SYLLABUS ILLUSTRATOR ESSENTIALS ART 107 – X

SUMMER 2017 SYLLABUS

Christian Brothers University

ILLUSTRATOR ESSENTIALS

ART 107 – X – T R 4:00pm - 6:30pm – Buckman Hall Room # 360

Office: RD 124 – Office Phone: (901) 321-3350

Office Hours (by appointment only): M T W R 3:15pm – 4:00pm 

Online hours F 1:00 – 3:00pm

Professor: Nicholas Peña

E-mail: npena@cbu.edu

Course Credits: 3 

Weekly Instructional Time:
Faculty will spend at least 5 hours each week on student instruction.  Additional lab hours are by appt. only.

Weekly Student Engagement Time:
Students should expect to spend at least 5-8 hours each week on course work.

                                               

Required Text: 

Photoshop CC2015: The Professional Portfolio

Author: Against the Clock Team

ISBN: 978-1-936201-59-4

Course Description:

This course is an introduction to the user interface, tools, and features of Adobe Illustrator. Students begin working with the industry standard for creating vector graphics.  This incredibly deep program is used for digital illustration, custom graphics, graphic design, web design, and packaging.  By the end students will have progressed from a beginning to intermediate skill level able to command many of the powerful tools Illustrator has to offer. 

Course Objectives:

This 5-week course will focus on 6 projects using the user interface of Illustrator.  Instruction will be technical and hard line with demonstrations and readings of a number of techniques used for creating, manipulating, and outputting images from the computer.  Throughout the class students should consider both the technical and conceptual aspects of each assignment and by the final try to push what you’ve learned.

Course Goals:

• To understand CC management

•   To become familiar and comfortable using the user interface, tools, and features of         Adobe Illustrator

• To create imagery used by the contemporary visual designer

• To demonstrate an understanding of the software.

• To comprehend the basic vocabulary of CC

Skills To Be Mastered

• Illustrator CC—you should be proficient in basic Illustrator skills

• Following instructions—working within the time frames, exercise limitations and deadlines

• Organization; Time Management

• Basic concept development

• Professional execution—work ethic and presentation skills.

Students will provide the following

Materials

• Removable Flash Drive, notebook and or sketchbook

Skills To Be Successful

• Following instructions—working within the time frames, exercise limitations and deadlines

• Organization; Time Management

• Basic concept development

• Professional execution—work ethic and presentation skills.

• Come to Lab Hours on Fridays!

Students will provide the following

Materials

• Removable Flash Drive, notebook and or sketchbook.

Instructional Methods: 

This course will include weekly lectures, tutorials, and hands-on exercises utilizing various educational resources. 

Attendance and Plagiarism Notification:

Attendance Policy:

Attendance is one of the more important components of a successful class and studio practice.  In this class “excessive absences” is defined as missing more than three classes.  After the third missed class each absence that follows will start to decrease your overall grade.  For example, after the first three absences, every additional absence will drop your letter grade one full scale; 6 absences is an automatic drop from the class with a failing grade.  If you are tardy 3 times, it will equal 1 absence.  Missing more than 30 minutes of a class at the beginning or at the end will be considered an absence.  If you have trouble attending class, please discuss your problems privately with me after class.

Medical or personal problems will be excused but only with acceptable documentation. All missed activities and work will need to be made-up outside of class. You are responsible for the information missed by an absence.  It is the student’s responsibility to obtain class notes from fellow students (if they are so kind) and find out what was missed.

Class Policy

This course is a studio situation, which will contain lectures, demonstrations, and time to work in class at every level of project development. From thumbnails to finished project, you are expected to work on assigned problems in class and in lab. You are expected to spend a substantial amount of time outside of class to produce the highest-level design solution for any given assignment. To receive credit for the class you must complete all assignments and participate in all discussions and critiques. If you miss more than six sessions you will not receive credit (we will be going through technical information very quickly - if you miss even one session you will be at a huge disadvantage). If you show up to a lab or work day without things to work on it will count as an absence. If you show up to a discussion without having done the readings it will count as an absence. If you show up to a critique without work or show up, but don't take part in the critique, it will count as an absence. I will be starting class at 4:05 sharp. If you are late 3 times it will count as one absence. Attendance will be taken every morning.

Other Class Policies:

• Turn cell phones off or on silent mode.  If your cell phones, laptops, or other devices become a distraction to the other students you will be asked to leave class and be counted absent.
• There is no eating or drinking in class.  NO GUESTS ARE ALLOWED IN CLASS WITHOUT PRIOR APPROVAL.  This is CBU policy.  
• Do not leave class early.  This will result in an unexcused absence for the day.
• Treat fellow students with respect. 
• Do not disrupt class.
• If you have already planned to have absences (i.e. vacations, weddings) prior to taking this class, please inform me of these dates ASAP. 

Grading Opportunities

This is a project-based class however there will be quizzes after each project is completed.  The quizzes are important to understanding standard terminology and idiosyncrasies for each program.  Each project will be given a number grade during the quarter.  The grades of both project and accompanying quiz will be established based on 5 exercises (roughly 75%) and Final Project (25%)

Remember that a “C” means average.  If you want your grade to reflect excellence, your work must be excellent in every respect. Your evaluation for the course will be based on assignment grades plus your overall willingness to learn, participation in class discussions and critiques, ability to meet deadlines, presentation of work, attendance.

Deadlines

All project specifics as well as deadlines are given at the time the project is assigned. These requirements will be major factors in the grading of each assignment; you must adhere to these specifics as you would in business.  This class simulates the real world and the real world does not tolerate misinformation or missing deadlines. All project work is due at the beginning of each class on the due date.

Component:	Percentage:
Quizzes	25%
Projects & Tutorials	50%
Final	25%
Total	100%

Letter Grade:	Percentage:
A	90-100%
B	80-89.999%
C	70-79.999%
D	60-69.999%
F	0-59.999%

Grading Opportunities

This is a project-based class however there will be quizzes after each project is completed.  The quizzes are important to understanding standard terminology and characteristics of the program.  Each project will be given a number grade. Each project will be followed by a quiz.  The grades of both project and accompanying quiz will be established based on the breakdown above.

Remember that a “C” means average.  If you want your grade to reflect excellence, your work must be excellent in every respect. Your evaluation for the course will be based on project, quiz, midterm, and final grades plus your overall willingness to learn, participation in class discussions and critiques, ability to meet deadlines, presentation of work, attendance.

Deadlines

All project specifics as well as deadlines are given at the time the project is assigned. These requirements will be major factors in the grading of each assignment; you must adhere to these specifics as you would in business.  This class simulates the real world and the real world does not tolerate misinformation or missing deadlines. Each projects work is due on the date specified by when the project is assigned.  

Academic Honesty

Under all circumstances, students are expected to be honest in their dealings with faculty, administrative staff, and fellow students. In speaking with members of the school community, students must give an accurate representation of the facts at hand. Students must submit work that fairly and accurately reflects their level of accomplishment. Any work that is not a product of the student’s individual effort is considered dishonest.  Students may not submit the same work for more than one class. A student may be suspended or expelled for academic dishonesty. Please refer to the Student Handbook for additional information regarding the policy on academic honesty

NO LATE PROJECTS ACCEPTED!

Projects not ready for final presentation at the end of the week will be considered “unfinished” and graded accordingly. All project work must be submitted–even if it is unfinished—at the deadline. Failure to submit a project will receive a zero for that project.

College-wide Policies

All school policies also apply to this course as explained in your Student Handbook as well as the policies outlined in this document.

Disability Statement:
Students with disabilities or conditions requiring accommodation must meet with the Karen Conway Dean of Students, Disability Services, Thomas Student Center, 901-321-3536, www.cbu.edu/studentlife/disability in order to document the disability and make appropriate accommodation plans. 

Notice of Non-Discriminatory Policy:

Christian Brothers University admits students of any race, age, color, religion, sex, national and ethnic origin to all the programs and activities of the University with the rights and privileges generally accorded to students.  It does not discriminate on the basis of race, age, color, religion, sex, national and ethnic origin or handicap in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletics and other University-administered programs.

Teacher Evaluation:
Students will receive emails from the Registrar’s office with the link to evaluate their instructor during the evaluation period.

Tips for success:

• Come to class. It makes or breaks you grade.

• Get a thumb drive!!!!

• Back up your data after every change Save multiple versions and store them in multiple locations. You don’t want to lose 30 hours of work because you never backed your files up.

• Manage your time. The assignments take a considerable amount of time to complete. Space out your time, and never leave it to the night before.

• Be creative and have fun!

The instructor reserves the right to modify this syllabus and will notify the students in a timely manner.