Syllabus
Design and Visual Language
Elizabeth Kilroy
718.707.1439
Office Hours: TBD or by appointment
info@elizabethk.com
www.elizabethk.com /dvl
Objectives
• To progress in the visual process of "seeing"
rather than merely "looking" at objects for the purpose
of perceiving design possibilities.
• To think visually while investigating and using basic concepts
of compositional design.
• To explore beyond the first idea
• To develop concepts from initial ideas through the process
of rough sketches and working comps to completed design works.
“Everything has been thought of before. The problem is to
think of it again.” Goethe
“Design is thinking made visual.” Saul Bass
“ We need to teach that the important intimate relationship
is not between the designer and the board/screen/ image, but between
the presentation of the information and the users of that information.”
Patrick Whitney
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Course Description
This course will explore design and digital imaging for web and
print. The class will be a combination of lectures and discussions,
hands-on computer instruction, responses and critiques. There will
be a series of weekly skills based exercises, with a mid-term mini-project.
The projects will be paper, electronic and/or web based. The final
weeks of the semester will involve self-initiated content towards
a final web based project. A written proposal is required.
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Grading System
A= Excellent/Astonishing
A- = Exceptionally good work
B= Very Good.
B-= Good/Above average work
C =Fair (This means that the required work has not all been completed;
or that the quality of work does not indicate a readiness for more
challenge)
D/F =Poor/Fail (Indicates that the work was exceptionally poor,
or that assignments were not turned in)
Grades are based upon completion of homework, work-in-progress,
class presentations, large-format print(s) and final project. Class
participation is important and will be considered when grades are
handed out.
Attendance is required and will be taken at the beginning of each
class. Please do not be late. Once the hands-on class instruction
has begun, it is difficult to catch up if you are late. Missed classes
do affect your grade. Please email or phone me about special circumstances
or other issues.
We will have 14 classes and an additional day for final presentations,
if we need it. Classes meet on Weds. From 12:30-4.30. The first
class will meet on Weds January 19
Project deadlines affect your grade. Late projects do not receive
full credit.
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Concepts
Theories of design will be introduced including definitions of design,
design methodology, and the designer's role in society. Topics covered
include composition, color, perception, visual communication, typography,
abstraction, and visual systems. As concepts are presented, projects
will be assigned to provide an opportunity to visually express an
understanding of the design principles.
∑ Visual Communication - What Is It/How Can We Utilize It
∑ Design Principles
∑ Design Elements
∑ The Web is Not a Print Media
∑ Introduction to Web Technologies
∑ Page Design
∑ Information Architecture
∑ Usability and Heuristics
∑ Interactivity and Multimedia
∑ Looking Forward: Digital Trends
Emphasis is placed on identifying and solving design problems. Various
projects will engage students in creative design processes. This
course highlights the role that visual interface designers play
in the multi-disciplinary attempt to bridge the gap between functionality
and usability and to introduce students to some of the unique challenges
of designing within the realm of a digital, interactive medium.
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Skills
Students will gain practical experience working with the tools and
elements of visual design. Students will enhance their ability to
scrutinize the visual environment and will develop vocabulary for
speaking about aspects of visual design. Hand-eye coordination and
presentation skills will develop and students will be given the
opportunity to use a number of digital production tools. Software
used will include all or some of the following: PhotoShop, ImageReady,
Illustrator, InDesign, Dreamweaver and Flash.
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GENERAL INFO:
JOURNAL: A journal of progress is to be handed in at midterm review
and with the final portfolio. In addition to personal entries, there
should be an entry per reading that summarizes that reading. Personal
entries may be informal thoughts, sketches, or pasted-in designs
that attract you from any source. Use the journal to document attendance
of cultural events throughout the semester.
ART & DESIGN EVENTS: We will try to attend one or two cultural
events during the semester, visiting either museums and/or galleries.
CRITIQUES: Each student will be expected to show work and engage
in critique of other student's work. Some projects will be preceded
by a "Rough" critique. At each critique, a student's designs
will be analyzed and evaluated by the instructor and other students.
Oral contribution in critiques will be part of the final evaluation
process.
