Graphic Design/Web Design

GRDSN 115: Drawing for Graphic Designers
Course Syllabus

Instructor Info: 

Name:	Betsy Ward
E-mail:	betsyw@spokanefalls.edu
Phone:	509-533-3715
Office:	19-227
Office Hours:	Click to view my schedule
Mailing Address:	MS 3190 3410 W Fort George Wright Dr Spokane, WA 99224-5288

Course Description:
This is an intermediate course in drawing fundamentals using thematic development, hand-eye coordination, observation techniques, attention to format and proportion, perspective, composition, and color.

Students will develop the techniques employed by working graphic artists and strive to quickly create representational drawings for concept and layout development and communication to clients, designers, photographers, illustrators and associates.

Prerequisites:
GRDSN 105

Concurrent Enrollment:
GRDSN 111, 112, 113 and 114 or permission of instructor 

Required Textbooks for the Graphic Design Program:
Drawing A contemporary Approach, by Sale and Betti, 5th edition

Activities include but are not limited to:

• Thematic development through the use of analogy and frames of reference
• Working within a format
• Drawing thumbnail and rough layout sketches
• Introduction to computer illustration
• Book making
• Studies of the types of perspective drawing
• Exploring the functions of color
• Organizing the picture plane
• Developing concepts and layouts for projects in GRDSN 113, Design Projects II

This information is tentative and may change as the course proceeds.

At the completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Draw thumbnails for quick concept development.

2. Draw with a variety of tools and papers.

3. Draw basic shapes and type so that clients and other designers can understand the message.

4. Try a variety of drawing techniques.

5. Work with industry projects developed in other courses.

6. Work as a team member.

Grading

This is a course that requires a lot of thinking. If you have completed the criteria and competency listing on any given project you will receive a 3.0. If you do not meet these industry standards you will receive an “i” for incomplete. Any incomplete projects need to be completed within 5 lab days after the final due date to receive a passing grade.

Projects completed after the 5 lab days will receive a 0.0 and will be averaged into the overall grade for the course. All projects need to be completed otherwise student receives a 0.0 for the course. At least one project must meet the deadlines or student receives a 0.0 for the course. To move toward a 4.0 you must exceed expectations in either work ethic, artistic ability, production skills, writing skills, computer skills, people skills or idea development.

Attendance is crucial to your progress and will be taken at the beginning of every class. The attendance policy is as follows: More than 4 absences = 0.0 grade point

If you are absent you must make up the work by: a) collecting the class notes, b) doing any missed work and c) coordinating with your instructor. All exercises must be completed by the end of the quarter. Two late attendances or two early departures equal one absence. Working on projects for another class during class time will result in an absence.

Cell phones must be turned off in the classroom.

Be prepared: Bring your sketch book, paper, pencils, pens, disks, ideas, pictures to scan, research, and textbooks to class. You need to create a binder that contains your class handouts, competency listings and sign off sheet This should be with you at all times. It is recommended that you get extra storage media to make multiple backups of your work.

Communication: Email is required for this course. If you do not have an email account at home, you can sign up for free email using:

http://mail.yahoo.com
http://www.hotmail.com
or any other free email client

You may access your email using the lab, however please do not use the lab for "chat" or general web surfing. Email is checked by the faculty Monday thru Friday. Please allow 24 hours for your instructor to reply to your email.

Supplies:

• Sketchbook or notebook
  It is recommended you keep a sketchbook as a place to store your ideas and concepts. I will check the progress of your sketchbooks and any out-of-class work you store in them. Don't tear out pages to submit to class.
• Pencils, hard and soft lead
• Pens, blue or black
• Sharpie markers in a variety of sizes, making sure that you have an ultra fine tip pen included
• 2 pieces of Arches Paper
• Letter-sized bond paper
• Manila envelopes, 9"x12"
• Colored pencils
• A 9x12 or larger newsprint pad
• A pad of tracing paper
• Several sheets of paper imprinted with a grid
• A piece of specialty paper
• Cover weight paper 8.5x11 inches
• Erasers; kneaded rubber, "Pink Pearl", artgum...choose your favorite
• A folder or binder to store handouts and drawings
• A ruler, cork-backed metal is preferred
• A roll of masking or drafting tape
• Exacto knife and blades
• Spray adhesive
• Charcoal, various weights
• Conte crayon, black or brown
• Scotch tape
• Black ink, either waterproof or not
• Calligraphic bamboo brush, large size
• Thumb disk or CD to store computer files
• Black mat board for mounting several finished drawings
• A can of spray fixative to protect your pencil drawings. (Hair spray is a traditional substitute-test first on a sample drawing)
• It is a wise to acquire a protective container to carry large pads and drawings. There are large canvas bags made for this; large shipping envelopes, used photo paper boxes or printers' plate boxes are also good solutions.
• Additional supplies for the book project as needed per student
  

Note: This course syllabus is only for the quarter listed above and appropriate changes may be made by the faculty. Also, future syllabi for this course may be different.

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