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NASDA Portfolio Converse University

Course Title: ART126 Digital Media I
Term: Fall 

ART 124 Graphic Design/THREE CREDITS.

Major, Minor, Elective Credit. This course provides an overview of the graphic design field, emphasizing basic lettering and typography, production, and design skills. Students will use digital software skills to create finished works. Students will develop practical applications for commercial use. Lab Fee.

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COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES

  1. Student will be able to research the theory of design and implement research in class projects.

  2. Student will be able to cultivate creativity using graphic software on an introductory level.

  3. Students will be able to manually sketch concept ideas based on research findings.

  4. Students will be able to select images and composite media presentations that are appropriate for the audience and technology, based on the target market and delivery medium.

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 COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES: 

  1. Project process including concept development and final deliverables will demonstrate application of the theories of art and design and the required research.

  2. Project process work will indicate the creative exploration through ideation development using graphic software.

  3. A sketchbook of concept development with research notes will represent growth in sketching, ideation and application of research findings.

  4. Project process including identifying appropriate target audience needs and published deliverables.

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Final Digital Portfolio

All art and design students are required to establish and maintain a Digital Portfolio in which all artwork created during your time at Converse is documented. Documentation techniques will be covered in the class and students expected to document all drawings created in the course. The work and portfolio will be reviewed and graded for accuracy and quality. 

 

Illustrator Skill Building Exercises

  • Basic Illustrator worksheet 

  • Basic Illustrator pen tool worksheet

  • Geometric animal head 

    • ​Recreate an animals head using Abobe Illustrator.
      Base the character on Simple Geometric shapes and lines.

 

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  • Quarter fold greeting card

    • Tasks:

      • Use your geometric Animal as a model.

      • Add some legs, feet, arms and hands to the character.

      • Use ClipArt from the Symbols Library to add some decoration.

      • Add a message with type. Select an appropriate font that reflects both the character and message.

      • Print and fold â€‹

 

Greeting Card01.png

  • ​​Historical typography layout​​

    • Tasks:

      • Research a designer, the year of creation and a short bio of it’s history.

      • Execute the design with text only with the selected font.

      • The design must contain the following;

      • Date of creation

      • Name of designer

      • Full alpha and numeric characters set in UPPER CASE, lower case, Title Case, and Sentence case.

      • The design must contain two paragraphs. One must be set in 10 point and the other 12 point.

      • Choose a typeface that has at least three weights and/or italic (Oblique.)

 

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  • Logo deconstruction

    • Tasks:

      • Using Illustrator deconstruct two logos from below.

      • Choose a logo from the top area and lower area to recreate.

      • The type does not have to exactly match, find a font that is similar.

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logo deconstruction.jpg

Photoshop Skill Building Exercises

  • Selections

    • Please download the attached files.

    • Use the Selections tool to complete the assignment.

    • Once complete, please save the file as a .JPG (Not a .PSD).

 

Selections.png

  • Adjustments

    • Please download the attached file.

    • Use the Levels tool to  complete the assignment.

    • Once complete, please save the file as a .JPG (Not a .PSD)

 

Levels_teacups.png

  • Replace Colors

    • Please download the attached file.

    • Use the Replace Color tool to complete the assignment.

    • Duplicate the pepper layer 3 times.

    • Adjust the color on each pepper with a different color range.

REPLACECOLORpepper.png

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  • Repairing old photographs

    • Please repair the 3 different images by using the Clone and Spot Healing tools.

    • Once complete, please save the file as a .JPG (Not a .PSD).

RepairPhoto.png

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  • Layer Styles

    • Please edit the 02Start.psd file to appear similar to the 02End.psd file.

    • Use the FX tool located at the bottom of the Layer menu to complete the task.

    • Once complete, please save the file as a .JPG (Not a .PSD).

LayerStyles.png

  • ​Matte Painting

    • Load file into PhotoShop.

    • Use the 4 source photographs to create a scene in motion with the Timeline tool.

    • Submit final animated Gif into Canvas.

    • Make sure that the file is compressed by using PhotoShop/File/Export/Save For Web (Legacy).

Matt_Painting_source.png
Matt_Painting_Castle02.gif

  • Advanced Masking

    • Load file into PhotoShop.

    • Use the 2 source photographs to create a scene in motion with the Timeline tool.

    • Submit final animated Gif into Canvas.

AdvancedMasking.png

  • More Masking

    • Load the day-time photography into PhotoShop.

    • Change the time of day to night-time using Canvas Raw and Layer Masking.

    • Submit final JPG into Canvas.

daytime to nighttime.png

InDesign Skill Building Exercises

  • Page Layout

    • Please download the attached image and text files.

    • Setup a 3 column 8.5x11 page.

    • Once complete, perform a Preflight and then a Package.

    • Zip all of the folders and the file.

    • Upload Zip to canvas.

 

Neva print.jpg
Channel_Homes-Lots2.jpg
sitkaroad.JPG
Sitka_Page_1.jpg

Course Project 1 — Event Poster Creation - Part 1

Illustrator Course Project—Event Poster Creation 

  • Rough sketches

  • Refined Sketches

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Examples: https://tihttps://tinyurl.com/y6xwpu4fLinks to an external site.

Over the next few week’s you will create a poster that illustrates an event. The event may be a concert, festival, race and etc.

The poster must combine a minimum of four images merged into a scene. You will create each object and image in your final composition. Find photographic reference to help guide you. The images may come from any source. As an example, you may want to draw a fish, clouds, musician,  and some type of architecture (i.e. Empire State Building) in your scene.  You will also select and apply appropriate typography to the scene.

 

Be prepared to explain:

  • Your design concept

  • Your design solution

  • Problems encountered and solutions

  • Whether or not you feel you accomplished your goals

  • What could you improve?

 

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Course Project 1 — Event Poster Creation - Part 2

Assignment 2 – Rough Digital Sketch

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  • Image Modification, Typography and Placement (AKA Smooth Rough Layout)

  • Make a montage of the images you modified last week on the art board size 12x24 inches. Make sure each image is in a different layer. Experiment with layer transparency and various blending modes to create interesting effects.

  • The elements should use only flat/solid colors. Set the type for a saying, expression or verse, and add it to your design.

  • Add any gradients and patterns that you feel will complete your design.

  • Keep in mind that the longer the body of copy, the less special affects you should add. And remember, the type should be readable. Body copy should not be smaller than 10 points.

  • Choose an appropriate layout for the piece and effective placement for the title.

  • Choose an interesting typeface for the design and title treatment that is appropriate to the concept. Experiment with the scale and arrangement of the lettering. Explore different layer styles, text warping effects, and clipping masks.

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Steps to Success

  1. Each week you are responsible for submitting a different phase of the project. For this week, you will construct the first draft of your poster. You will create an art board, place each element into your page and add a any Mask to reveal the main object(s) and arrange the elements in their proper order. You will also include text as a placeholder for the poster’s headline, saying and/or quote

  2. Create a art board in portrait orientation using the following page settings:
    Width: 12 inches
    Height: 24 inches

  3. Be prepared to explain:

  • Your design concept

  • Your design solution

  • Problems encountered and solutions

  • Whether or not you feel you accomplished your goals

  • What could you improve?

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Course Project 1 — Event Poster Creation - Part 3

Assignment 3 – Color Studies 

 

Steps to Success

  • You will create a final treatment for the poster design. The type, colors and elements should work together to enhance, create a sense of unity with the design, and set a mood for the piece.

  • Add any gradients, patterns or last minute design elements to the layout.

  • Reflect on any suggestions from your professor and from your peers and make any necessary changes to your composition.

  • Continue to refine the mask edges on the elements and any new objects with layer masks (revealed elements) using the Mask Edge command. Use the paintbrush technique to paint directly on the mask to hide any stray (revealed) pixels.

  • At least 3 color studies are required. Each color study should be different from the previous. This gives the designer an opportunity to explore possible solutions.

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Be prepared to explain:

  • Your design concept

  • Your design solution

  • Problems encountered and solutions

  • Whether or not you feel you accomplished your goals

  • What could you improve?

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Course Project 1 — Event Poster Creation - Part 4

Assignment 4 – Final

Steps to Success

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  • Final Event Poster Presentation 

  • Submit the final finished design  as a .PDF. Label the file: LastName_TravelPoster_Final.pdf.

  • Be prepared to give a brief summary of your experience and include the following:

  • Describe your experience and what you have learned from doing this exercise.

  • Why did you choose the finished concept and/or destination?

  • What images did you include in the collection? Why did you select these images? Do they best match the materials illustrated in the sketches?

  • How did you obtain the images? Did you find all the images you will need to construct the poster? Did you have to make substitutions and alter your original idea/sketch?

  • What problems did you encounter in trying to obtain the images? How did you overcome these obstacles?

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Course Project 2 — Advertising Print Advertisement - Part 1

You have been hired to create a magazine ad for a national brand. You may choose to design an ad for You may choose to design an ad for Citibank, Frito-Lay,  Bloomin' Brands, Converse Active Footwear or Samsung. To help with creative concepts, think about different genres where your chosen product could exist. Science fiction, satire, drama, action and adventure, romance, mystery or horror. You may also want to think about creating your own elements such as smoke, bubbles, fire etc. The design must include at least 5 different photographs’ that will be blended as one scene or object. You will create all art assets including images and type. You may use base Stock Photography as a starting point.

 

The design must combine a minimum of five photographic images realistic scene. The images may come from any source; however, you are encouraged to use original photographs and create your own special effects.

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Keep in mind that the use of copyrighted material (i.e. stock photos, scans from published materials, etc.) may be used with certain limitations. You can use copyrighted material for scholarly work, but you cannot reproduce it for sale or claim it as your own.

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The design must also include a typographical design that contains the title or branding statement, plus the product’s logo. The image of the ad may be any proportion but must fit into a final page layout of a common magazine Size of 8 3⁄8” x 10 7⁄8”.

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For the purposes of submitting drafts to the classroom for review, each submission must be saved as a JPEG at 300 dpi.

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Assignment 1 – Ideas and Concepts

Requirements for the Course Composite Project: Print Ad

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Submit at least three sketches of an idea for your print ad that include the Headline and branding statement

Requirements for the Course Composite Project

  • Title must be included in the final

  • Digitally manipulated imagery (original photos taken with a digital or film camera, or images obtained through online image resources)

  • A minimum of 5 photos of materials (objects) must be used in the print ad design.

  • Application of one of each of the following: blending modes, opacity, gradients, painting, retouching tools, filters, layer styles, etc.

  • Very clean layer masking

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Keep in mind:

  • Lighting sources

  • Perspective​

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Steps to Success

Present a concept statement that includes the information outlined below along with three rough sketches according to the specifications below. Combine the three sketches into a single PDF.​

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  • Create three rough sketches using pencil and paper that illustrates three different ideas of the subject. The sketches of the concepts should be hand drawn clearly so that we can identify the elements you are going to use in the print ads construction.

  • Save each sketch as a jpg for inclusion into a multiple page PDF.

  • Combine the three sketches into a single PDF. Name the file: Name_PS_Ad_sketches.PDF

 

Be prepared to explain:

  • Your design concept

  • Your design solution

  • Problems encountered and solutions

  • Whether or not you feel you accomplished your goals

  • What could you improve?

 

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Course Project 2 — Advertising Print Advertisement - Part 2

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Assignment 2 – image Modification and Placement 

Make a montage of the images you modified last week on the canvas size you have decided to use. Make sure each image is in a different layer. Experiment with layer transparency and various blending modes to create interesting effects.

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Deadline and Deliverable

Submit a jpg of your first draft of your ad according to the specifications below. Name the file LastName_PS_Ad_layout.JPG Present a brief summary of your experience that includes the information detailed below. Attach the jpg to your post.

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Steps to Success​

  1. Create a canvas in portrait orientation using the following page settings:
    Width: 8 inches
    Height: 10 inches
    Resolution: 300
    Color Mode: CMYK

  2. Add (place, move, or copy/paste) an image into the canvas. Create a selection around the element you wish to reveal (make sure to select the object and not the background). Add a layer mask (Layer>Layer Mask>Reveal Selection). Repeat this process for each image you will be using in the book’s construction.

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Course Project 2 — Advertising Print Advertisement - Part 3

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Deadline and Deliverable

Submit a pdf of the final draft of your ad according to the specifications below. Name the file LastName_PS_Ad_Final.PDF. Present a brief summary of your experience that includes the information detailed below. Examine your classmates' work and respond according to the Review and Critique guidelines below.

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Steps to Success​

  1. Reflect on any suggestions from your professor and from your peers and make any necessary changes to your composition.

  2. Choose an appropriate layout for the piece and effective placement for the title. Choose an interesting typeface for the design and title treatment that is appropriate to the concept. Experiment with the scale and arrangement of the lettering. Explore different layer styles, text warping effects, and clipping masks.

  3. Continue to refine the mask edges on the elements and any new objects with layer masks (revealed elements) using the Mask Edge command. Use the paintbrush technique to paint directly on the mask to hide any stray (revealed) pixels.

  4. Save the second draft as a jpg. Name the file: LastName_PS_Ad_Final.JPG

  5. The completed layout should be equivalent to that of any ad that one would see in any magazine.

  6. Present your design in class. In your final analysis discuss the following:

  • Discuss the strengths and weakness of the final composition in detail using the elements and principles of design. Do you feel the final design is successful? What do you feel is most successful about the final composition? Is the composition well balanced? Is the design visually unified? Is the design visually compelling? Is the final solution similar to the proposed design stated in the initial concept statement and sketches? Are any color-corrections or repairs still needed? Do any additional edges or areas need to be refined? Does it meet the course project objectives?

  • Ask questions that will further your understanding of the tools and techniques used, construction methods, and design process.

  • Discuss problems and successes and offer assistance and additional feedback.

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Course Project 3 - Food Packaging - Part1

Write a creative brief

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Steps to Success

  1. Identify the target audience that will be the beneficiary of your work.

  2. Clearly defining client needs and project parameters by researching the company, product, or service.

  3. Use the Creative Brief Word Template Attached at the bottom of this page. 

  4. Include:

  • Background information on the company and product.

  • Insight into the target audience

  • Brand attributes, promise and mission

  • Competitive landscape

  • Call to action

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Course Project 3 - Food Packaging - Part 2

Assignment 2: Name the product

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Steps to Success

  1. Using your research from the creative brief begin exploring names of the product.

  2. Keep the target audience in mind.

  3. Think about the flavor and the many different visual approaches that could be used to visualize the concept.

  4. Begin by developing a word list and/or short phrases. You may make up new words or combine words to clarify the taste.

  5. Create three different names of the product.

  6. Present your ideas in a power point presentation. Note - Make your own PPT template - Please do not use a standard PPT template.

    • Slide 1 - Who is the Target Audience?

    • Slide 2 - Images/photos that visually represent the flavor.

    • Slide 3 - List of words and phrases used to develop the product name.

    • Slide 4 - List the three different names of the product on the same slide.

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Course Project 3 - Food Packaging - Part 3

Assignment 3: Logo Design - Concept thumbnails

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Steps to Success

  1. Draw by hand at least 21 wide-ranging concepts for a new themed beverage.

  2. The sketches should be clean and professional.

  3. Sketches should be drawn at half-size - 2x4 inches.

  4. Use graphic styles and/or art movements to drive the visual.

  5. Think about genres that might represent your base ideas such as horror, romance, humor, action, and adventure.

  6. From your concepts, choose 3 ideas and create a page of at least 5 refined sketches for each idea.

  7. Do not use color at this time.

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maddieBeerSketch.jpg

Course Project 3 - Food Packaging - Part 4

Assignment 4 - Digital Artwork

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Based on the responses of your instructor and classmates, continue to refine and develop the rough label design in digital software (Adobe Illustrator) from the thumbnails you created in Assignment 3 into three separate variations. These designs will be created in grey scale – no color at this time. Present roughs on a multiple page PDF file.

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Steps to Success

  1. Develop and present smooth digital artwork in class.

  2. Further develop your labels based on instructor and classmate suggestions from Assignment 3.

  3. There should be a minimum of three new variations of your design.

  4. Abobe Illustrator required.

  5. Designs must be in greyscale. Do not use color at this time.

    • Make sure that all type elements are included.

      • Ingredients

      • Any warning

    • Print the grey scale design and apply it to a can.​

      • Examine how your ideas work as labels.

      • Begin to understand the hierarchy of the elements.

MackDigital.jpg
maddieDigital.jpg

Course Project 3 - Food Packaging - Part 5

Assignment 5: Color Studies

In this assignment, you will continue with label project. Based on the responses of your instructor and classmates, make any additional refinements to the selected semi-finished design that you created in Assignment 4. You will create three-color studies of the selected design. The purpose of creating a color study is to analyze the impact of color on the final illustration. Submit all 3-color comps in a single multiple-page PDF file (one image per page), with 3 color studies each. Keep the color combinations to just a few select colors.

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Steps to success

  1. Select three sets of color harmonies, with a maximum of three colors in each set.

  2. Using these sets, generate three separate color studies for each logo design. You may use Adobe Illustrator's Live Color feature to complete this assignment or Illustrator's Swatch Libraries. Discuss why you think your chosen color harmonies will appropriately represent the final illustration to its target audience.

  3. A color study is not intended to be a finished rendering of the illustrations. Think of it as a Thumbnail in color. Your task is to try colors you would not normally attempt, or maybe even think of in a daily situation.

  4. Use a maximum of 4 colors.

  5. Submit each color study for each label design in a multiple page .PDF.

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ContactSheet-001.jpg
ContactSheet-002.jpg

Course Project 3 - Food Packaging - Part 6

Assignment 6: The Finish

In this assignment, you will finish the label project. Based on the responses of your instructor and classmates, make any additional refinements to the selected semi-finished design that you created in Assignment 5. You will finalize the selected design, create a mock-up, and prepare the file for print production.

Steps to success

  • Present the final design in a short presentation.

    • Talk about the concept and how it is effective for the target audience.

    • Discuss what you learned about packaging design.

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Course Project 3 - Food Packaging - Part 7

Assignment 7: Applications

You will apply your lable design to various mock-up's.

The purpose of creating these mock-up's is to analyze the impact of logo imprint on various materials..

  • Apply the logo to an apparel such as a T-shirt.

  • Apply the black and white version of the logo to a drinking glass. (i.e. Beer mug or tea glass)

merch03.jpg
merch02.jpg
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