Visual Communication Design

GDES-200 fall 2017 · American University Design
Instructor: David Ramos ( ramos@american.edu · office hours )

Schedule

Topics Reading Projects

Tu 29 Aug #01

F 1 Sep #02

  • Photoshop basics

Tu 5 Sep #03

  • Photoshop, layers, and compositing
  • Studio
  • Point, Line, Plane (NB1 12–, NB2 32–)
  • Scale (NB1 40–, NB2 60–)

“NB1” indicates page numbers for Graphic Design: The New Basics_, 1st edition; “NB2” is the 2nd edition.

F 8 Sep #04

  • Framing (NB1 100–, NB2 116–)
  • Figure/Ground (NB1 84–) or Gestalt Principles (NB2 98–)
  • Continue Found Type Studies. Complete part 2.1 (bring your 15 photos to class).
  • Small group critique

Tu 12 Sep #05

  • Craft (bring gluesticks or Tombow Mono-like glue applicators for demo)
  • Studio
  • Rhythm and Balance (NB1 28–, NB2 48–)

F 15 Sep #06

  • Complete any final trimming/mounting for Found Type Studies
  • Final critique for Found Type Studies ★

Tu 19 Sep #07

  • Texture (NB1 52–, NB2 68–)

F 22 Sep #08

  • Bezier curves and the Illustrator pen tool
  • Bezier curve exercise

Tu 26 Sep #09

  • Color
  • Studio
  • Color (NB1 70–, , NB2 80–)
  • Small group critique (bring 2–4 initial versions of your drawings, done in Illustrator)

F 29 Sep #10

  • Typography
  • Studio
  • Hierarchy (NB1 114–, , NB2 128–)
  • Small group critique

Tu 3 Oct #11

  • Studio
  • Layers (NB1 126–, NB2 140–)

F 6 Oct #12

  • Information design
  • Diagram (NB1 198–, NB2 214–)
  • Semifinal critique for Graphic Translation. Print out all work.
  • Start Infographic; present ideas

Tu 10 Oct #13

  • Mapping exercise
  • Transparency (NB1 146–, NB2 154–)
  • Graphic Translation is due before class. (Upload a single PDF file to Dropbox) ✭

F 13 Oct

Break

Tu 17 Oct #14

  • Information design and data visualization
  • Grid (NB1 174–, NB2 186–)
  • Small group critique

F 20 Oct #15

  • Grids and alignment
  • Maps
  • Studio
  • Small group critique

Tu 24 Oct #16

  • Studio
  • Modularity (NB1 158–, NB2 166–)

F 27 Oct #17

  • Studio

Tu 31 Oct #18

  • Pattern (NB1 184–, NB2 200–)
  • Semifinal critique for Infographic ✭
  • Start Issue Poster (Blackboard); present concepts

F 3 Nov #19

  • Poster history
  • Several history presentations
  • Be able to tell us about an issue or two that you want to cover for the poster. A few sentences.

Tu 7 Nov #20

  • Small group critique

F 10 Nov #21

  • Check in/conversation re poster. Work on finding images and sketching ideas.

Tu 14 Nov #22

  • Studio
  • Semiotics
  • Rules and Randomness (NB1 232–, NB2 248–)

F 17 Nov #23

  • In-progress critique and studio

Tu 21 Nov #24

  • Studio
  • In-progress critique; try posters at scale

F 24 Nov

Thanksgiving Break

Tu 28 Nov #25

  • Studio
  • Demo on printing/tiling/trimming poster

F 1 Dec #26

  • Studio
  • Time and Motion (NB1 214–, NB2 232–)

Tu 5 Dec #27

  • Sound visualization exercise
  • Semifinal or final poster critique ✭
  • Last date for Designer Presentations

F 8 Dec #28

  • Would you like to sell your textbooks to another student next semester?
  • Semifinal critique ✭

F 15 Dec

Exam period; no class

  • Turn in all work ★ (by 5:00 p.m.)