COMMUNICATION DESIGN ARTD 463 Fall 2004 M/W 12 noon - 2:50 pm Millrace One 114
instructor: Ying Tan
office: 102 Millrace One / office hours: tuesday 11am - 1pm by appointment
email: tanying@darkwing.uoregon.edu / phone: 3461416

WHAT IS DESIGN? | COURSE OVERVIEW | RECOMMENDED READING | ASSIGNMENTS | RESOURCES | DISCUSSIONS | Class work Gallery W99 | Class work GalleryF99

Consider Communication Design as a way of thinking and an integral part of contemporary society. Communication Design plays a key role in almost all media - film/video, advertising, print, exhibition, environmental graphics... it becomes a primary creator of the visual artifacts of our environment and culture.

This course explores the communication of ideas and information through the use of text, color, image, form and other visual means. Students will be introduced to the design process and principles, developing a deeper understanding of visual language and the art of problem solving in visual communication. The design principles covered in this course apply to all informational and presentational media including printed material, online documents, designs for film and television, as well as interactive systems. It is a study of the foundations of effective visual communication. I hope this course helps to increase our awareness of powerful visual communication in our daily environment, and the important contributions of the design profession.

Assignment for this class include three projects center around the theme of "Imagine Peace".
(30%) 1. create a set of 3 postcards with you original design to advocate 'imagine peace'.
(30%) 2. create an graphic identity system for an imagined or real peace organization/initiative.
(40%) 3. create an action piece (ad in print or on tv or interet...) for the organization or initiative.

Class Schedule (subject to change)

Week One
Monday: Course Overview
Wednesday: Students present research materials for 'Imagine Peace'

Week Two
Monday: Communication Design Basics
Wednesday: First review of Project 1 Design

Week Three
Monday: Visual Language
Wednesday: Final review of Project 1
Project 1 Due. Send it out to friends, classmates, instructor, or those who should see your design.

Week Four
Monday: Visual Identity Study
Wednesday: Students present research materials for Visual Identity

Week Five
Monday: Iconography Study
Wednesday: First review of Project 2 Design
**important lecture required to attend: Amy Franceschini (Thursday 7pm #182 Lilis)

Week Six
Monday: Visual Continuity in Design
Wednesday: Final review of Project 2
Project 2 Due.

Week Seven
Monday: Reach out by Design
Wednesday: Students present research materials

Week Eight
Monday: Projct 3 Development
Wednesday: First review of Project 3

Week Nine
Monday: Second review of Projct 3
Wednesday: Project 3 work day

Week Ten
Monday: Individual Student Conference with Instructor
Wednesday: Final Review and Open Studio

Regular attendance is required. Students are expected to come to class on time, ready to take notes and do lab work with all necessary supplies and materials. Demonstrations and lectures will not berepeated. All demonstrations and lectures will only be given during the scheduled class time. If you miss any, you will need to get information missed from a fellow student and be at a very distinct disadvantage. An excused absence does not excuse the student from making up class time missed in a timely manner.

More than two unexcused absences may result in the lowering of the student's final grade, one fullletter grade for each additional day missed. Excused absences will only be granted for one of the following explicit reasons: family emergencies, established religious holy day and illness with adoctor's note indicating that the student needed to stay home on that particular class day.

Grading is based on constructive use of class time, comprehension and ability to define ideas Problem development and problem solving, craftsmanship/presentation, class participation: the presentation of projects, ability to articulate individual decisions andconclusions as well as discuss the work of others. The these guidelines for grading will be followed:
[A] Excellent - work that pushes beyond what was assigned in basic criteria and exudes extreme care and conceptual development.
[B] Good - work exceeds basic criteria and shows creativity.
[C] Satisfactory -work meets basic criteria with a basic understanding of craft.
[D] Unsatisfactory - work meets basic criteria but in a careless and thoughtless manner.
[F] Fail

If you have a documented disability and anticipate bneedingaccommodations in this course, please make arrangements to meet with mesoon. Please request that a Counselor for Students with Disabilities send a letter verifying your disability.