S551 | Graduate Design Seminar | Spring 2009


I’ve said it countless times, I know, but it’s important enough to say again: Design is a functional art form. As such, it relies on a certain minimalism. Not that all design is minimal, of course; it’s just that everything counts. Each design has a singular, often very simple purpose, and there’s no room for extraneous features that only digress from that purpose, whatever it may be . . . Anything you can’t account for is a waste of time, money, or space, and often of all three.
—HILLMAN CURTIS 

Check this website regularly for any changes, clarifications, and notes as the semester moves forward, especially as we get the semester started.

General information

Mondays and Wednesdays, 6–8:45 p.m.; FA215
Instructor: Dave Richardson
Email: davricha(at)indiana.edu
IU Foundation office: 812.856.1726
Office hours by appointment

Objectives

To continue to advance your growth as graphic designers within the context of a graduate design program. To research, concept, and create interactive and motion design as it relates to contemporary graphic design practice.

NOTE: It is imperative that you take the responsibility to learn how to use the software in this class to achieve your desired results. We will primarily be using Flash and AfterEffects CS3 for motion/interactive work. I will introduce basic techniques for both software packages and will supply links to sites and other resources that offer more instruction. However, this is a graduate class, and you are expected to do a substantial amount of self-guided education concerning the technical aspects of software.

Policies

The graduate program in Graphic Design at Indiana Universit places a high priority on individual drive and motivation. You are expected to work extremely hard. If you find yourself waiting around for someone to tell you what to do, you probably need to reconsider your participation in the program.

Attendance and participation in classes is important. Attendance, punctuality, and participation will be considered for your final grade. You are expected to be on time for every class and to be present during the entire class period unless other arrangments have been made prior to class. You are allowed three absences. University policies for absences for religious and other reasons are followed in this class.

Attendance and participation in critiques are extremely important for your grade, and more importantly, for the development of your critical-thinking skills.

I encourage you to ask questions at any time.

Deadlines are important. All assignments are due on the day of the critique at the beginning of class, unless otherwise noted.

You are expected to meet project deadlines set in this class. Late work will be lowered one letter grade for each class day they are late. Projects can not be redone later for a better grade.

Acquaint yourself with the School of Fine Arts Graduate Handbook. Please note the section on Grades. Only grades of C or above will count toward your graduate degree. Also, when the grade average of a student falls below 3.0, the Graduate Division of the College generally places the student on probation and notifies him or her. The student ordinarily must raise this record to a 3.0 average in the first semester on probation to continue in the graduate school.

Special activities such as lectures, conferences, etc., announced in class and posted are important to your education. Take advantage of them.

I reserve the right to adjust and modify the class schedule and project requirements for the class as the needs of the class dictate, and I will notify you in class, via email and on this site in advance of any changes.

Projects

10% — Warm-up type-in-motion project
10% — Presentations to class on software techniques/design theory
25% — Narrative/story project (linear or non-linear)
25% — Interactive design project (print component optional)
30% — Individual project (interactive component not required)

1. WARM-UP TYPE-IN-MOTION PROJECT

Design a 15-to-45 second type-in-motion piece based on a meaningful message of your choice. The content can be a quote, a conversation, your own words, inter-related messages...etc. An overall message that has impact and meaning. This will be designed in Flash or AfterEffects or a combination of the two. Your primary vehicle for this piece will be type-in-motion. You may add other graphic elements, sound, etc. (See schedule below.)

Related links and readings for this project (to be updated as we progress):
4 approaches to kinetic text
bornmagazine.org

Schedule

1.12.09 M
Introduction to class. Review of some of my work.
1.21.09 W
Review of previous student work. Website presentations and discussions. Intro to Flash. Intro to Warm-up type-in-motion project.

1.19.09 M
MLK Day (No class)
1.21.09 W
Meet with Thesis students. Review of concepts for Type-in-motion project. Concepts need not be digital yet, but certainly can be. Discuss your message and how you can realize/enhance/clarify this message with motion over time. Flash instruction and discussion of principles and considerations of motion design.

1.26.09 M
Meet with Thesis students. Second-round of concepts for Warm-up project. Flash instruction. Discussion and intro to Narrative/story project.
1.28.09 W
Group Crit of digital ideas for Warm-up project. Lecture and studio. Discussion of first ideas for Narrative/story project.

2.02.09 M
Individual review of Warm-up project in-progress. Present first concepts and loose storyboards for Narrative/story project to class. Lecture and studio.
2.04.09 W
Type-in-motion project due. Lecture and studio.

2.09.09 M
 Meet with Thesis students.
2.11.09 W

2.16.09 M
2.18.09 W

2.23.09 M
Meet with Thesis students.
2.25.09 W

A few questions to be answered

Innovative interactive design: what does this mean today? When does an experimental or non-traditional interface/structure enhance design? When does it get in the way of effective communication?

Non-linear interactive design: when is this appropriate? How can it be accomplished? When is it most effective?

How can we use programming code to our advantage as graphic designers?

What are some recent trends in motion work on the web? How effective is motion typography? When do we put type in motion, and why? Where can we go from here?

How is video typically used on the web? How can we incorporate video into our design in unexpected but compelling ways?

Participatory graphic design/interactive media: How do we invite our audience/viewers into the interactive experience?

Graphic design between “art” and “design”: where do we draw the line? Do we draw the line? How is graphic design and “art-making” different, and how has contemporary art integrated graphic design into the mix? When does graphic design become personal art? Is it important as graphic designers to make art?

Links

designobserver.com
hillmancurtis.com
commarts.com
bornmagazine.org