Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Week 2 Day 2 (Wednesday, Aug 31) - Homework

Being creating initial Layout Comps for Project 1. Based on advice and critique of concept ideas and portrait sketches, determine which sketch best captures your personality and the overall tone you wish to strengthen in defining yourself in a typographic self portrait. Generate basic typographic elements in a tabloid paper sized layout in Illustrator.

**There will be no class next Monday, September 5, in observance of Labor Day.

Typography resources



Typography in Motion from ilovetypography.com on Vimeo.

League of Moveable Type - Free Open Source Type
Smashing Magazine - 80 Beautiful Typefaces
IloveTypography.com - Excellent articles and resources
So You Need a TypeFace? - flowchart by Julian Hansen

Best Quality (Free) Fonts





Illustrator Tips

VectorTuts Introduction to Type Tools

VectorTuts Introduction to Pen Tool

Monday, August 29, 2011

Week 2 Day 1 (Monday, Aug 29) - Homework

1. Create 5-10 freeform sketches or traced photographs of yourself to be used in your Typographic Self-Portrait project. Be sure to explore a variety of angles, facial expressions, portrait interpretations, etc. Sketches will be reviewed at the start of next class, Wednesday, August 31, 4:30pm.

2. Begin to gather found type/letterforms to be used in Project 1 (Scan/save digital found type, save fonts, handrawn/sketch your own letterforms)

Week 2 Day 1 (Monday, Aug 29) Demo files

Download the following files for today's demo

Happy Forest Vectors from Vecteezy

Garden Images

Copyright Resources

Copyright Basics

Copyright Registration for Online Works

Fantastic flowchart diagraming the importance of getting permission to post copyright images online. Created and designed by Pia BijkerkErin Loechner and Yvette van Boven.

{via SwissMiss}


Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Week 1 Day 2 (Thursday, Aug 24) - Homework

1. Begin Conceptual Brainstorming for Project 1. Think about what you want to use for your textual content (your name? a description of yourself?)

In your sketchbook write out the letters, words, phrases that you intend to use in your self portrait. Being to examine the formal structure of letters, numbers, and punctuation. Look for form and shape relationships between your intended text content. Sketches and text lists due for review Monday, Aug 29, 4:30pm.

2. If you plan on using photographs in the Portrait Sketch process next week, be sure to photograph (digitally or print) yourself this weekend. The more photos you have of yourself, the better (try a variety of angles, expressions, etc). Bring tracing paper and the printed or digital copies of your photos to the next class session.

Project 1: Typographic Self-Portrait

Download Project 1 specifications


Description:
Create a self-portrait using only typographic characters (letters, numbers, punctuation). The “content” of this portrait
should consist of letterforms that spell your name and/or construct a short text to describe yourself, or how you would
like others to see you. Examine the forms of typographic elements closely to determine what will represent you best.
Think about how your design relfects you as a designer.

Objective:
+ To create an awareness of the image of typography.
+ To explore positive and negative space relationships in a design composition.
+ To experiment with the design element value in a black-and-white compositon.

Specifications:
Size: 11" x 17", vertical preferred; black typographic forms on a white background.

Media: You can generate the letterforms or text on the computer, cut them from periodicals, or hand-draw them.
The assembly of your final comp must be done using Adobe Illustrator.

Letters, numbers, and symbols such as parentheses are allowed, as are combinations of different typefaces. However
you may not manipulate or deform the letterforms.


Timeline + Deadlines:
Conceptual Brainstorming : Figure out text content, examine letterform structure in sketchbook due Monday, Aug 29, 4:30pm.

Portrait Sketches : 5-10 freeform sketches or traced photographs due Wednesday, August 31, 4:30pm.

Initial Layout Comps: Choose best sketch and generate typographic components in full sized layout (continues Week 3 + 4).

Project 1 Critique: Printed comp and all process work due Monday, September 19, 4:30pm.


Grading criteria (500 points total) // Worth 20% of course grade

Process (Brainstorming, Sketches, Layout, Refinement)—100 points
Communication—100 points
Innovation—100 points
Aesthetics—100 points
Professionalism—100 points

Weekly Schedule

Download Weekly Schedule

Timeline
*last revised 8.23.11

Week Date Agenda

01 M 22 Aug Introductions/ What is Design?

     W 24 Aug Copyright + Imaging Basics / Project 1 Introduced



02 M 29 Aug Elements of Design / Illustrator basics + tool

     W 31 Aug **Work Day / Desk Critiques



03 M 05 Sep Holiday: Labor Day

     W 07 Sep Typography / Illustrator demo (type, area, path)



04 M 12 Sep **Mini Group Critiques

     W 14 Sep **Work Day / Desk Critiques



05 M 19 Sep Project 1 due (final crit)

     W 21 Sep Project 2 Introduced / Photoshop demo (retouching)



06 M 26 Sep Illustrator Color + Drawing Tools

     W 28 Sep **Work Day / Desk Critiques



07 M 03 Oct **Mini Group Critiques

     W 05 Oct **Work Day / Workshop / Desk Critiques



08 M 10 Oct Project 2 due (final crit)

     W 12 Oct Project 3 Introduced
     Visual Themes / InDesign toolbox




09 M 17 Oct InDesign demo (Path Layout)

     W 19 Oct **Work Day / Desk Critiques



10 M 24 Oct **Workshop / Workshop / Desk Critiques

     W 26 Oct **Mini Group Critiques



11 M 31 Oct **Workshop / Workshop / Desk Critiques

     W 02 Nov **Work Day / Desk Critiques



12 M 07 Nov Project 3 due (final crit)

     W 09 Nov Intro to Process Book Assembly (web + print)
     Grid Layout



13 M 14 Nov **Work Day / Desk Critiques

     W 16 Nov Web Design + Usability (basics) / Work Day
     Design Technology




14 M 21 Nov **Work Day / Desk Critiques

     W 23 Nov Holiday: Thanksgiving Break



15 M 28 Nov Web Basics (Dreamweaver, IndeExhibit)

     W 30 Nov **Work Day / Workshop / Desk Critiques



16 M 05 Dec **Work Day / Desk Critiques

     W 07 Dec Process Book (web + print) final crit



Final Review Thursday/Friday  15 + 16 Dec Final Reviews with VisCom Faculty



Note: Schedule is for planning purposes only; Activities may change based on course needs
**Agendas will vary on days depending on the needs of the class




Monday, August 22, 2011

Week 1 Day 1 (Aug 22): Homework

1. Assignment 1: In a "visual diagram", map out the story of what you did this summer (work, travel, vacation, etc). You can use type, imagery, patterns, textures. Feel free to integrate a variety of different mediums and techniques, sketch, draw, paint, collage, etc. Be creative!

Final output must be at least 8 1/2" x 11" in size and can be physical or digital (saved as a PDF). Due at the start of Wednesday's class session, Aug 24.

2. As of next week, August 29, all students must bring a laptop (loaded with Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign), a mouse, and sketchbook to every class session.

If you already have your laptop, please bring it to the next class session as I will show you how to install the necessary print drivers and software in order to print in the labs.

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Syllabus + Student Profile

Download Syllabus

Download Student Profile (fill out and submit via email rachel.fujita@ou.edu by end of first class session)