MAT-135 Schedule (Fall)

MAT-135 Schedule


Jump a to class session to see what we are doing:

Week 01 : 8/22 + 8/24
Week 02 : 8/29 + 8/31
Week 03 : 9/5 + 9/7 
Week 04 : 9/12 – 9/14
Week 05 : 9/19 + 9/21 
Week 06 : 9/26 + 9/28
Week 07 : 10/3 + 10/5 
Week 08 : 10/10 + 10/12
Week 09 : 10/17 + 10/19
Week 10 : 10/24 + 10/26 
Week 11 : 10/31 + 11/2
Week 12 : 11/7 + 11/9 
Week 13 : 11/14 + 11/16
Week 14 : 11/21 + 11/23
Week 15 : 11/28 + 11/30
Week 16 : 12/5 + 12/7
Week 17 : FINAL CRIT 12/12


 

TUESDAY -(8/22)

IN-CLASS

  • Roster (15 min)
  • Syllabus / Books / Supplies (30 min)
  • Introductions (60 min)
  • Lecture: What Is Graphic Design? (1 hr)
  • Point-Line-Plane Introduction : Point
    • Discuss point
    • Show photo examples of “point”
  • Introduce homework assignment

ONLINE CLASS ACTIVITY

  1. Study some previous examples of “point” photos within our physical environment to get some ideas of how to start looking at the space around yourself: Point Image Photos (3MB medium)(10MB high)
  2. Make your base template files for your point-line-plane explorations using Adobe Illustrator. Watch the tutorials for making these template files (~45 minutes) for assistance and to see exactly how I want you to set up the files.
  3. Optional: want to review our class lecture? You can view “What Is Graphic Design?” on Vimeo.
HOMEWORK

  1. From Lupton text: read pp.13-35, covers:
    1. Ch1: Formstorming
    2. Point (of Ch.2 Point Line Plane)
  2. Photo Exploration Study: Take nine photos of “POINT” within your environment. No stock photography is allowed. Bring digital photos to class on Thursday. You can upload them to the cloud (for instance, to your iCloud or Google Photos / Drive account, server, etc.), OR you can bring them in on a thumb drive. We will be working with them during our next class, so don’t forget to do the assignment and bring stuff.
  3. Create the basic Illustrator template file (.ait file) based on the ONLINE HOUR tutorials, and bring the files to our next class.

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THURSDAY -(8/24)

IN-CLASS

  • Demonstrate how students can process their photographs in Photoshop artboard grids and output them to color-corrected, cropped assets. Students should use their OWN images, but in the event you don’t have all of them with you (tsk-tsk!), you can download some starter files to follow along: ps-photo-artboards.zip
  • Demonstrate arranging shapes in point-line-plane Study 1. Consider the following concepts in relationship to your initial compositions:
    1. proximity, tension, gestalt, movement, rhythm, value
    2. How do these concepts visually manifest in your work?
    3. Try to intentionally manipulate your work with these things in mind, and think about WHY you make the decisions you make.
    4. What happens when objects are placed close together vs. far apart?
    5. Does the perceived value (lightness/darkness) change when proximity varies?
    6. How does grouping (or not grouping) affect focal point?
    7. Do the many act as a single unit?
    8. At what point do a collection of points suggest a line?
    9. At what point do the proximity of lines to one another suggest a “plane”? 
    10. Think about how viewers put themselves and their own experiences into the process of visual interpretation. For example, what do they read into abstract forms? How might they identify and associate feelings with certain kinds of compositional arrangements?
  • Students will work in Illustrator on this exploration in class.
ONLINE CLASS ACTIVITY

HOMEWORK

  1. From Lupton text: read: pp.36-47 on Line, Plane … through Bezier Curves 
  2. Photo Exploration Study: Take nine photos of “LINE” within your environment. No stock photography is allowed. Bring digital photos to class on Thursday.
  3. Arrange your POINT and LINE photos into Photoshop artboard grid, color-correct, and ensure that the images will correspond nicely to one another in a grid format. Output all 18 images to POINT and LINE folders. Bring these to next class to use in layout demo.
  4. Finish your Phase-1 Point-Line-Place studies in Illustrator and output them into a single PDF according to the explicit assignment instructions. Bring to Tuesday’s class in digital format for review.

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TUESDAY -(8/29)

IN-CLASS

  1. (~20 min) Students open Photoshop photography grids and briefly share work with small peer breakout group. Cover the following topics:
    • Discuss how you think the images work in the cropped formats
      Make suggestions for improvement on framing and/or color correction/vibrance as needed.
    • Discuss whether or not you feel compositions could be arranged more effectively to keep a viewer’s eyes moving throughout the grid.
  2. (~30min) Go over Canvas updates and where to find materials, including “Foundation Design Book BASE template.indd” and “graphic-icon-resources.ai
  3. (~10min) Show students how to upload their generated PDFs to the “P1 – Phase 1 – “Identical Scale Explorations” Canvas Discussion for review.
  4. (~50min) In-class demo and work on “Phase 2 – modifications“. Instructor will show students:
    • how to use the following Illustrator tools: free transform, scale, rotate, reflect, group, ungroup, isolation mode, stroke
    • how to use “copy” automation on scale and rotate
    • how to think of strategies for composition
  5. answer any questions
ONLINE CLASS ACTIVITY

HOMEWORK

  1. From Lupton text: read pp. 49-67 (Rhythm & Balance, Scale)
  2. If you haven’t already done so, turn in Phase-1 combined PDF (18 studies) to “P1 – Phase 1 – “Identical Scale Explorations Discussion
  3. Start Point/Line/Plane modifications. Get through at least the “Line” mods and at least begin exploration of Point modifications.
  4. Photo Exploration Study: Take nine photos of “PLANE” within your environment (start)

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THURSDAY -(8/31)

IN-CLASS

  • (~20 min) Students open Photoshop photography grids and briefly share work with small peer breakout group. Cover the following topics:
    • Discuss how you think the images work in the cropped formats
      Make suggestions for improvement on framing and/or color correction/vibrance as needed.
    • Discuss whether or not you feel compositions could be arranged more effectively to keep a viewer’s eyes moving throughout the grid.
  • Help anyone needing assistance in turning in “P1 – Phase 1 – “Identical Scale Explorations” to Canvas Discussion.
  • (~50min) In-class work on “Phase 2 – modifications“. Instructor will help students with the following:
    • how to use the following Illustrator tools: free transform, scale, rotate, reflect, group, ungroup, isolation mode, stroke
    • how to use “copy” automation on scale and rotate
    • how to think of strategies for composition
  • Instructor will help students with any other issues or questions they have about where we are in the class.
  • Open “Foundation Design Book BASE template.indd” to explain how how to place photography.
ONLINE CLASS ACTIVITY

HOMEWORK

  1. If you haven’t read pp. 49-67 (Rhythm & Balance, Scale), do so.
  2. Work on Point/Line/Plane modifications.
  3. Photo Exploration Study: Take nine photos of “PLANE” within your environment (start)

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TUESDAY -(9/5)

IN-CLASS

  • (~45) In-Class Demo using graphic icons in composition (perspective, depth) and texture (repetition, radiation, movement, etc.).
  • (~55) Work for remainder of class. Continue to work on Phase-2 PLP modifications
  • NOTE!!! All of Phase-2 is due by next Tuesday on Canvas discussion.

ONLINE CLASS ACTIVITY

HOMEWORK

  1. From Lupton text read:
    • pp. 69-79 (Texture)
    • pp. 99-115 (Gestalt Principles)
    • pp. 201-213 (pattern)
  2. Finish the Photo Exploration Study: Take nine photos of “PLANE” within your environment
  3. Benchmark: Complete all of Phase-2 studies except for letterform exploration. (So, that means…complete Point/Line/Plane modifications [18] and graphic icon studies [12] BEFORE TUESDAY to keep up.
  4. BRING ALL FILES TO NEXT CLASS for walk-around in-progress review.

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THURSDAY -(9/7)

IN-CLASS

  • (~20) Students will open multiple PLP & Icon files, displaying them in separate windows on the monitors. Everyone will walk around and look at other people’s work briefly to see what other people’s visual interpretations look like.
  • (~45) Letterform Demo (Illustrator create outlines) and In-Class work time. Instructor will come around to see progress on people’s Photo grid placements. You should have 3 Photo investigations processed by this point.

ONLINE CLASS ACTIVITY

  • Review any necessary online demos, examples, or documentation to help you complete Phase-2 before Tuesday’s class.
HOMEWORK

  1. Complete Phase-2 in its entirety (36 studies) output to a single pdf and uploaded to the Phase-2 discussion BEFORE start of next class. (Please also upload a copy to your student class server directory. It makes in-class discussion easier.)

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TUESDAY-(9/12)

IN-CLASS

  • DUE : Phase 2 / Critique of Phase-2 . . .
  • Students will present their studies on the projector and identify 2 favorites from each study category (total of 12 studies: 2 point, 2 line, 2 plane, 2 letterform, 2 icon comp, 2 icon texture/pattern).
  • Class and instructor will give feedback.

ONLINE CLASS ACTIVITY

HOMEWORK

  1. From Lupton text: read:
    • pp. 117-127 (Framing)
    • pp. 129-139 (Hierarchy)
  2. Refine selected studies (12) based on class feedback. Refinements should pay close attention to alignments, grid, gestalt/unity principles, and craftsmanship details. You should at least complete the Point, Line, and Plane refinements before Tuesday. Bring all refinement files to class Tuesday.
  3. Start and complete Photography Study: Texture. Process files. Place in book template.

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THURSDAY -(9/14)

IN-CLASS

  • Bring refinements and other necessary files to work on refinements to class.
  • Instructor will review work with students who want feedback and have not yet received it.
  • Work on refinements.
  • If time, in-class demo refreshers on Illustrator pathfinder, shape builder, and Live Paint, and Alignment tools.

ONLINE CLASS ACTIVITY

  • Review Adding Assets to Foundation Book demo if you haven’t already watched it, and begin placing some of your photography in the InDesign book file to make sure you don’t have questions or fall behind later.
HOMEWORK

  1. From Lupton text: read:
    • pp. 167-185 (Modularity)
    • pp. 187-199 (Grid)
  2. Complete refinements phase before Tuesday and upload to Canvas “Refinements Phase” discussion.
  3. START Photo Exploration Study: Take nine photos of “LETTERFORMS” within your environment

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TUESDAY -(9/19)

IN-CLASS

  • Phase 3 – REFINEMENTS PHASE work is DUE today
  • Introduce Point-Line-Plane combination designs with “found image.”
  • Work on Point-Line-Plane combination Illustrator design compositions in class.
  • Instructor will demonstrate exporting selected artboards to eps files and placing in InDesign book template.

ONLINE CLASS ACTIVITY

  • Look for “found” image. Check out unsplash.com, Flickr creative commons. Come up with a minimum of 2 options.
HOMEWORK

  1. COMPLETE Photo Exploration Study. Process and place in book template.
  2. Complete Photography processing of ALL unprocessed “Learning to See” photo investigation images.
  3. Export your final “Photography Excerpts” pdf from the book template so that only the photography pages are present for the Photography Phase progressive deadline. Then post it to the “P1 – Photography Phase” discussion worth 20 points.  DUE BEFORE THURSDAY’s CLASS!
  4. Find (or write) blocks of copy (text) related to your image and explore how you can make the text and images work within 2 of your Point-Line-Plane combo compositions.
    BRING ALL FILES TO CLASS THURSDAY.

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THURSDAY -(9/21)

IN-CLASS

  • DUE “P1 – Photography Phase” work uploaded to Canvas discussion with same name.
  • (~50) If you haven’t started already, spend time in class exporting your final two “Refinements Phase” works as eps files for the “Foundation Design Book.” This won’t take very long.
    • Next, start placing these files in the appropriate spreads within the book template to ensure that you don’t have any questions or problems.
  • (~50) Work on final layout with text and image.

ONLINE CLASS ACTIVITY

  • Use any previous tutorials as necessary for reference in completing your project.
HOMEWORK

  1. Complete as much as you can on the book before next class.

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TUESDAY -(9/26)

IN-CLASS

  • Work in class to finish up last-minute stuff with your design book and get instructor help.
  • Introduction of Project 1.1 – Process Portfolio Spread for Project 1.0

ONLINE CLASS ACTIVITY

  • forthcoming
HOMEWORK

  1. Complete “Foundation Design Book” and export to a pdf. Bring it to next class for critique (DUE 9/28). 
  2. If you want extra credit on project-1, you can print your book and submit in either a bound format or in a portfolio folder with sheet inserts.

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THURSDAY -(9/28)

IN-CLASS

  • DUE : Project 1 – All Phases!

ONLINE CLASS ACTIVITY

HOMEWORK

  1. From Lupton text: read pp. 81-97 (Color)
  2. Create your grid layout for P1.1 portfolio spread.

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TUESDAY -(10/3)

IN-CLASS

  • Color Lecture
  • Work on your grid layout for P1.1 portfolio spread.

ONLINE CLASS ACTIVITY

HOMEWORK

  1. Complete P1.1 Portfolio Spread
  2. Select two of your favorite line drawing compositions from Project-1, place them in a new AI file with multiple artboards. Use them as a basis for color exploration starting Monochrome and Complimentary color schemes. BRING ALL WORK TO NEXT CLASS.

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THURSDAY -(10/5)

IN-CLASS

  • Project mounting demo
  • AI demo in color

ONLINE CLASS ACTIVITY

  • forthcoming
HOMEWORK

  1. Print and mount P1.1, which is due for a critique next Tuesday. Bring the completed, mounted physical work to next Tuesday’s class.
  2. Continue working on color study, exploring triad, tetrad, and analogous color.

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TUESDAY -(10/10)

IN-CLASS

  • Project mounting demo
  • AI demo in color

ONLINE CLASS ACTIVITY

  • forthcoming
HOMEWORK

  1. Print and mount P1.1, which is due for a critique next class, Thursday. Bring the completed, mounted physical work to next class.
  2. Continue working on color study, exploring spot color conversion and how to identify CMYK percentages.

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THURSDAY -(10/12)

IN-CLASS

  • In-class color project work

ONLINE CLASS ACTIVITY

  • forthcoming
HOMEWORK

  1. Arrange your color study panels into the 5-panel template. The color study template is available for download here. Be sure to change each “Study Name” instance to the actual study name, such as “Complimentary: Two-Color CMYK”, “Analogous: Three-Color CMYK” etc.
  2. Turn in your digital PDF file on the discussion.

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TUESDAY -(10/17)

IN-CLASS

  • Critique for P1.1
  • Project 2 Color Study due
  • Intro to “Project 3.0 : Graphic Mark / Pattern / Applied Design” (show former work)

ONLINE CLASS ACTIVITY

  • Use this time to review any previous demos you feel it’s necessary to catch up on late work if you’re in that boat.
HOMEWORK

  1. either relax of catch up on anything that you might be late turning in.

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THURSDAY -(10/19)

IN-CLASS

  • Intro to “Project 3.0 : Graphic Mark / Pattern / Applied Design”
  • Logo lecture

ONLINE CLASS ACTIVITY

HOMEWORK

  1. Start and complete Project-3, Phase-1, “Concept Mapping”. This assignment is DUE NEXT CLASS. Everything you need for doing the Phase-1 assignment is available within the assignment link above.

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TUESDAY -(10/24)

IN-CLASS

  • DUE: Phase 1 of Project-3. Upload your documentation PDF
  • Golden Ratio lecture

ONLINE CLASS ACTIVITY

HOMEWORK

  1. From Lupton text: read pp.166-186 (Modularity)
  2. Do all 10 of your hand sketches for Phase-2 and bring to class Thursday.

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THURSDAY -(10/26)

IN-CLASS

  • Start working on your digital drawings in class based off of your best hand sketch ideas.

ONLINE CLASS ACTIVITY

  • Continue creating your minimum of 4 digital graphic mark iterations.
HOMEWORK

  1. From Lupton text: read pp.186-199 (Grid)
  2. Complete graphic mark iterations and bring to Tuesday’s class for instructor and peer review.

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TUESDAY -(10/31)

IN-CLASS

  • Peer and instructor review of digital drawings in break-out groups.
  • demo on using the pen tool in Illustrator and how to change stroked lines into closed path objects using “Object > Path > Outline Stroke”
  • start on emblematized mark

ONLINE CLASS ACTIVITY

  • work on emblematized mark
HOMEWORK

  1. From Lupton text: read pp.200-213 (Pattern)
  2. Complete Phase-2, complete the documentation template, and upload tyoure PDF to the Phase-2 discussion board to turn it in.

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THURSDAY -(11/2)

IN-CLASS

ONLINE CLASS ACTIVITY

HOMEWORK

  1. From Lupton text: read pp.214-231 (Diagram)
  2. Work on Phase-3

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TUESDAY – (11/7)

IN-CLASS

ONLINE CLASS ACTIVITY

HOMEWORK

  1. Phase-3 DUE NEXT CLASS – Complete the documentation template and upload a PDF version to the Phase-3 discussion forum. 

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THURSDAY -(11/9)

IN-CLASS

ONLINE CLASS ACTIVITY

  • forthcoming
HOMEWORK

  1. forthcoming

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TUESDAY -(11/14)

IN-CLASS

  • Work on Phase-4 of Project-3 (DUE THURSDAY)

ONLINE CLASS ACTIVITY

  • Work on Phase-4 of Project-3 (DUE THURSDAY)
HOMEWORK

  1. Complete Phase-4/Project-3 DUE NEXT CLASS

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THURSDAY -(11/16)

IN-CLASS

  • Phase-4 Due by/before beginning of class.
  • Instructor will open the Illustrator vector merchandising template file and explain how you need to use it for your spread. The link resource will download from the Canvas course.
  • Begin working on Project 3.1 Process Board/Portfolio Spread

ONLINE CLASS ACTIVITY

  • Work on Project 3.1 portfolio Spread
HOMEWORK

  1. Print and mount Project 3.1 Portfolio Spread
  2. Project 3.1 Portfolio Spread DUE TUESDAY/NEXT CLASS for critique

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TUESDAY -(11/21)

IN-CLASS

ONLINE CLASS ACTIVITY

  • Complete all online research required to do the Project-4/Phase-1 documentation (see the discussion board for requirement details).
HOMEWORK

  1. COMPLETE Project 4: Phase 1 “Brand Development and UI Research” (DUE NEXT TUESDAY)

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THURSDAY -(11/23)

THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY 23rd + 24th

  • Don’t come to class.
  • Eat turkey, tofurkey, or other favorite Thanksgiving Day food.

ONLINE CLASS ACTIVITY

  • Fall asleep watching Netflix.
HOMEWORK

  1. Finish your homework from Tuesday over the Saturday/Sunday weekend, and be prepared for class next week.

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TUESDAY -(11/28)

IN-CLASS

ONLINE CLASS ACTIVITY

HOMEWORK

  1. Read Chapters “Layers” and “Transparency” from Lupton text, 141-165pp.
  2. Consider how to factor in some of your reading into your web design layout. Remember that the web inherently layers content, color, shapes, and text, and it often employs transparency to effectively give a sense of depth in a 2-D digital space.
  3. Work on Project 4: Phase 2 “Website Modular UI Design”

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THURSDAY -(11/30)

IN-CLASS

ONLINE CLASS ACTIVITY

HOMEWORK

  1. Complete Project 4: Phase 2 “Website Modular UI Design” (DUE TUESDAY)

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TUESDAY -(12/5)

IN-CLASS

ONLINE CLASS ACTIVITY

HOMEWORK

  1. Work on Project 4.1 : Responsive UI Development Prototype

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THURSDAY -(12/7)

IN-CLASS

ONLINE CLASS ACTIVITY

  • FINISH ALL OUTSTANDING WORK AND GET IT TURNED IN!!!
HOMEWORK

  1. Complete on Project 4.1 : Responsive UI Development Prototype (DUE at start of CRIT next TUESDAY 11am)

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FINAL CRIT – 12/12 (11am-12:50pm)

NOTE: THE START TIME IS EARLIER THAN OUR NORMAL CLASS MEETING!

DUEProject 4.1 : Responsive UI Development Prototype
Show up with all materials READY TO PRESENT!

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Digital Art, Design, and Communication Education