10201102Design Fundamentals
Course Information
Description
In this class you will be introduced to the elements and principles of design. This semester long class meets 6 hours a week, and introduces students to the design elements of line, shape, space, color, texture, color, and typography through hands on explorations and creative exercises. The supporting design principles and theories are taught, along with course materials that introduces students to Graphic Design history, and the role of Graphic Design in contemporary society.
Total Credits
3
Course Competencies
  1. Use dots and line as a design element
    Assessment Strategies
    Skill Demonstration, Project
    Criteria
    Skill Demonstration: Use five measures of line: type, direction, character, measure and location
    Project:
    Experiment with wide range of black media and mark making
    Explore compositional variety
    Compile and compare examples of dots and line design elements

  2. Use shape as a design element
    Assessment Strategies
    Skill Demonstration, Oral Presentation
    Criteria
    Skill Demonstration: use six shape interactions of touching, overlapping, union, interpenetrating, subtracted, and detached in compositional exercise incorporating a unifying theme
    Presentation:
    Analyze the use of shapes by a contemporary artist or designer
    Discuss shape language and shape categories
    Compare forms of balance used

  3. Use space and depth as a design element
    Assessment Strategies
    Project, Written Product
    Criteria
    Project:
    Effectively generate and capture multiple different spatial indicators
    Demonstrate the use of a grid
    Employ a narrative arc
    Written Product: discuss spatial realms of 3D/ virtual / AR; reflect on invention of photography, and its impact on the capture of space and motion

  4. Use texture as a design element
    Assessment Strategies
    Skill demonstration, Project, Written Product
    Criteria
    Skill demonstration: experiment with texture making using traditional art  media, video, and photography
    Project: apply texture to an image-based communication problem
    Written product: identify textural styles in modern poster design

  5. Use typography as a design element
    Assessment Strategies
    Project, Presentation, Quiz
    Criteria
    Quiz: identify letterform anatomy and typographic measure
    Project: generate letterforms and create typographic messages; apply hierarchy and scale, proportion and balance to typographic design
    Presentation: analyze examples of typography in the environment

  6. Use value as a design element
    Assessment Strategies
    Project, Written Product
    Criteria
    Project:
    Create achromatic value-based image series, synthesize photographic stylistic developments
    Apply focal point, or point of view
    Demonstrate use of golden ratio

  7. Use color as a design element
    Assessment Strategies
    Project, Presentation, Written Product
    Criteria
    Project: apply color theory to making of a color wheel
    Project: create harmony-based images for social media
    Written product: compare color harmonies in effective communication and investigate color associations

  8. Apply principles of motion, scale, balance, rhythm, repetition, proximity, tension, variety, harmony and hierarchy to design composition throughout semester
    Assessment Strategies
    Project, Written Product
    Criteria
    Observe use of principals in curated design readings and collections
    Incorporate principals into all projects
    Discuss use of principals in all class presentations
    Describe effective use of principals in critique and feedback
    Respond to readings and videos about principals in discussion posts

  9. Examine graphic design history and identify its legacy
    Assessment Strategies
    Presentation
    Criteria
    Presentation:
    Explain a major design movement and examine influence on current design
    Generate examples of global design

  10. Analyze the role of graphic design in culture and society
    Assessment Strategies
    Group Activity, Project, Written Product
    Criteria
    Group Activity:
    Critique capacity of graphic design to mirror societal trends
    Identify underrepresented designers and their insights on their design practice
    Project:
    Apply design thinking to personal experiences and touchpoints
    Identify areas and methods of graphic design production
    Written Product:
    Explore personal ambition as a designer in the field