Course Syllabus
Laney College
GRART 122 Applied Graphic Design 2
Course Syllabus
Course Title: Applied Graphic Design 2
Course Number: GRART 122
Class Meetings: Fridays 12:00-6:50
Session/Year: Fall 2023
Instructor Name: Daniela Nikolaeva Pachtrapanska
Email Address: dpachtrapanska@peralta.edu
Instructor Availability Outside of Class: Fridays 7—8 PM
Course Description:
Project-oriented class for the practical application of color theory, elements and principles of design, procedures, and processes: Advertising design for print such as posters, flyers, catalog covers, magazines, and packaging; student-generated art using both, hand and computer techniques for creation of presentation designs.
A special focus in this class is learning color theory and its practical applications. Students will explore the physical, and psychological aspects of color, history of color, color systems, color schemes, etc. They will learn how to use color effectively in their designs and will go deeper in exploring the powerful influence of color on our psychology.
Course Prerequisite(s): Prerequisite(s): GRART 36 Adobe Photoshop. Recommended preparation: 111, 112, and 113.
Acceptable for credit: CSU
Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs):
Upon satisfactory completion of this course, the student will be able to:
· Utilize standard situational sequential problem-solving techniques in developing creative graphic designs.
- Prepare professional quality presentation art.
- Deliver a verbal presentation of prepared design solutions to a
- Produce a high-quality student portfolio of design projects
Learning Objectives:
Upon successful completion of the course, the student should be able to:
- Explore the project life cycles and workflows; take projects from concept to completion.
- Identify the visual design tools and technologies of the web and graphic design fields.
- Demonstrate fundamental competency in Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator.
- Create high-level graphic design products for print and digital display.
- Identify color schemes, color contrasts, optical illusions, and color properties.
- Apply color theory principles to practical graphic design projects.
Purpose: Applied Graphic Design 2 GRART 122 provides "hands-on experiences to increase the student’s knowledge of graphic design principles, color theories and practices, and communication concepts. Teamwork will be introduced to accomplish project-specific objectives written by the student team. Visualization skills will be refined while students learn the practical steps to effective graphic design.
In fall 2023 the class is taught as an in-person class. We will meet on campus every week with the exception of the holidays. All lectures and practical exercises will be presented and conducted in class. Follow the instructor’s instructions regarding artwork submissions, due dates, field trips and class participation.
Important Dates:
08/21 – Semester starts.
08/25 – Our first class meeting at Laney College
08/27 – Last day to add a class without a permission code.
09/01 - Last day to add a class in person with a permission code and an Add Card.
09/04 - Census Day: Instructors Verify Enrollment in Class. Last day to drop a class without a W on your record and receive a refund if you have paid for classes.
09/08 – You may change your grading options to PASS/NO PASS.
10/18– Professional Development – No classes. No Zoom sessions.
10/20 – Last day to file a petition to graduate with AA or Certificate
11/10 – Veterans’ Day – Holiday observance.
11/17 – Attendance Verification. Last Day to withdraw from classes and receive a "W".
11/23-26 – Thanksgiving Day - Holiday observance. No classes.
12/15 - The Graphic Arts End of Semester Show!
12/16 – The Fall Semester ends.
01/04/24 - Final grades are posted online.
Required Textbook:
“Color Power” by Daniela Nikolaeva. First Edition, 2023. Here is the link to the online store that sells it: danidesignart.com/books
Please note that all required reading is going to be from this book. All tests and exams will be also based on this book.
Required Technology:
- Students are required to have access to the Adobe CC applications. Photoshop and Illustrator will be used for many of our assignments. Adobe Rush or Premier Pro will be used for our final project. All Graphic Arts computers have the software installed, so you can do all of your work in the raphic Arts labs if you do not have to software on your own computer.
- Headphones/ headset, tablet, or a laptop computer.
- Laptop or a desktop computer with a digital camera and sound system
- Two Flash drives to store media - your assignments, textbook, tutorials, etc. You may also use online storage such as Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.
Materials and Supplies:
- Notebook, drawing pad for sketching.
- 30/60 triangle 4”-6” plastic or aluminum, C-thru ruler 12”
- Pencils and erasers
- Coloring media: color markers (Prisma Color), watercolors set, acrylic paint – primary colors in tubes.
- Drawing pad. Recommended Brands: Strathmore, Bristol, or others.
- Brushes: #2 round brush, flat brush.
Instructional Methods: This course will be delivered as a combination of in-class lectures and laboratory experiences.
Grading Scale:
All assignments must have clear criteria and objectives to meet. All students shall be treated equitably. It will be that student’s right to know his/her grade at any reasonable point that information is requested by that student. The criteria for determining a student’s grade shall be as follows (on a percentage basis):
A 100-90
B 89-80
C 79-70
D 69-50
F 49- or less
Process for Evaluation:
Attendance: 10%
Participation and Conduct: 10%
Assignments and exercises: 60%
Quizzes: 10%
Final project: 10%
Classroom Policy:
Attendance:
Attendance is recorded in the lab. If you come to a class late it is your responsibility to notify the instructor and to sign the attendance sheet. Being late or leaving early will affect your attendance grade.
Participation
Actively participating in class, showing a positive attitude, and being supportive of the students and the instructor, as well as arriving on time, and not being disruptive to the class sessions, contribute to a positive class atmosphere and will count as 10% of your grade.
Conduct: Rude behavior, acting disrespectfully, or in an intimidating manner toward the instructor or a student in class or outside the class may result in a removal from the class. If you have complaints, comments, or personal questions, please do not disrupt the classwork. Ask to see me privately to voice your concerns.
Assignments
- You must satisfactorily complete assignments on time; deadlines will be strictly enforced. Assignments and homework turned in late will be penalized 10% off the grade for that assignment.
- Incomplete assignments will be graded accordingly - if you completed only half of the assignment (50%), you will be awarded an F (see the grading policy above).
- You may redo an assignment for a better grade up to a week after the assignment is due.
- Each assignment will cover an area of technical understanding. Some assignments will require only a few hours to complete; others may take more time.
- The instructor may collect and use all work completed for this course, as student examples for future classes, and for inclusion in handouts and textbooks, unless the student requests otherwise in writing.
Headsets, phones, and Internet use:
Students are expected to pay attention and participate actively in the class work. Listening to music through headphones or browsing the web during lectures or during your classmates’ presentations is not allowed. You may you your headphones during open lab.
Equipment Use:
Our labs have all the necessary equipment you need for this class. The lab computers have Adobe CC applications installed. You may bring your own tablet or a laptop computer to the lab. Bring a headset if you are planning to watch video tutorials or listen to music during open lab. You may not download or upload software to the school computers.
Academic Honesty Policy:
Students are expected to maintain the highest standards of academic honesty while pursuing their studies. Academic dishonesty includes but is not limited to plagiarism and cheating; misuse of academic resources or facilities; and misuse of computer software, data, equipment, or networks will be reviewed by the Committee on Academic Honesty. If the work is judged to have violated standards of academic honesty, appropriate sanctions will be given. Sanctions include but are not limited to course failure and academic termination.
Students with Disabilities:
Accommodation requests should be submitted as far in advance as possible. It is the responsibility of the student to contact the Laney College Disability Coordinators to initiate this process. The college disability coordinators will assist qualified students with disabilities in acquiring reasonable and appropriate accommodations.
Weekly Course Outline
(Schedule subject to change based on class needs)
Week 1: 08/25
Introduction. Course overview and review of requirements: Student responsibility, grading policy, attendance policy, class schedule.
Lecture: Ch 1. The Essence of Color: Basic Color Theory, the RYB color wheel. Primary, secondary, and tertiary colors.
Lab: Practice exercises in class. Mixing paints. Students sign up for presentations: Students will research and present exceptional designs with great use of color. Each student will elect a specific week to do his/her presentation.
Homework: Buy your digital Textbook Color Power. Get your materials and supplies. Do your required reading: Chapter 1: The Essence of Color. (The quiz will be based on the book)
Week 2: 09/01
Lecture: Ch. 2. Color Theorists and The Color Wheel.
Lab: Group Exercise: Create a timeline of major discoveries in the world of Color and the history of the color wheel. Use your digital book as a reference and also do research online. Individual exercise: RYB Color Wheel.
Homework: Finish your RYB Color Wheel assignment. Required Reading: Chapter 2: Color Theorist. (Quiz next week.) Bring your color wheel assignment for a review next week.
Week 3: 09/08
Student presentations begin.
Lecture: Ch. 3. Color Models: Additive and Subtractive Color Systems. RGB vs. CMYK. Color for print and for the web. Color Modes in Photoshop. Review of the material we have covered previously.
Lab. In-class exercises. Start working on the CMYK and RGB Charts.
Color wheel assignment is due. Quiz on Chapters 1 and 2.
Homework: Finish your CMYK and RGB charts. Due Week 4
Required Reading: Chapter 3: Color Models.
Week 4: 09/15
Student Presentations
Lecture: Ch. 4. The Properties of Color. Value: tints, tones, and shades.
Lab: CMYK, and RGB Star Chart is due.
In-class exercises: Group Exercise: Magazine cover or a magazine ad analysis. Pick two pages of a magazine and analyze their designs Create color swatches, write about color, typography, layout, texture images, concept, etc. Explain how the colors play a major role in creating an emotional impact. Individual Exercise: Achromatic and Chromatic colors.
Homework: Reading and practice. Read the lecture, and practice creating color digitally. Required Reading: Chapter 4: The Properties of Color. (Quiz next week.)
Work on value scales. Chromatic Explorations. Due week 6. The first draft of Value Scales and Chromatic Explorations is due next week. The finished assignment is due in week 6.
Week 5: 09/22
Student Presentations
Lecture: Ch. 5. Color Schemes. Color Contrast. Review of the material we have covered previously.
Lab: Value Scales are due. Practice working with different color schemes. Group Exercise: Monsters and Weapons.
Homework: Required Reading: Chapter 5: Color Schemes
Week 6: 09/29
Student Presentations
Lecture: Ch. 6. Color Interaction. Joseph Albers and Johannes Itten.
Lab: Explore different color interactions. Exercises: Based on Albers’ experiments. Perceived transparency, one color appears as too, halation, etc.
Quiz on Chapters 3 and 4.
Homework: Required Reading: Chapter 6: Color Interactions (Quiz next week.) Assignment: Optical illusion Due week 8.
Week 7: 10/06
Lecture: Ch.7. Color Vision. The Anatomy of the Eye. How humans see color How animals see color.
Lab: Film: The Island of the Color Blind, by Oliver Sacks. Quiz on Chapters 5 and 6.
Homework: Required Reading: Chapter 7: Color Vision. Finish your optical illusion assignment.
Week 8: 10/13
Student presentations
Lecture: Ch. 8. Visual Phenomena and Color Perception
Lab: Assignment Due: Optical illusion. Class Critique.
Lab exercises: Broken color technique. Beguin research for our label assignment.
Homework: Required Reading: Chapter 8: Color Perception. Work on our new assignment: Label design. Three different labels for one product. Research products and bring sketches next week.
Week 9: 10/20
Optical mixture of color in fine art and computer art. Broken color technique.
Lecture: Ch. 9. Color In Nature.
Lab: Quiz on Chapters 7 and 8. Field trip to Channel Park and Peralta Park. Nature Immersion. Group exercise: Autumn leaves and plants collage.
Homework: Work on Label design. The Project is due next week.
Required Reading: Chapter 9: Color in Nature
Week 10: 10/27
Lecture: Ch. 10 Color Psychology. Color lights; How color influences human behavior.
Lab: Assignment Due: Labels and Packaging Design. Product shots and presentations.
Lab: Official Graphic Arts annual showcase kick-off. Group Exercise: Choosing the color theme for the event. Choosing a title, tagline, tone, and mood of the event. Break into two teams. Select project managers.
Homework: Create a rough poster design for the Graphic Arts Annual Student Showcase. Bring concept sketches next class. Create a design document and work on designated tasks.
Required Reading: Chapter 10: Color Psychology
Week 11: 11/03
Lecture: Ch. 11. Color Meaning. Color as a means of expression and the use of color in powerful promotional and advertising campaigns.
Lab: Quiz on Chapters 9 and 10.
Lecture/lab: Review of work tasks and designation. Work on advertising materials. Call for art posters due printed. Save the date ads due. Social media ads due. VIP invitations are due. Press releases are due.
Homework: Required Reading: Chapter 11: Color Meaning. Work on assigned tasks.
Week 12: 11/10 No Class. Veterans Day Holiday Observance
Week 13: 11/17
Lecture: Ch. 12. Color in Design
Lab: Review of advertising materials. Reports on work progress. Class signs are due. Work on props and interior setup. Work on video or animation teaser. Organize student submissions. Work on slide shows for classes.
Homework: Required Reading: Chapter 12 Color in Design. Work on your assigned tasks
Week 14: 11/24 No Class. Thanksgiving Holiday observance.
Week 15: 12/01
Lab: Quiz on Chapters 11 and 12
Lecture/Lab: Review of advertising materials. Reports on work progress. Printed posters and flyers are due. Distribute all over campus. Class Video shoot.
Homework: Work on your assigned tasks
Weeks 16: 12/08
Lecture/Lab: Work on the interior and the displays for the exhibition space. Upload video/animation on YouTube and Vimeo. Final Rehearsal.
Homework: Work on your assigned tasks
Week 17: 12/15 FINAL PROJECT PRESENTATIONS: Graphic Arts Showcase!
(Note: This class schedule is subject to change. Your instructor will make announcements in class.)