ART 108
VISUAL TECHNOLGIES (3-3)
CSUCI
Course Syllabus, Spring 2018
Art Department,
Topanga Hall 1976
Instructor: Omid
Email: omid@csuci.edu
Office hrs: T/TH 9am – 10am
Course Description:
This course is a prerequisite for some upper-division studio art courses. It is a survey of the computer based electronic technology used by visual artists or designers. Projects explore the creative potential of basic software options and experience how each relates to the new electronic media environment.
Software:
We will explore three fundamental software in graphic design:
Photoshop CS6, Illustrator CS6, InDesign CS6
Do no worry if you do not have them already installed on your laptop.
You will have access to equipped computers through this class to finish your projects.
If you need more time to work, you will have access to Computer Lab on campus.
Office hours:
You received a link on class home-page. Please use the form to make appointment.
I will be available though the camps email as well. Please give me 24 hours to respond during the week and 48 hours on weekend.
If you cannot show up in your confirmed appointment, please notify me a day before via email or text message.
Project:
We will complete 15 projects throughout this course. As it mentioned you will generally have time to work on them during each class period, but they will often require time outside of class to complete properly. More complex projects will be given more time.
A copy of all projects will be uploaded on the date due and the original files will be kept until the end of the semester. In addition to the shorter projects, there will be a midterm practical and final project. Part of the final project will be a portfolio of your work throughout the semester, so keeping a copy of all projects is very important.
ATTENDANCE:
Attendance is mandatory in this class. Lectures, directions, demonstrations and critiques will not be repeated.
Studio/lab classes, such as this, strongly take into consideration the entire learning and work-habit process as well as
required assignments.
The instructor will make note for students who are continually late. Attendance and promptness will greatly affect your overall final grade. You must be in class at the designated official start time of the class as the instructor will take attendance. If you are not present at this time, you will be marked as absent. the university gives authorization to lower grades or fail students for poor attendance and tardiness at the instructor’s discretion.
Student Evaluation:
Participation, attendance, and ongoing progress are all part of the grading process. Students will be expected to make revisions due to student and teacher critiques and evaluations. Some class time will be given to work on projects, but it is the students’ responsibility to make use of the lab hours given to them to complete their assignments.
Project grades will be issued on a numerical scale, based on the following criteria: Strength of concept (originality)
Use of principals taught in class
Aesthetics
Each criteria is evaluated based on a point system:
10 Excellent
8 Good
6 Average
4 Weak
2 Poor
0 Not Shown
Each project will have 10 to 30 possible points.
The final grade will be calculated using the following grades:
Weekly projects, midterm project, final project, participation, any quiz or given exams.
Final course grades are issued based on a straight percentage, broken down as follows:
100-93 A
92-90 A-
89-87 B+
86-83 B
82-80 B-
79-77 C+
76-73 C
72-70 C-
69-67 D+
66-63 D
62-60 D-
59-00 F
You are able to turn a project by only 1 week delay, but you will loose one grade on that project.
Please remember:
All completed assignments will be delivered on the due date promptly at the beginning of class and late work will not be accepted.
An absence is not an excuse for a late project, sorry!
Grading Criteria:
Both the process and the product are considered in the grade. Projects should demonstrate the successful integration of the student’s own personal aesthetic in a conceptually rich and skillfully executed work. Sufficient evidence of an ongoing creative process and development over time is expected. Grades will be given through out the semester on developmental stages of the project, as well as the completed animation project. Grading is by individual faculty review and class critiques with student participation. Percentage of grade: 30% Creative stages of project, 60% Projects, 10% Class participation.
Non-original work is considered plagiarism, and can result in an automatic failure for that project.
Student Behavior/Professional Deportment:
In the classroom/lab, students are expected to practice professional behavior and treat other students, lab techs and faculty with respect and cooperation.
Materials:
2 USB drives (at least 1 GB each) or a portable drive.
We won’t have in this class: “lost file”, “lost back up”, “lost flash drive”, “damaged file”.
Save your grade by saving your files and projects!
SUGGESTED TEXTS:
Any guide book or manual will work. These are just a sample:
Photoshop CS6: Visual QuickStart Guide by Elaine Weinmann
ISBN: 978-0321822185
Illustrator CS6: Visual QuickStart Guide by Elaine Weinmann
ISBN: 978-0321822178
Of course there are zillion tutorials on web. Do not forget youtube!
COMMUNICATION:
Email will be the official way to communicate. Therefore it is your responsibility to check your email on regular basis. If you are preferring your personal email address, please forward your CSUCI email to your personal email address.
To make an appointment you are welcome to use the Doodle form.
If you need to cancel your appointment please email/text me a day before.
STUDENT WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES:
If you have a learning disability or feel that you may have a learning disability, it is suggested that you contact the Center on Disabilities (https://www.csuci.edu/dass/ or 805-437-3331). You may be encouraged to register in order to be eligible for accommodations.
CODE OF STUDENT CONDUCTS:
Information may be viewed online at https://www.csuci.edu/campuslife/student-conduct/
LAST BUT NOT LEAST:
This class is a two-way course. The purpose of this class is not solely for learning technical skills, but to develop our vision to look at things differently. The art and design world has endless excitement to discuss. So, make yourself comfortable by bringing your point of view to this class, show me anything that might be interested in as they are relevant to our class; from facebook, twitter, Instagram to a snap photo when you are coming to the campus. While we respect each other and make a professional connection through this course, we will all learn from each other.
-Omid
