song for when I feel energetic. The way I depicted my feelings when listening to this song are pretty spot on, although at Discovery Stage it was a bit hard to literally ink my thoughts and feelings on paper over this song, then stopped trying to critically doubt how it would look like on Defining Stage and just went for it.

Making my work negative before the Develop Stage was a game changer since I could see and play around with the positive & negative areas of my patterns and clear some of my fears of messing up the ideas I wanted to represent. After inking the lines, it almost felt like painting a Mandala.

Agenda Week 1 (9/1/2026 – 9/3/2026)

Class 1

Day & Date: Tuesday, September 1st, 2026
Meeting Info: In-person in P125
Topics: Introduction to the Syllabus, Discuss Supplies, What is Design?
Activities: YOUTUBE: The Principles of Design

Homework: Join this Openlab Course & Register in Brightspace to know your attendance and grades.
Project #1: Positive and Negative Patterns
Start listening to Music and draw 12 patterns
***BUY Required Materials below for the first assignment.
Materials: Sketchbook, pencils, inking pens, Bristol Board 9×12″, ruler, & tracing paper 9″x12″.

Class 2

Day & Date: Thursday, September 3rd, 2026
Meeting Info: In-person in P125
Topic: Lab Time to work on Project #1
Activities: Feedback Session
Homework: Project #1: Positive and Negative Patterns – DEFINE STAGE