20815201Basic Design
Course Information
Description
Basic Design introduces students to the elements of art (line, texture, color, shape, and value). Students will investigate principles of design, composition and basic color theory in projects incorporating a variety of media. Students will demonstrate class concepts by creating hands-on projects. Instruction in Adobe Photoshop will also be incorporated into class projects.
Total Credits
3
Course Competencies
  1. Explore a variety of non-traditional link-making methods in India ink.
    Assessment Strategies
    a small (3" x 4") window to locate "found" compositions; reproduce the best of six on a 3x scale
    Criteria
    line variety
    asymmetrical balance
    focal organization
    figure-ground reversal
    reflects distribution of visual weight and mass as it relates to balance
    demonstrates directed compositional focus
    reflects understanding of compositional cropping on balance and focus
    reflects understanding of the role of positive and negative shape in compositional unity

  2. Explore unexpected compositional potential of compositions of simple geometric shapes (circles, triangles, rectangles).
    Assessment Strategies
    link contour
    black/white study of shape
    black tech. pen
    Criteria
    includes at least six of the eight basic interactions of shape in one composition
    includes both continuous and discontinuous design relationships to organize composition
    demonstrates an understanding of ways similar shapes can be varied in presentation to become perceptually different
    is constructed as an asymmetrical, open composition
    shows the impact of shape vs. contour visualization
    achieves a balance between order and chaos, similarity and difference
    integrates figure-ground reversals
    includes figure-ground reversals
    creates a unified whole
    avoids visual anomaly

  3. Explore dynamic compositional potential of contrasting graphic media: image, type, text, and tonal paper shapes.
    Assessment Strategies
    through a collage
    Criteria
    integrates all elements into unified whole
    employs dramatic scale contrasts
    creates visual links between separate graphic forms based on similarities of line, shape, value, orientation (similarity groupings)
    creates visual links between elements by proximity grouping
    creates continuities through alignments of elements
    employs cross-tensions and placement for emphasis
    uses repetition to stimulate a sense of rhythm/movement
    incorporates a subliminal message into the structure of the design

  4. Present a unified composition based on a thematic subject.
    Assessment Strategies
    ink
    Criteria
    incorporates different graphics based on a thematic subject, in tonal illustration technique
    incorporates truly contrasting graphics which refer to different aspects of the subject
    balances, unifies, and visually organizes the contrasting elements
    controls focal interest
    incorporates a full range of tone using accumulated mark-making
    incorporates figure-ground reversal
    includes text in some form
    integrates a border design (full or partial)
    avoids visual and visual cliche (through research and idea development)

  5. Create a design for a 12-hue color wheel.
    Assessment Strategies
    acrylic paint
    Criteria
    incorporates a geometric representation of at least three folded planes for each hue
    mixes the 12 hues, plus their respective tints and shades, from the "printer's" primaries: magenta, cyan, and yellow, plus white and black
    is composed of a sequence of accurate, equally-spaced hues
    is composed of tints and shades (based on the original full hues) mixed proportionally to follow the same tonal sequence as the full hues
    is composed of a configuration of tonal relationships that mimic the effects of light and shadow
    incorporates overlap between the folded ("origami") shapes to enhance the spatial illustration
    incorporates a full or partial black ground to enhance subjective color intensity

  6. Render a cropped composition of a multi-hued organic object (e.g. fruit or vegetable in accurately reproduced mixed hues).
    Assessment Strategies
    acrylic paint
    Criteria
    includes a view of both the interior and exterior
    renders the composition in at least 8 accurately reproduced colors
    renders in discreet areas of color rather than optical blends
    represents color in any shadow areas accurately, taking into account hue shifts
    depicts any highlights in high key local tints instead of white
    arranges the subject for compositional impact and an atypical view
    integrates dominant focal interest into the composition
    crops the compositional window to integrate the figure and ground
    includes a background color chosen for harmony with the object's colors
    limits excess detail in favor of design impact
    includes a color chip sample for every color mixed for this project

  7. Create an abstraction of a selected architectural subject.
    Assessment Strategies
    atmospheric perspective cues, reinforce depth to clearly distinguish fore-, middle-, and background zones of space
    one of two color harmony schemes: 1. red/yellow-orange/green/blue-violet or 2. yellow/red-orange/violet/blue-green
    Criteria
    achieves linear perspective to allow a convincing sense of spatial depth
    employs subtractive abstraction to reduce representational detail to essential geometric relationships, and additive abstraction to replace some forms
    includes three distinct zones of distance (fore-, middle-, and background)
    integrates positive and negative shapes
    uses value contrast reduction as a depth cue
    uses color intensity reduction as a depth cue
    uses warm color-procession/cool color-recession as a depth cue
    applies interpenetration strategies to promote (color) unity between the spatial layers
    demonstrates a cumulative understanding of design unity, balance, and focal organization as applied to prior projects
    displays a high level of craft in color mixing, texture and edge control