- Week 8: October 10 to October 16 (Online)
- Week 9: October 17 to October 23 (Face to Face)
- Illustrator Folio (summary handout - how to organize your files, check list, peer grade sheet)
Week 8: Goals this Week
By the end of this week you will be able to:- Identify symmetry and asymmetry in the composition of an image
- Identify the positive and negative space in the composition of an image
- Apply your understanding of the way people perceive shapes in a composition as the basis for design decisions
- Use symmetry, asymmetry, balance and visual weight in a composition
- Use patterning to create symmetry
- Use color to define a focal point
- Create, select, move, color, transform and copy basic shapes using Illustrator
- Identify the underlying grid and relationships it creates in a composition
- Work with Illustrator's units, rulers and guides to create a grid on your artboard
- Use Illustrator's line segment tool and set stroke weight
- Use lines for direction, division, and to support elements within a composition
- Use Illustrator's type tool to set the font style and scale for a headline
- Use Illustrator's type tool to create body copy within a text frame
- Use color to create associations and direct your viewer's eye
- Modify the shape of individual letters by editing anchor points with the direct selection tool
Completion checklist for Week 8
All tasks are completed online.- Reading Assignment: Symmetry and Gestalt
- Practice: Complete Chapter 3 Exercises 2-7
- Reflection Blog: Post JPEG of your CH3 EX2-7 exercises result and evaluate your work
- Reading Assignment: Type on the Grid
- Stuff Designers Do Video: Layout Grid Rules
- Chapter 4 Exercises 1-6 (save a JPEG of your result and email to instructor)
- Discussion 4 (VoiceThread)
- Take Quiz 5 (Blackboard)
Reading Assignment: Symmetry and Gestalt
Complete before beginning CH3 Exercises 2-7Read 3. Symmetry and Gestalt in Digital Foundations: Intro to Media Design with the Adobe Creative Suite. Make sure you follow the links to look at the included visual references. Time needed: 5-15 minutes.
In your Chapter 3 exercises this week, you will work with shapes to create symmetry, asymmetry, balance, visual weight and a focal point within a composition. Pay attention to how these concepts are expressed in the visual references and chapter exercises. I will ask you to work with them in a creative project this week after completing the practice exercises.
Practice: CH 3 Exercises 2-7
Complete before midnight on Friday October 14Start by looking at the Results of Chapter 3 Exercises, then do Exercises 2-7 (we did exercise 1 in class during Week 8). Exercises 2-7 can be completed all at once, or you save your Illustrator file after completing some of the work and finish later. Time needed for all six exercises: 30 - 60 minutes (This is a guess. It took me 45 minutes to do the reading and all the exercises.)
After completing these exercises, save your Illustrator file as lastname-firstname-ch3.ai. Keep this master version for your Illustrator Folio to be turned in November 18.
How to turn in for credit this week:
Use the Save for Web and Devices technique to save a JPEG of your result. Name your file lastname-firstname-ch3.jpg and include it in your Reflection 4 Blog Post.
Reflection 4 Blog Post
Complete before midnight on Friday, October 14Create a new post on the class blog. Title your post, upload your JPEG file to the post. Underneath it write a reflection on your illustration. In your reflection, answer the following:
- Where is symmetry or asymmetry used in this exercise?
- Where is visual weight and balance used in this exercise?
- How is a focal point created in this exercise?
The table below shows what I will be looking for in your reflection responses. Provided you complete the Reflection Blog Post by the due date, each item is worth 5 points for a total of 20 points possible.
| 0 points | 5 points | 5 points | 5 points | 5 points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student does not complete the Reflection by the due date | Student displays JPEG image of completed exercise within the blog post | Student identifies use of a/symmetry and its role in the exercise | Student identifies use of visual weight and/or balance in the exercise | Student identifies creation of a focal point in the exercise |
Reading Assignment: Type on the Grid
Complete before beginning CH4 Exercises 1-6, and before taking Quiz 5Read 4. Type on the Grid in Digital Foundations: Intro to Media Design with the Adobe Creative Suite. Make sure you follow the links to look at the included visual references. Time needed: 5-10 minutes.
As you read, answer these questions:
- What are considered formal elements in a composition? Be able to give examples.
- What does the negative space in a composition include? Be able to give examples.
- What does a grid provide in a composition?
- How does the idea of "the grid" relate to the industrialization much of the Western world was experiencing in the 1920s-1930s?
Watch Stuff Designers Do Video: Layout Grid Rules
Complete before beginning CH4 Exercises 1-6, and before taking Quiz 5Watch the Layout Grid Rules video from StuffDesignersDo.com. Time needed: 4-5 minutes
As you watch, make sure you can answer these questions:
- What is the "Rule of Thirds"; how and why do you apply it to your composition?
- What is the "Golden Ratio"; and how and why do you apply it to your composition?
Practice: Chapter 4 Exercises 1-6
Complete before midnight on Thursday November 4These exercises will teach you more Illustrator skills, which you will use next week to create an illustration of your name. Time needed: 40-90 minutes. (This is a guess based on it taking me 50 minutes to complete this chapter.)
- In Exercise 1: Using guides to create a grid, you will learn to work change an Illustrator document's units, and work with the origin point, rulers and guides to create a layout grid.
- In Exercise 2: Lines, you will learn to use the line segment tool, edit stroke weight, and use line for direction, division and support of elements on a page.
- In Exercise 3: Using the Type tool to create a headline, you'll learn to use the Type tool, set font styles, scale and kern type.
- In Exercise 4: Creating body copy with the Type tool, you'll learn to create a text box, fill it with "dummy" text, and set leading.
- In Exercise 5: Directing the viewer with color, you'll learn how to "Create Outlines" to turn text into vector shapes, and begin to edit individual letters.
- In Exercise 6: Adjusting shapes with the Direct Selection tool, you'll learn to use the Direct Selection tool to change the shape of a letter by editing its anchor points.
It's easy to skip an important step in the instructions, and even when you read every word, sometimes the instructions leave out something important. So I have video demonstrations of the exercises for you. If you get stuck, check out the videos.
After completing these exercises, save your Illustrator file as lastname-firstname-ch4.ai. Keep this master version for your Illustrator Folio to be turned in November 18.
How to turn in for credit: Use the Save for Web and Devices technique to save a JPEG of your result. Name your file lastname-firstname-ch4.jpg and email it to your instructor.
Discussion 4: Layout Grids
Complete before midnight on Sunday, November 7 (Voicethread)
I'll invite everyone to a new Voicethread this week where we will discuss a few postcard images and their use of a layout grid. We'll talk about these postcard images in terms of their use of formal elements, negative space, and the relationships created by use of a grid. Look for the invitation in your maricopa.edu email early in the week. Time needed: 10-15 minutes.
Since the discussion gives everyone an opportunity to check their understanding of layout grids, it's a good idea to participate in the discussion before taking Quiz 5.
The table below shows what I will be looking for in your discussion responses. Provided you complete the discussion by the due date, each item is worth 1 points for a total of 4 points possible.
| 0 points | 1 point | 1 point | 1 point | 1 point |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student does not complete the discussion by the due date | Student responds to all questions posed by instructor and any direct questions from other participants | Student demonstrates understanding of terms "formal elements" and "negative space" as discussed in reading material | Student identifies relationships in a composition created by use of a grid | Student identifies application of "Rule of Thirds" and/or "Golden Ratio" in a composition |
Quiz 5 in Blackboard
Complete before midnight October 16
Quiz 5 is available in Blackboard on October 10 and expires at midnight on October 16. This essay quiz will ask you to look at an image and write about how it makes use of the grid concepts you have studied this week. The quiz is worth 10 points. Time needed: 5-10 minutes.
Important: When you first submit your quiz, you will see generic feedback on your answer. I will grade your quiz and provide you with specific feedback on your answer as soon as possible. You can take the test up to 3 times to improve your score, but you should look at my feedback response before making another attempt. If you don't know where to find your feedback, please email me before attempting the quiz again so that I can assist you. Do not use up your 3 attempts before I have a chance to give you feedback on your essay answer.
Week 9: Goals this Week
By the end of this week you will be able to:
- Practice your new Illustrator skills
- Create an Illustration of your name that can be used on your Postcard
- Use computer file management to organize digital files for a graphic design project
- Attribute research source for your project
- Determine whether a project meets assigned requirements
- Give a short presentation about your project to your peers
The assigned activities on this page are designed to help you practice these learning goals and demonstrate your learning. Doing these activities in the order presented below is recommended. However, you are ultimately responsible for your own learning, and you may proceed in any way that helps you acquire the above knowledge and skills.
Completion checklist for Week 9
We meet face to face this week, and you will need to complete work online before coming to class.
- Before class: Create an illustration of your name using Illustrator, save AI version and JPEG version
- Before class: Reflection 5 Blog: Post your name illustration JPEG to the Class Blog, evaluating your goal and results (online)
- Before class: Watch Preparing to Present video (online)
- Before class: Read the Photoshop Folio document; use the Check List to make sure your project meets requirements (online)
- Before class: Prepare a 2-3 minute verbal presentation about your Name illustration (online)
- During class: Present your Name illustration project (in class)
- During class: Use Illustrator Folio Check List and Peer Grade Sheet to evaluate the Illustrator Folios of two fellow students (in class)
- During class: Illustrator Folio Due (place in Instructor DropBox by end of class)
- During class: We will take the last 30 to 45 minutes of class to discuss the Rule of Thirds and Golden Ratio, introduce your InDesign project, review printing and mounting supplies for your final project and sign up for print times.
Applied Skills: Create an Illustration of Your Name
Complete before posting your Reflection BlogUse Illustrator to design and create an illustration of your name that can be used as a secondary image on your postcard. Apply the Illustrator tools and techniques you learned in Chapters 3 and 4. In particular, use the Type tool to create your name in a typeface you enjoy. Then use Type > Create Outlines to turn your letters into shapes. This will allow you to Ungroup the letters and move them around if you like. You can also incorporate objects made with the Shape and Line tools. You can pull Guides out from the Rulers to help you align the formal elements in your design, and use the Direct Selection tool to modify the shapes of basic objects and letters.
Pay attention to some of the design concepts you have worked in your exercises. See if you can incorporate symmetry or asymmetry. Pay attention to positive and negative space, balance, visual weight, patterning, grouping and color. Use these where you feel they support your design.
In addition to the tools you've worked with already, consider trying something new. Adobe.tv has a nice series of short tutorial videos designed to help you get started with Illustrator. You can watch them here: Learn Illustrator CS5. You don't have to watch them all! But exploring two or three of them can help get your imagination going.
Assignment Requirements:
- Use the Shape and Type tools (you can use others, but at minimum, use these two)
- Create Outlines of all type (you can keep an editable version on a hidden layer, but a copy should be turned into shapes in case the font you use is not available when you go to print your project)
- Name your Illustrator layers descriptively
- Save your master Illustrator file as name.ai - save this file to turn in with your Illustrator Folio
I am deliberately leaving this assignment somewhat open ended to encourage your creativity. If this gives you too many choices, please call or email me so I can help you narrow it down. Keep in mind that you will place this illustration somewhere on your postcard, and that it should integrate with the Photoshop image you want to put on your postcard. It's a good idea to decide in advance if you want to overlay your illustration onto your photographic image on the front of the postcard, or put your illustration on the back of the postcard instead. If you'll place it on top of the photographic image, you'll want to use colors that will work well together but that will keep the illustration legible. I'll post a video of an example illustration for a postcard, but your own illustration should work well with what you plan for your postcard project.
How to turn in for credit: Use the Save for Web and Devices technique to save a JPEG of your result. Name your file name.jpg and post it with your Reflection blog.
Reflection 5 Blog Post
Complete before midnight on Sunday, October 16
It's time to sum up what you've learned by reflecting on this week's assignments. Create a new post on the class blog, give your post any title you like, upload your name illustration JPEG file to the post, and underneath it write a reflection on your experience illustrating your name. In your reflection, answer the following:
- What Illustrator tools did you use that you learned during Weeks 8 and 9?
- What Design concepts or rules did you use that you learned during Weeks 8 and 9? (think about a/symmetry, balance, visual weight, focal point)
- What Illustrator tool(s) or technique(s) did you use that you taught yourself this week?
- Evaluate your results: Are you happy with the way your illustration turned out? Was there something you wanted to do but couldn't quite achieve it? Where and how do you see your illustration fitting into your overall postcard?
| 0 points | 5 points | 5 points | 5 points | 5 points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student does not complete the Reflection by the due date | Student displays JPEG image of completed name illustration within the blog post | Student identifies specific Illustrator tools learned during used to create the posted work | Student identifies specific design concepts or rules used in the posted work | Student evaluates success and/or improvements needed in posted work |
Preparing to Present (Video)
Complete before coming to class on October 21
This video covers the preparations you should make so you will arrive in class fully prepared to present and turn in your Illustrator Folio. Time needed: 7 minutes.
Illustrator Folio Checklist
Complete before coming to class on October 21
Read the Photoshop Folio document (below). Use the Check List page to make sure your Illustrator Folio meets the assignment requirements. You will not have an opportunity to complete this check at the start of class. Your Illustrator Folio should be ready to turn in when you arrive. Time needed: 10-15 minutes.
If you have questions about any of the checklist items you should contact your instructor before coming to class. Take the time to make sure you have everything! Your Illustrator Folio is your opportunity to demonstrate all the skills you have acquired up to now, including file management, research source attribution, and Illustrator techniques. Your Illustrator Folio is worth 160 points.
Presentations
Complete during class on October 21
At the start of class we'll take 10 minutes to set up for presentations and review. Each student will copy their Illustrator Folio onto their computer desktop so it is easy to find for review. Each student will also display the name illustration (.ai) file on screen.
Verbal presentations of your on-screen work will take up to 30 minutes. I will explain the process just before we get started. It will be relatively informal, but I want everyone to have this chance to practice talking about your work to a group of people. There is no rubric to judge how well you present your work do at this stage of class; if you present, you receive points. Your verbal presentation is worth 10 points.
Peer Review
Complete during class on October 21
Peer evaluations will take 20-30 minutes. Each student will evaluate two other students' Illustrator Folios using the Check List and Peer Grade Sheet (I will provide blank sheets during class; you do not have to print them out). Thorough, accurate peer reviews are important because they serve as a final check on project requirements before turning in the Illustrator Folio. You receive 15 points for each Peer Grade Sheet you fill out, for a total of 30 points. (If you miss something that could improve someone's score, I reserve the right to lower the points you receive for your evaluation.)
Illustrator Folio Due
Complete during class on October 21
After reviewing the Peer Grade Sheets for your Illustrator Folio, you have until the end of class to correct any errors or omissions spotted by your fellow students. Place your completed Illustrator Folio into the Instructor Drop Box by the end of class. Hand in the Peer Grade Sheets for your project to your instructor before leaving. Your Illustrator Folio final grade will be available in Blackboard by midnight October 27.
Illustrator Folio Handout
This handout provides a summary of the files you will create during Weeks 8-9. The second page is a Check List you can use to make sure you have everything you need to turn in, and the third page is the Peer Grade Sheet you will fill out for 2-3 other students during class in Week 12. You can enlarge to full screen or download the PDF (1MB) file.
