Assignments CGVC 123

Assignments CGVC 123 A

A. Projects (550 points total)

Your projects for the semester will focus on learning the fundamentals of layout while fulfilling the objectives of the course. Every project will begin with research, then thumbnails, roughs, and finally a comprehensive.

Project 1 Using the Basics in QuarkXPress: Real Estate Flyer/ Symmetrical and Asymmetrical Layout Structure (50pt)
Experiment with symmetrical and asymmetrical layouts to arrange the same information for two real estate flyers
You must include all of the following elements in both layouts:

three residential photographs that you scan

two typefaces

description of house features, rooms, location

group related items and separate unrelated items by white space

cluster elements to create typographic densities

create emphasis with typography

Both layouts will include the same elements, however images sizes and font sizes may vary in the two designs

Project 2 Expressive Use of Type (75pt)
Create an original ad that mimics the past Washington Post's ongoing series, if you don’t get it you don't get it . You can choose any section or feature of the paper you wish: sports, business, classified, style, metro, home, travel, comics, whatever. See examples shown in class and make sure you familiarize yourself with a newspaper to select the section you intend to feature
You must include all of the following elements in your original design:

type on a path (if you don't get it . . .) that you create in a Word text file to import into Quark
a simple, easily identified shape that you create in QuarkXPress; one that conveys some essential element of the paper section you have chosen to advertise
meaningful copy about the section of the paper that you create in a Word text file to import into the shape
substantial white space
a horizontal size that conforms to a multiple of a column width
a .5pt rule around the ad to define the edge
the Washington Post logo masthead or as close as you can get given the system and server fonts available

Project 3 Article Review (100pts)
Create a two page article for an edition of Communication Arts, How, Step by Step Graphics, ARTBYTE, or another graphic design or art publication that you have preapproved with your instructor. The topic of your article will be your graphic designer. See list under project 5. You will mimic the layout characteristics, font selection, column width, etc. that make the particular magazine publication destinctive.
You must include all of the following elements:

a grid layout
more than one column on the pages
a rule or rules
photographs with a captions
a pull quote
two typefaces
size: 8.5 x 11 pages in a double spread
your opening paragraph should have meaningful content, however the rest of the review can be greeked text if you wish.

Project 4 Package Design (100pts)
Design the multi-panel packaging for a product that will be specified by the instructor. Research similar products to determine the typical components. At a minimum you will need:

background pictures and graphics
instructions for proper use
logo and tag line for the company
food products must contain nutrition facts box
bar code

Project 5 Graphic Designer Exhibition Poster (100pts)
Create a color poster commemorating an upcoming museum retrospective exhibition of the work of an influential graphic designer from the past. The poster should adopt the typical stylistic conventions of your chosen designer. This means that your choice of typefaces, layout structure, color, images and white space should mimic those typically used by your chosen designer. Cluster elements to create typographic densities. Establish and use a grid if your designer usually did. Three excellent books to help you get started making a selection of a designer for this project:

Graphic Design Basics, Amy E. Arntson, Thomson Wadsworth (your text book from CGVC 102 good for background info)

Graphic Design in America: A Visual Language History, Mildred Friedman and Steven Heller, Abrams, 1989

A History of Graphic Design, Philip B. Meggs 3nd ed, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York 1998

Each student will select a different designer for this project. Sign up early (list will be posted on the cork board as you enter the lab) to insure that you have the person you want. Some designers that you might consider for selection:

William Morris
El Lissitzky
Jan Tschichold
Eric Gill
Will Bradley
Milton Glaser
A.M. Cassandre
Georges Lepape
Herb Lubalin
Joseph Muller-Brockmann
Emil Ruder
Paula Scher
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec
Lester Beall
Herbert Matter
Herbert Bayer
Lucian Bernhard
Erberto Carboni

Martin Weitzman
Laszlo Moholy-Nagy
Paul Renne
Herbert Bayer
John Heartfield
Hannah Hoch
Egbert Jacobson
Bradbury Thompson
Paul Rand
Alvin Lustig
Ladislav Sutnar
Bill Bernbach
Sol LeWitt
Saul Bass
Aron Burns
Alexander Rodtschenko
Edward McKnight Fauffer
Raymond Loewy

Your poster must include all of the following:

designer's name
designer's birth / death dates
museum name, address, web URL ( you decide where the exhibit will be)
exhibition dates (fictious)
an image(s)done in the style that your designer might typically use, but is created by you
typography that your designer typically selected

Project 6 Graphic Designer Presentation (125 pts)

Use PowerPoint to visually and orally present information to the class about your designer and how he or she made a significant contribution to graphic design.

Your presentation must include all of the following elements:

your name, CGVC 123 Design and Layout 1, Fall 2002
the designers name, nationality, dates
at least three examples of the designer's work
historical information that places your designer in context
the characteristics that easily make your designer recognizable
an annotated list of URLs/books that you found helpful in your research

B. Resource File of Layout Examples (100 total points)
Some designers call a resource file a swap file or a morgue. It is a file of outstanding examples. These will be organized in a three ring binder with an index that you create in Quark XPress. The purpose of the file is to create a resource of outstanding examples of layout and design from which you can draw inspiration. Finding these will also encourage your close examination of printed materials. We will also use these examples as the basis for class discussions. Find one excellent example for each category The resource file will be due at two dates indicated on your outline. See the class outline for specific due dates but start collecting materials for all sections immediately. The resource file will help you with your assignments and exams. Items will be used for class discussions. Organize your resource file using Quark. The file will contain the following examples:

Part I: (50pts)
Layout Structure: page layout that uses display text, body text and images

Symmetrical
Asymmetrical

Layout Principles: page layout that uses display text, body text and images and clearly employs the four layout principles

Proximity
Alignment
Repetition
Contrast

Recognizing Typefaces:

Serif: Old Style
Serif: Modern
Serif: Slab/Egyptian
Sans Serif
Script
Novelty/Decorative

Type Combinations:

Concordant
Contrasting
Conflicting

Part II: (50pts)
Creative Type Treatments

type on a path
type within a shape
type outside a shape
vertical type
layered type
expanded (positive) tracking
contracted (negative) tracking
expanded leading
contracted leading
reverse type

Using Grids

symmetrical grid
asymmetrical grid
golden section grid

Decorative Elements

rules used as decorative elements
drop cap as a first letter as a decorative element
pull quotes used as a decorative element
frames used as a decorative element

C. Portfolio (100 points)
At the end of the semester a complete portfolio will be presented to the instructor by the student for grading. This will include all projects done for this course during this semester and any revisions of projects that you wish to make. It will be evaluated and graded in the same manner as individual projects, but, with these additional considerations:

1. Are all projects completed and included as part of the final portfolio.

2. Have projects been revised to reflect knowledge gained during critique or evaluation sheets.

3. Does the work exhibit a progressive understanding and proficiency when related to course objectives. Is student growth from pursuing this course of study evident.

4. Is the portfolio presented in a neat, clean, well organized way.

5. Are the aesthetic taste, technical skills, and conceptual thinking which were included in this course reflected in the work.

D. Exams (200 total points)
Both a midterm and a final exam will be given. See class outline for specifics.

E. Professionalism (50 points maximum)
A highly professional attitude, as evidenced by on time attendance, participation in class discussions and critiques, work available on time for critique, resource examples available for class discussion, will be considered in the awarding of a total of 50 points for professionalism.

Janet Anderson, PhD
Community College of Baltimore County, Catonsville Campus
Liberal Arts Division
800 South Rolling Road
Catonsville. MD 21228-5381

email: janderso@ccbcmd.edu