ATS 340 – GRAPHIC DESIGN II
Professor Martine Barnaby
Department of Art and Art History

204 Dowd Fine Arts Building Cortland, NY 13045
Email: martine.barnaby@cortland.edu | Telephone: 753.4390
Online Course Information: http://web.cortland.edu/barnabym

Office Hours: Monday 10:00-12:30 | Wednesday 10:00-12:30 or by appointment.

COURSE DISCRIPTION
The objective of the course is to expand on techniques and concepts of the graphic design profession. As an extension of Typography and Graphic Design 1, this course will put an emphasis on the print industry and layout software by producing " real-world" assignments. The instructor assumes the position of an art director and course work is produced in a professional environment. The course asks the student to achieve the highest aesthetic and creative standards possible. To achieve those standards, the course challenges the student from the beginning with tough assignments and rigorous grading. To achieve real success, the student is expected to approach the class with a serious attitude and a willingness to work beyond just doing what is asked. Graphic design is a very demanding and competitive profession. Students are expected to commit themselves and to work hard, every day, not just for better grades but for the enjoyment that the work brings and the growth that comes with it.
Prerequisites: ATS 101, ATS 102, ATS 240 and ATS 241

GOALS
Conceptually the course covers design as a form of aesthetic expression and as a means of effective communication. The student will solve problems, which involve both of these aspects using conventional as well as more experimental methods.

Students will expand on their knowledge of graphic design and understand professional standards, which are demanded of an individual who wishes to enter the field. Designers will mature over the semester and develop their own personal style through visiting lecturers, field trips, industry documentation, and graphic organizations. Students should be personally driven to research ideas, read pertinent information, accept criticism, revise work and push their own limits within each assignment.

Assignments will reflect “real-life” projects that may include, but are not limited to color and black and white processes, print production, image manipulation, image and text conjunction, variable sized media, t-shirt design, multiple page layout, and packaging. Students will develop and demonstrate the ability to discuss their ideas and explain their thinking process. The final project will offer you a chance to explore the aspects covered in the course that will best serve your personal artistic ambitions.

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

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 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 Dowd 207.

Attendance Policy
This is a professional studio course. 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, 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 student’s 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. The reason for this is that too much class time will be missed to complete the necessary requirements of the course, since lectures, critiques, computer lab sessions, and demonstrations are impossible to make-up or recapture. It is the student’s responsibility to insure that he/she is accounted present by signing in.

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 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. Likewise students who disappear during class time, leave class early, or extend break time, will be accounted absent.

Professional Courtesy
It is required that all cell phones, pagers, music players are turned off before entering the lab. You will be asked to leave if your electronic devices disrupt the class. * During studio time headphones may be used at the discretion of the instructor. Email and instant messenger are not to be used during class time. Food and drink are not permitted in the labs. 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 and service bureau failure 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 students responsibility to be able to work even with network problems that may interfere with files stored on “Home” or network scratch 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, individual meetings will be scheduled to discuss grades and work. A midterm estimate will be given, which reflects where you stand in the class. If there are additional grading questions, students should request a meeting at any point in the semester. It is your responsibility to check the class website (http://web.cortland.edu/barnabym) regularly for missed assignments, information, resources and instruction.

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

1) Process: Process of idea development, development of concept, research, applicable writing assignments, exercises, tutorials, idea experimentation, sketches, collected materials and software tests. This should be reflected in your journal.

2) Product: Understanding of the problem, originality, appropriateness of solution, creativity, demonstrated ability to manipulate the software, ability to follow the assignment and instructions given in class.

3) Craftsmanship: Appropriate materials and techniques used, technical proficiency, neatness, precision, clear comprehension of tools and final presentation quality.

4) Product Presentation: Poised articulation of the development process, purpose and rationale for the final product, timely production, timely presentation, prepared for critique, revision, an openness to critique and feedback, a positive attitude, further revision and organization of the presentation.

5) Participation: Listening and contributing to the class discussions, and critique sessions.

GRADE Expectations
A Outstanding 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 NeededDeadlines
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
1 USB Flash Drive or external Hard Drive to back up and transport files. (Minimum 1GB)
Writeable CDs and DVDs (to be discussed)
Printing expenses (TBA)
Stock Photography (TBA)

Required Texts
Adobe InDesign C43: Classroom In A Book ISBN: 0321573803

Recommended Reading:
A Guide To Graphic Print Production (Second Edition) ISBN:0471761389

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.

Readings
A large part of this course is about self-direction, problem solving, and the ability to teach yourself 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 340 is a very technical course. We will be extensively using Adobe InDesign and Illustrator C3. There will be 1 day a week designated as a technical workshop. The class will learn from demonstrations, tutorials, and handouts. These classes are not optional. Students must attend these classes to stay current. Work that is not completed in class must be completed outside of class time. Exercises and tutorials will be given an X or 0 after completion. The completion of exercises will be 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 for extra technical help. Technical snags are not an acceptable excuse for not having work completed.