News> 'Graphic and Information Design' HU 2645 information page

Contact Info

Instructor: Shawn Apostel
Office: Walker 147
Office Hours: 9:30 to 11 a.m. on Tuesday and Thursday (or by appt.)
Email: spaposte@mtu.edu
Office: 906.487.3276

Class Outline

Week 1: Introduction to the course
September 5: First day of class
.....The Zen of Seeing -- project
September 7: Discuss Tufte reading (page 27 to 53)
.....Introduction to Illustrator -- name-tag assignment

Week 2: Notions of Graphic Design
September 12: Discuss Maitra and Dixie Goswami reading
.....Tufte reading (pages 91 to 121)
.....Find illustrations of things discussed in the above readings
..........and them bring to class
....
September 14: Discuss Kostelnick reading
.... Ideas for the Sustainability Poster Project
.... Turn in final nametags

Week 3: A super-brief history of Graphic Design in the USA
September 19: Sustainability Banquet Logo Workshop
.... Logo design assignment
September 21: Discuss The Newspaper Designer's Handbook
.... Introduction to Photoshop -- personal poster assignment
.... .... NOTE: You only need to change the words -- we'll do images Thursday

Week 4: Graphic Design basics
September 26: Kostelnick and Roberts reading (read chapter 1 only)
.... Email me a jpeg image of your movie poster with images and words altered
September 28: Kostelnick and Roberts Chapter 2
.... Turn in a printed copy of your sustainability banquet logo

Week 5: Text book discussion
October 3: Discuss 1 to 29 of The Elements of Graphic Design (EGD)
.... Bring Vote Motivation Assignment to class
October 5: Discuss 31 to 47 of EGD
.... Vote Motivation Presentations - Have a theme developed for a building on
.... .... campus. Use concepts discussed in the book as well as past readings.

Week 6
October 10: Discuss 51 to 55 of EGD
.... Vote Motivation Presentations - Show your designs to the class using
.... .... concepts discussed in our readings
.... Begin working with InDesign by redesigning this memo with EGD concepts
.... .... Turn it into a handout that Walter can use at his meeting with Saurer
.... .... Turn it into a handout that a prosecuting attorney can use at a trial
.... Begin working on PANK. Here are the images referenced in the email:
.... .... Image 1
.... .... Image 2
.... .... Image 3
.... .... Image 4
.... .... Image 5
.... .... Image 6
.... .... Image 7
.... .... Image 8
.... .... Image 9
.... .... Image 10
October 12: Vote Motivation Presentations - Part 2
.... Turn in Midterm Portfolio - sign up for conference times
.... Introduction to InDesign

Week 7
October 17: Midterm Conferences - bring two book ideas
October 19: Midterm Conferences - bring two book ideas

Week 8
October 24: Discuss 57 to 73 as well as 103 to 119 of EGD
.... Discuss redesigned memo - share your design with the class
.... Discuss PANK design - get feedback from the class
October 26: More PANK discussion and feedback from the class
.... Typography workshop

Week 9: Available Designs
October 31: Discuss 121 to 135 of EGD
.... Typography workshop -- bring magazines and newspapers to class
November 2: Continue design workshop -- noting conventions used

Week 10: How Pictures Work
November 7: Shapes, vectors, and a brief look at color
.... Rough Ideas for Northern Lights Film Festival -- notes (pdf)
November 9: Photographic style and ideology
.... Working drafts for Northern Lights Film Festival -- bring printed copy to class
.... Watch some of The Persuaders

Week 11: Other ideas from our own research
November 14: Class Presentations - Talk about what you read and learned.
....Using InDesign, give a well-designed handout to the class illustrating
........your discussion (22 copies). Make sure to include title and author of book.
........Make sure you make the information accessible to your audience.
....Discuss Final Portfolio Requirements (Final Draft .pdf and Terms .pdf)
... Due: Concepts for Northern Lights Film Festival - 8 by 11 sheet of paper
November 16: Class Presentations - Talk about what you read and learned.
....Using InDesign, give a well-designed handout to the class illustrating
........your discussion (22 copies). Make sure to include title and author of book.
.......Make sure you make the information accessible to your audience.

(One week off -- Thanksgiving Break)

Week 12
November 28: Class Projects -- workshop and feedback
November 30: Class Projects -- workshop and feedback (northern lights)

Week 13
December 5: Class Projects -- workshop and feedback
December 7: Portfolio Workshop and Instructor Evaluation

Week 14
December 12: Portfolio Exhibit -- Portfolio Due (assignment and terms)
December 14: No Class -- Conferences to discuss final grade

Note: All drafts, writing assignments, journaling ... everything you do in this class should be saved. It may be included in your final portfolio.

* I reserve the right to modify this syllabus at my discretion.