Syllabus

Course Information

COMD1100 Graphic Design Principles I
This foundation design and color theory course explores graphic communication through the understanding and use 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.

Credits, Hours
3 Credits, 6 hours (1 lecture, 5 lab)

Section
D054

Course Site

https://openlab.citytech.cuny.edu/diamondcomd1100spring2023

Class Meetings

In person

Monday 2:30-5:00pm Pearl 125- (we’ll sometimes work in 123 lab)

Thursdays 2:30-5:00pm Pearl 125

Faculty Information

Professor Carol Diamond

Office hours/information:

In person Pearl 125- 1:30-2:30pm
Zoom by appointment

Contact Information:

EMAIL cdiamond@cuny.citytech.edu
carol@caroldiamond.com

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.

Teaching/Learning Methods

Presentation and discussion
Visual and tactile examples
Hands-on projects
In-class and online peer critique sessions
Team collaboration
Design thinking exercises
Individual reflection/documentation
Field trips / Museum visits
Sketch book
Writing and blogging on OpenLab & ePortfolio

CourseDescription:

Course Description

This basic 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 disciplines such as advertising, graphic design, web design, illustration, broadcast design, photography, and game design.

All projects will include thumbnail sketches, “research and exploration, multiple iterations and revisions, effective technical execution, on-going critical reflection and feedback, and professional delivery through verbal, and visual presentation”.

(quotation from City Tech COMD Creative Design Process Document )

A weekly scrapbook will be kept. Media used are paint, paper, ink, pencil, ruler, knife, glue, and digital software for expressing graphic ideas. Additive RGB color wheel for light mixture on-screen viewing, versus subtractive CMYK color wheel for printed or painted result are compared to demonstrate the distinctions between digital and physical color translations and effect.

Topics and Terminology

The following Design Elements, Principles and Concepts will be addressed in a sequence of Projects

Line

Understand line as an expressive tool for artists and designers.

Use line to create directional movement and rhythm in abstract composition Use line to suggest space and give emotional impact

Shape

The recognition of positive and negative shape through analytic study based on organic subject.
Figure/Ground principles, including Stable and Ambiguous composition

Organic vs Geometric shape recognition, inquiry and development

Symmetry

Radial, bilateral, Asymmetry, Rhythm, Repetition. Outcomes:

Identify Symmetrical and Asymmetrical structure when analyzing photographs and in advertising. Create symmetrical structures/designs based on geometric and organic forms.

Repetition

implementation of repetition and rhythm as design principles

Value

Gradation and Contrast: Recognize and discuss use of gradation and contrast in advertising and art
Light to Dark in achromatic and chromatic variations and uses in a variety of media.

Form

3 dimensional structures, drawing and digital based construction:

Recognize the properties of form as differentiated from shape

Be able to draw basic geometric forms such as spheres, cylinders and cubes and compose in a design using hierarchy.

Hierarchy/Emphasis:

order of importance

study of ideas regarding emphasis, focal point, and hierarchy.:

Ability to recognize and use visual means to create emphasis and readability in a communication design.

**Midterm. Test includes analysis of a design using relevant terminology

Elements of Color–

Intro to Color theory. Color Contrasts, Color WheelColor Attributes.

Hue/Value/Chroma -A variety of exercises and design problems incorporating color theory into Design thinking, in order to use color in a formal and expressive way.

Color/Value:

Color to Value translation. tints and shades, tones.

Color/Temperature
Cool/Warm emphasis: relative placement/ Mood Color/Chroma-(Intensity/Saturation)
Complimentary Color Mixing, chromatic grays

Color/ Simultaneous Contrast Chromatic palettes. Triads, varying intensities,

Transparancy:

Using overlap of shapes to create new shapes and middle mixtures.
Transparency as visual tool in design and observation studies.

Communication/Pictographs.

Begin to explore communication in design through language of symbols, hieroglyphs, and pictograms, letters and typography

Self-designed pictogram/logo.

DigitalMedia:ePortfolio

Discussion throughout course of interrelation between media. Project based experimentation using programs such as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator.

Understand the basic concepts of electronic color systems used in publication and web design. Discussion of CMYK and RGB color concepts and technolo- gy.

Grading Policy

Grades will be awarded using the College’s standard grading scale, but your coursework will be evaluated using a rubric that takes into consideration effort applied, technical understanding, and creative use of resources. Your final grade will reflect how well you explored and integrated the design concepts and practices introduced in this course.

Grades will be based upon:

70% Projects & Experiments
10% Participation
10% Documentation
10% Quizzes

Review details for successfully completing your coursework on the grading policy page.

Class Etiquette

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 in a professional manner; to be respectful of the learning process, your instructor, and your fellow students. And hopefully have fun!

Learning on the OpenLab
OpenLab Community Guideline

Attendance

Attendance PolicyThe COMD BFA and AAS degrees are design studio programs. In-class laboratory activities and engagement with other students is a significant portion of the courses. Absences more than 10% of the total class hours may result in a 10% drop from your grade due to an inability to meet deliverables of participation. This may be in addition to other penalties that will be imposed for failure to complete in-class academic requirements. Missing more than 25% of total class meetings will not be permitted. Any 2 lateness’s (15 minutes or more) will be equal to 1 absence.

Make-ups / Late Submission

If a student finds they will not be able to present or hand in a project on the scheduled due date, it is their responsibility to notify the instructor PRIOR to the due date and request alternate arrangements.

Points will be deducted for late projects and missed critiques. It’s better to turn in incomplete projects than late projects. If you turn in your work on time, you will have the opportunity to rework to improve your grade.

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 in 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.