Course Information

Course Number: COMD 2300

Course Title: Communication Design 1

Course Description:

This is a foundation course in advertising and graphic design. This is a basic course in advertising and graphic design that aims to challenge students to use both foundational skills and conceptual thinking to create innovative solutions. Through this course, students will learn how to communicate their ideas visually through art direction and verbally through copywriting. The coursework consists of project-based assignments that will take students from the initial concept to digital output. In the process, students will need to consider the target audience, product, and marketing objectives. The importance of professional execution, conceptual thinking, and presentation of ideas will also be emphasized. Furthermore, students will have the opportunity to collaborate in teams during the design and development process.

Credits / Hours: 3 credits: 6 hrs (1 class 5 lab hrs)

Section Number: E098

Pre/Co-requisites: COMD 1162, COMD 1200, COMD 2327, CDMG 2330

Class Meetings

Online Space(s):

In-person Location:

  • Monday & Thursday from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm in Pearl 122

Faculty Information

Professor(s) Name:

  • Prof. Anmol Dhamrait

In-Person Office Hours/Information:

  • Mondays & Thursdays from 5:30 pm to 6:00 pm & 8:30 pm to 9:00 pm
  • Book time in advance to meet during office hours in Calendly.

Contact Information:

  • Email: anmol.dhamrait23@citytech.cuny.edu

Course Objectives:

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

  • Understand the fundamental concepts of advertising and graphic design.
  • Apply creative and conceptual thinking to develop innovative design solutions.
  • Communicate ideas visually through art direction.
  • Create compelling written content for advertising purposes.
  • Utilize various creative and technical tools used in the industry.
  • Demonstrate proficiency in the design process from concept to digital output.
  • Collaborate effectively in design and development teams.
  • Analyze and consider target audience, product, and marketing objectives.
  • Present design ideas and solutions professionally.

Course Topics:

  • Introduction to Advertising and Graphic Design
  • Principles of Visual Communication
  • Creative Thinking Methods and Ideation
  • Art Direction and Visual Composition
  • Copywriting and Verbal Communication in Advertising
  • Design Processes and Project Management
  • Research and Analysis in Design
  • Modern Trends in Design and Media
  • Print, Digital, and Social Media Design
  • Visual Sketching and Rapid Prototyping
  • Presentation Skills and Delivery

Learning Outcomes

  • Lectures
  • Examples / Reference
  • Critiques
  • Formal Presentations

Teaching/Learning Methods

Suggested Readings:

  • For the Culture By Marcus Collins
  • Hey Whipple, Squeeze This by Luke Sullivan John
  • AdWeek is the leading source of news and insight serving the brand marketing ecosystem. Design annuals and awards: The One Club, Cannes, and Clio
  • MAGAZINES: Print, Communications Arts, Adweek
  • NEWSPAPERS: NY Times (free Digital subscription via CUNY email)

Technology Requirements

  • Sketchbooks and Drawing Supplies
  • Access to Design Software (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite)
  • Access to Google Drive (Docs and Slides)
  • Textbooks and Supplementary Readings (provided by instructor)

Grading Policy

  • Project 1 & Presentation 22%
  • Project 2 & Presentation 22%
  • Project 3 & Presentation 22%
  • Project 4 & Presentation 22%
  • Attendance & Class Participation 12%

Download the Rubric below for your reference:

COMD_2300_Grading_Rubric_General-1Download

Class Etiquette & Netiquette

Learning is a group activity. The behavior of each person in class affects the overall learning environment. As a COMD student you are expected to act professionally; and to be respectful of the learning process, your instructor, and your fellow students. And hopefully, have fun!

  • Learning with the OpenLab (Tutorial)
  • OpenLab Community Guidelines
  • Netiquette Guide (CUNY School of Professional Studies)
  • You will be expected to come to class prepared to explain and defend your ideas.
  • All preliminary creative developmental research & work is expected to be done as homework
  • A minimum of 4 hours a week is expected to be spend on classwork outside of the classroom.

Attendance (College) and Lateness (Department) Policies

Attendance is taken and is important to success in this class. Both absences and arrivals more than 15 minutes after the start of class will be marked. If excessive, the instructor will alert the student that he or she may be in danger of not meeting the course objectives and participation expectations, which could lead to a lower grade.

If this course is being offered asynchronously, attendance and lateness are determined by timely participation in discussion, posting, and commenting deadlines set by the instructor.

COMD Attendance Policy

The COMD BFA and AAS are design studio programs. In-class activities and engagement with other students are a significant portion of the courses. Absences in excess of 10% of the total class hours will affect your final grade due to an inability to meet participation and in-class activity requirements. No more than 4 class absences will be allowed. It is expected that you will be ready to work at the start of each period.COMD DEPARTMENT

Accessibility Statement

City Tech is committed to supporting the educational goals of enrolled students with disabilities in the areas of enrollment, academic advisement, tutoring, assistive technologies, and testing accommodations. If you have or think you may have a disability, you may be eligible for reasonable accommodations or academic adjustments as provided under applicable federal, state, and city laws. You may also request services for temporary conditions or medical issues under certain circumstances. If you have questions about your eligibility or would like to seek accommodation services or academic adjustments, you can leave a voicemail at 718-260-5143, send an email to:  Accessibility@citytech.cuny.edu, or visit the Center’s website at  http://www.citytech.cuny.edu/accessibility/ for more information. 

Student Success Center

Throughout the semester, I may send you messages about how you are doing in this class. If the message indicates that there is something you need to work on, you may be contacted by the Student Success Center. A Student Success Center Coach will reach out to you by phone, text, and email to offer support and suggest additional resources to support your success in this course. I encourage you to respond and work with the Student Success Center to improve your performance in our class.

Academic Integrity (Cheating/Plagiarism)

Students and all others who work with information, ideas, texts, images, music, inventions, and other intellectual property owe their audience and sources accuracy and honesty in using, crediting, and citation of sources. As a community of intellectual and professional workers, the college recognizes its responsibility for providing instruction in information literacy and academic integrity, offering models of good practice, and responding vigilantly and appropriately to infractions of academic integrity. Accordingly, academic dishonesty is prohibited at The City University of New York and is punishable by penalties, including failing grades, suspension, and expulsion. More information about the College’s policy on Academic Integrity may be found in the College Catalog. 

City Tech Diversity & Inclusive Education Statement

This course welcomes students from all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. In accordance with the City Tech and CUNY missions, this course intends to provide an atmosphere of inclusion, respect, and mutual appreciation of differences so that together we can create an environment in which all students can flourish. It is the instructor’s goal to provide materials and activities that are welcoming and accommodating of diversity in all of its forms, including race, gender identity and presentation, ethnicity, national origin, religion, cultural identity, socioeconomic background, sexuality and sexual orientation, ability, neurodivergence, age, and etc. Your instructor is committed to equity and actively seeks ways to challenge institutional racism, sexism, ableism, and other forms of prejudice. Your input is encouraged and appreciated. If a dynamic that you observe or experience in the course concerns you, you may respectfully inform your instructor without fear of how your concerns will affect your grade.  Let your instructor know how to improve the effectiveness of the course for you personally, or for other students or student groups. We acknowledge that NYCCT is located in the traditional homelands of the Canarsie and Lenape peoples.

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