ATS 202 - DESIGN II       

Professor Martine Barnaby

Department of Art and Art History

204 Dowd Fine Arts Building Cortland, NY 13045

Email: barnabym@cortland.edu | Telephone: 753.4390

 

Online Course Information: http://facultyweb.cortland.edu/barnabym

 

Teaching Assistant: Brittany Riehlman

Email: bmriehlman14@yahoo.com

 

Office Hours: Monday 11:00-12:30 | Wednesday 11:00-12:30 & 5:00 - 5:45 | Friday 11:00-1:00 or by appointment.

 

Most of my courses are taught in Dowd 87 – Computer Graphics Lab.  If you need assistance, you can find me during my other class sessions in the lab on Monday and Wednesday. You may come in to the lab to speak with me.  However, you are not to interrupt my class in session or lectures.  If my students are working in studio, you may come in quietly.  If there are extra workstations you may work during this time.  Please be respectful.

 

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION

As a continuation of Design I, this course introduces the computer as a powerful tool for the artist. It is expected, that students will approach assignments from an artistic, well thought out perspective before engaging in the technical execution. This course will expand on your acquired Design I skills and further understanding of design elements and the principles of design.  We will discuss the ethical, philosophical, creative and practical considerations regarding digital imaging technology as it shapes our lives both as members of a rapidly changing society and as image makers/artists.  The course will introduce a variety of applications from Adobe Creative Suite 4.

 

GOALS

Assignments given in class will help you acquire fundamental imaging and design skills. The exercises may include, but are not limited to graphic production, image alteration, retouching and enhancement, collage/montage, sequencing, image and text conjunction, and the fusion of computer technology with traditional media. Assignments are intended to help you see the potential of the computer as a creative tool for artists working in various disciplines.  As artists, students are expected to care about their work, be mature and make a conscious effort to practice new skills and concepts throughout the semester.

 

Course work, information and resources will be listed on http://facultyweb.cortland.edu/barnabym.  It is your responsibility to check the class website regularly for assignments and course schedule.

 

All students must have a working email.  It is your responsibility to log onto banner and correct the personal information that is listed under your C#.  If you prefer to use an email other than Cortland, make sure you change it in the University Banner (My Red Dragon) system.

 

 

EXPECTATIONS

Contact Hours

Contact hours for all courses are 4 hours per week.  During this time assignments will be introduced, lectures, and demonstrations will be given, one-to-one instruction will be provided, and group critique/discussions will be held.  There will be a substantial remainder of class time to work on assignments, but you will need to do consistent work outside of class each week.  Students must be dedicated. The lab hours and schedule are posted outside of B121A. 

 

Attendance Policy

In order to be accounted as present the student must: 1) be on time and present for the entire class session, 2) have work properly and professionally prepared for submission or a critique, or 3) be prepared to work in class with all necessary texts, tools, reference, external hard drives and materials.

 

Students that do not present their work for a project critique will receive an E in the product presentation category for that project. (*See EVALUATION AND GRADING)

 

There will be a sign in binder at the entrance to the lab. It is the studentÕs responsibility to sign in at the beginning of every class.  If the student does not sign in, they will be considered absent.

 

Absences will affect grades. This is a studio course; many of the requirements will be actively worked on during class time. Lectures, critiques, computer lab sessions, and demonstrations cannot be recaptured. It is the studentÕs responsibility to insure that he/she is accounted present by signing in the attendance binder.

 

There are no excused absences without written permission from the Associate Dean.  If you miss a class (excused or unexcused) it is your responsibility to make up the work, contact the instructor and obtain the assignment (http://facultyweb.cortland.edu/barnabym) and any preparatory work so that you arrive at the next class prepared.

 

Students accumulating more than three absences, will result in the final grade dropping a full letter, i.e. if the grade earned is a "B" it will drop to a "C".

 

Tardiness

All students must be consistently on time for class. Habitual tardiness will result in accounting the student absent (3 late arrivals equal 1 absence).  Likewise students who disappear during class time, leave class early, or extend break time, will be accounted absent.

 

Professional Courtesy

It is required that cell phones, music players are turned off before entering the lab. Texting is absolutely prohibited, phones.  You will be asked to leave if your electronic devices disrupt the class in anyway. Email, instant messenger and Facebook (and alike applications) are prohibited during class time.  Food and drink are not permitted in the lab. You are responsible for cleaning up all unneeded files on shared disks and reporting computer problems as they arise.

 

Students with Disabilities

If you are a student with a disability and wish to request accommodations, please contact the office of Student Disability Services located in B-40 Van Hoesen Hall or call (607) 753-2066 for an appointment.  Information regarding your disability will be treated in a confidential manner.  Because many accommodations require early planning, requests for accommodations should be made as early as possible.

 

Academic Honesty

It is assumed that you will submit only your own work that has been done expressly for this course, during the time parameters of this course.  Written work must contain your own ideas, expressed in your own words, any quotations and sources must be cited.

 

Technical Difficulties & Service Failure

Technical difficulties, hardware/software problems, printer problems are never an acceptable excuse for not meeting a deadline. Students are challenged to acquire the life skill of working in advance of deadlines and backing up work. Students are required to be prepared to work during each class session. Students must always backup their work to either CD or personal portable hard drives.  It is the studentÕs responsibility to be able to work even with network problems that may interfere with files stored on ÒHomeÓ or network server spaces. Students who are unprepared will receive an E for Product Presentation in the grading evaluation.

 

 

EVALUATION AND GRADING

Grades are a way of evaluating your progress, commitment, and potential as designer/artist. However, instead of being preoccupied with grades, try to concentrate on living up to your personal potential and always try to exceed your own expectations. Students are expected to care about their work, be mature and make a conscious effort to practice new skills and concepts throughout the semester.  At midterm, an estimate course grade will be given.  If there are additional grading questions, students should request a meeting at any point in the semester.

 

EACH PROJECT WILL BE EVALUATED BY THE FOLLOWING (A-E Grading)

 

1) Process Journal: 40% of Project Grade

Concept development, research, applicable writing assignments, exercises, experimentation, sketches, thumbnails, and collected materials.  Process should be reflected in your journal.

 

2) Product: 15% of Project Grade

Understanding of the problem, originality, appropriateness of the solution, creativity, the ability to follow the assignment and instructions given in class, tutorials, technical exercises and software tests.

 

 

3) Craftsmanship: 15% of Project Grade

The intentional use of materials and techniques, technical proficiency, neatness, quality, and clear comprehension of the media.

 

4) Product Presentation: 15% of Project Grade Poised articulation of the development rationale for the final product, timely production, timely presentation, online presentation, revision, an openness to critique and feedback, a positive attitude, further revision and organization of the presentation.

 

5) Participation: 15% of Project Grade

Listening and contributing to the class discussions, and critique sessions.

 

 

GRADE EXPECTATIONS

A Excellent execution of Process, Product, Craftsmanship, Product Presentation and Participation.

Minuscule Revision needed

 

B Above average execution of Process, Product, Craftsmanship, Product Presentation and Participation.

Small Revision Needed

 

C Average execution of Process, Product, Craftsmanship, Product Presentation and Participation.

Revision Needed

 

D Well below average execution of Process, Product, Craftsmanship, Product Presentation and Participation.

Major Revision Needed

 

E Unsatisfactory execution of Process, Product, Craftsmanship, Product Presentation and Participation.

Complete Revision Needed

 

 

 

 

Deadlines

A deadline is a deadline is a deadline. Late work is accepted only until the next course session and is down graded one full letter grade. Work will not be accepted any later than the next course session after the due date.

 

 

Grade Inquiries

Students have one week after receiving graded work to request reconsideration of the grade and must do so in writing. The instructor will not reconsider work that has been returned longer than one week.

 

 

MATERIALS

Bound, hardcover journal/sketch book (minimum size 8 x 10)

Portable external hard drive to back up and transport files. (Minimum 250GB)

USB Flash Drive (recommended for smaller capacity transport)

Writeable CDs and DVDs for regular back up

 

Required Text

Digital Foundations: Intro to Media Design with the Adobe Creative Suite

Paperback: 344 pages

Publisher: Peachpit Press; 1 edition (December 21, 2008)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0321555988

ISBN-13: 978-0321555984

 

 

 

 

 

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

 

Journals

I will ask you to keep a working journal. This book is for you to develop your ideas, process, interests, research and sketches as it pertains to your work. I will be relying on your journals as a starting off point for individual discussions. The journal book must be at least 8.5 x 11 and bound. All work must be well thought out and sketched before advancing to the computer. This journal should reflect your process throughout the semester. Journals might include notes, drawings, images, photographs, napkin sketches, technical diagrams, storyboard roughs, framework etc. Private material that you do not wish to be reviewed should be explicitly indicated at that time or marked with paper clips, post-it notes, etc. Journals will be graded for each project.

 

Online Studio

Each student will maintain a basic website for the semester.  Projects, research, links, resources and sketches will be posted on this site.  Work will be prepared for critique and posted ÒliveÓ for in class critiques. ** Work must be posted before class.  Time will not be allocated before the critique. To create student web space - http://www.cortland.edu/acs/assets/Linkedfiles/StudentWebPages.asp.

 

Readings

A large part of this course is about self-direction, problem solving, and the ability to learn software. Readings and tutorials will be given throughout the semester.  It is very important to stay up to date with these assignments.  Critiques and projects will frequently be initiated from various topics covered in the readings/tutorials.  In order to participate effectively, you will need to have read the required texts and be able to articulate your response through critique, technical execution and informal journal writing.

 

Writing Assignments

There will be approximately 3 writing assignments throughout the semester. All papers must be typed, spell checked, well researched and cohesively written. Papers that are clearly unreadable due to spelling errors, poor grammar and presentation will be returned.  Presentation of written work will be announced in class with printing or digital instruction.  Plagiarism will not be tolerated.  If a writing assignment is copied from a web document you will get an E for the assignment.

 

Technical Workshops and Exercises

ATS 202 is a very technical course. We will cover variety of software packages. There will be 1 day a week designated as a technical workshop. The class will learn from demonstrations, tutorials, and handouts. Work that is not completed in class must be completed outside of class time. Exercises and tutorials will be marked complete or incomplete and taken into consideration when grading each project.

 

Participation

Participation in class is essential to developing communication skills that will prepare you to understand and discuss your own work and the work of your peers with greater clarity and depth. Consistent attendance and active participation in all discussions and critiques is required.  Students are expected to ask questions, ask for help and be an active participant in their education.

 

Incompletes

An Incomplete will only be assigned to students with a passing record unable to complete work due to some unforeseeable serious illness or personal tragedy. Non-allowable excuses include foreseeable job assignments or work from other courses. Students must assume responsibility for preparing all necessary incomplete status paperwork for faculty signature and for submission to the department.

 

Note: It is the responsibility of the student to contact the instructor/teaching assistant for extra technical help.  Technical snags are not an acceptable excuse for not having work completed.