A. Description:
This course will cover the development of graphic design from the Industrial Revolution to the 21st century, with an overview of earlier developments. Specific periods and stylistic movements will be discussed, along with their relationship to social and cultural change, as well as the link between graphic design and modern art. New digital art forms such as web design, computer animation, motion graphics, interactive multimedia and 3-D graphics will also be examined. Coursework will include exams, written reports, online research, journal presentations, and museum visits.
B. Course Textbook:
A History of Graphic Design, by Philip B. Meggs. 4th edition.
C. Formal Writing Assignment – Researching a Graphic Designer:
Make believe you are holding a party and can invite one graphic designer from the past. During the course of the party your guest from the past keeps asking you about his or her legacy. Finally, rather than simply praising your guest, you provide a critique of their influence on the field. This should include their major contributions or innovations in the field. Give specific examples and describe them in your own words. You should also provide visual examples of their work, to be incorporated in your paper in a designerly fashion.
This essay should be three pages long, double-spaced, 12-point size. All sources must be cited properly. The following is the list of graphic designers to research, choose one:
- Saul Bass
- Herbert Bayer
- Peter Behrens
- A. M. Cassandre
- Ivan Chermayeff
- Benjamin Franklin
- Adrian Futinger
- Fredrick Gaudy
- Walter Gropius
- Johan Gutenberg
- Henri de Toulouse Lautrec
- Herb Lubalin
- Laszlo Moholy Nagy
- William Morris
- Alfonse Mucha
- Paula Scher
- Paul Rand
- Herman Zapf
The following are steps to follow when planning and writing your paper:
- Choose your Topic: the list provided is compilation of people who have had a significant influence on graphic design and will be covered in class.
- Preliminary Reading: gather as many resources, articles, and books on your graphic designer. Skim through them and look for the following points: is your graphic designer known preliminary for one idea/design or many? Is the designer known for a breakthrough in design? What happened as a result of the designer’s idea or projects?
- Freewrite: due date: March 1
once you go over your research materials, write a paragraph or two on your topic.This will help you organize your thoughts, and articulate your research questions. What is it that you will discover in writing this paper?
- Planning your Paper: you should begin by taking notes as you research and later organizing them into the body of your essay. For additional help in writing the paper, from outlining to citing to proofreading, visit the following website:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu
- Reading your First Draft: due date: March 29
once you complete your 3-page draft, wait a day and then read it through, aloud. Is the information organized well? Have you addressed your research problems? Are there any grammar or spelling errors? Revise your essay accordingly, then wait a day and repeat these steps until your essay is ready for submission. Feel free to contact our assigned writing fellow for help in providing feedback at this stage.
- Final Paper:due date: May 3
once you receive your edited draft back, revise and correct it accordingly. You should now turn it into a complete and professional research paper, and layout the format including cover, photos, and fonts.
D. Class Rules:
Students are expected to have a professional, serious attitude. Lateness and absences will not be tolerated; you must show up on time and to all classes. Three or more absences will result in debarment from the class. Assignments must be handed in by the deadline given and be up to professional standards.
E. Grade Evaluation:
- Punctuality and Attendance – 10%
- Participation and Class Presentations – 10%
- Research Paper and Draft – 30%
- Quizzes – 10%
- Midterm Exam – 20%
- Final Exam – 20%
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Writing-to-Learn Activities
Midterm Study Guide
links for research:
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