Hello – Welcome to Week9!

In-Class
After an Illustrator lesson we will use the time in class to work on your projects. You should meet with your partner and have them complete the peer-assessment work sheet. The goal being to have everything ready to show for next week’s in-class critique.

Lab time to work on wherever you are with project.
-> Logo design/ identity
-> Project Deck layout
-> Product design/ Packaging

Examples
Here are three PDF student examples of booklets that you can download and take a look at for guidance and inspiration: STUDENTEXAMPLES

Lesson
-> Brushes
-> Perspective Grid. Here is a good follow up tutorial relating to today’s lesson: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gp6kR3Hs8vI

Homework
1. Prepare for inclass presentation/critique next week.
2. Continue to set up your project deck (the booklet) in InDesign. I recommend speaking with the printer you intend to work with – in the next few days to double check that the booklet dimensions that you set up, will be possible to print and bind. They should also be able to tell you the cost for printing and binding. (See printer suggestions above.)

I would like to collect a PDF draft of your booklet the week we come back from Thanksgiving. This should include:
1  Cover
2. Copyright page: your name, project name and date
3. Table of Content
4. Statement and description of problem / Design Concept – a summary of the solution, with stated goals and objectives of the project
5. Historical overview – documentation of research (highlights of historical context)
6. Assessment of current industry. Find at least three examples of products you feel are well presented in the marketplace. (They do not have to be the same subject matter as your product.) You should find examples to use as inspiration and guidance.
7. Assessment of marketplace. How is your product unique to the marketplace? What other products are similar to yours and currently available? How will your product distinguish itself from competition?
8. Final identity design (include logo clear-space details and size specifications. Look at the student examples that I provided in class for guidance on this.)
9. Style Guide (see handout – GRA3611-StyleGuide)
10. Product rendering – created in Illustrator

Hello everyone – what a week…

We will be meeting tomorrow. I hope you are well and have survived the storm without too much suffering. Please send me an email if you are unable to attend.

If you are having serious difficulties relating to the storm (including transportation issues), the College has several resources set up to help. I can put you in contact with them.

Here is our agenda:

DUE

• Logo draft

Lesson

• InDesign: setting up booklet. We will also discuss binding and paper considerations.
  Here is an outline of what needs to go into your project deck and how it will be structured: GRA3611-FinalDeck
• The deck will be created in InDesign. Dimensions and format recommendations are as follows:
  -> 10 in x 8 in
  -> Margin: 0.25 in (three sides)
  -> Margin inside: 0.625 in
  -> Bleed: 0.125 in
  -> Gutter: 0.1667 in
  -> Facing Pages: NO
• The goal is to create an intelligent presentation to show off your work in a coherent and flattering manner.
• Here is also a website for downloading InDesgin templates: www.blurb.com. You have to sign up with the site in order to access the templates but they don’t require more than your email address. They can print your book for you, but you don’t have to use them. You can also choose to go with another printer.
• And please read this handout about different binding possibilities: GRA3611_Booklets
  Three kinds of binding options:
  1. Spiral bound (the advantage to this type is you don’t really have to worry about spreads and imposition.
  2. Saddle Stitch
  3. Perfect Bound
• Review anything to date in Illustrator

In-class
Meet with partner – self and peer assessment worksheet: GRA3611_AssessmentWorksheet
Labtime to work on whatever you need to. I will come around and review work with you individually.

Homework
Continue to work on your project: style-guide, product renderings.

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PREVIOUS POST

Dear class,

I hope you are all safe and have not suffered Sandy’s destruction.
I just received this announcement:

The College will remain closed on Wednesday, October 31, due to the weather emergency.
Information on Thursday will be posted as soon as it is available.
Continue to monitor emails and this website. Stay safe!

Our next meeting will be Nov 7 unless otherwise announced. Please bring to class what you had planned to bring tomorrow.
I hope you are warm, dry and safe.

Happy Halloween!

Hello class. I hope you had a nice, relaxing week.
Here is the agenda for week6:

DUE

• Three historical facts about your product (if I did not receive from you last class)
• Concept sketch of possible logo (sketches should be pencil or ink and rough) and product name
  
• Finalized product rendering – DUE end of class

Lesson

• Review Gradient Mesh (see week5)
• Transparency palette
• Type tool
• Creating Outlines
• Envelope Distort
• Brushes and strokes

In-class
Self and peer assessment worksheet: GRA3611_AssessmentWorksheet
Labtime to work on whatever you need to. I will come around and review work with you individually.

Homework
Mid-term Assignment DUE next week. See handout: GRA3611-DesignBrief (Week4)
Finalize logo rendering

Hello everyone. Welcome to week 5.
I hope you had a nice break last week.

DUE (By now everyone should have a chosen subject matter)

• Three historical facts about your product
• Product name brainstorm – 30 words relating to your product
• Have read the handout on branding from week4
• Five concept thumbnail sketches of possible logo direction (sketches should be pencil of ink and rough)

Lesson

• Gradient Mesh – MiyamotoYukio-ReflectedBottles.ai
• Transparency palette
• Type tool
• Creating Outlines
• Envelope Distort
• Review color and blends

Here is a useful tutorial:
Gradient Mesh Tool Tutorial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AmtaaRKJaY

In-class

Labtime to work on whatever you need to. I will come around review sketches and work with you individually.

Homework

1. Refine concept sketch of possible logo (sketches should be pencil of ink and rough)
2. Continue to work on Mid-term Assignment. See handout: GRA3611-DesignBrief (Week4)
3. Finalize product rendering

Hello!

Inclass
1. We will continue with last week’s class discussion on presenting your ideas and looking at your product silhouettes. Please note I would like to collect your ‘ProductBrainstorm’ worksheet from week2 – so bring it with you tomorrow!
2. We will continue with product rendering to day in class
3. Due today:

• Three historical facts about your product
• Product name brainstorm – 30 words relating to your product

Lesson

• Review what we covered last week (color and blends)
• Gradient Mesh
• Transparency palette
• If time allows Type tool
• Creating Outlines
• Envelope Distort

Here is a useful tutorial:
Gradient Mesh Tool Tutorial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AmtaaRKJaY

Homework

1. Five concept thumbnail sketches of possible logo direction (sketches should be pencil of ink and rough)
2. Handout: GRA3611-WhatisBranding
3. Mid-term Assignment: GRA3611-DesignBrief
GRA3611-DesignBrief-Midterm