GRA3611 – Week4
Hello – Welcome to week4!
We have lots of the menu this week so hopefully everyone can rise and shine :)
*Next week YANA will be back to review work so we have a tight deadline ahead of us.
DUE (today)
1. Product Research: Each team was responsible for collectively gathering research materials. (we will briefly break off into the groups today)
2. 3 experimental symbols using the illustrator techniques we covered in the last three weeks – see ‘lesson’ list posted each week.
3. First draft of 15 rough sketches for possible logos (thumbnail sketches). I will ask you to continue to work on your sketches this week.
Lesson lesson-week5
- Wacom Tablets
- LiveTrace (intro)
- Review Envelope Distort
- Review color and blends
In-class
Short video by Von Glitshka: www.vonglitschka.com
Meet in groups: organize reference material for presenting to client next week.
Homework
1. In preparation of YANA’s visit next week (10-11AM) complete your part of the research. You will have 30 min in class next week to meet and organize with your group before the informal presentations. Make sure you complete your part of the research – and check with your group if you are unclear:
- inspiration from existing examples
- existing Logotypes, Symbols, Pictograms – that can be looked at for inspiration
- list of adjectives (descriptive words)
- photo reference
2. Continue to refine 15 rough sketches of possible ideas for the logo, (thumbnail sketches are ok). All work must be done with pen/pencil on paper –NO COMPUTER.
3. Take two of your sketches and begin to render them in illustrator using some of the techniques we have covered in the last few weeks. Work must be in black and white.
>>Email me if you have questions.
GRA3611 – Week3
Hello again,
I hope everyone enjoyed meeting our client. The previous blog post and email, sent out yesterday, were written before class. I just want to add a few thoughts since class ended right after YANA’s presentation. I encourage you to review your notes from yesterday and make sure they will be clear to you in two weeks time. Unfortunately we do not meet again until 2.27.13.
In addition to what is outlined for homework below, would you please each send me an email answering the following two questions. (We will be working in the assigned teams, at least getting started, but I am interested in hearing your thoughts – mhitchings@citytech.cuny.edu):
1. Have you worked for a real client previously?
If yes (answer a, b, & c):
a. Did you work individually or in a team?
b. Was it a positive experience for you?
c. Did the final work get used and implemented by the client?
2. Based on today’s meeting with the client do you prefer collaborating with a design team or do you prefer working individually on this project?
——–
Hello everyone – welcome to week 3!
Today we will be meeting with Sal Lopizzo, founder of YANA to learn more about his organization and their needs. This is your chance to ask specific questions that should influence the direction of your design. You can visit YANA’s facebook page for more information.
Lecture Topics
1. Everyone should be part of a research group (4 teams: blue, green, pink, yellow). We will break off into these groups again at some point today
2. In your group organize a to-do list in preparation of next class. See handout: GRA3611-ProductResearch
3. Illustrator exercise
Lesson
Download lesson files here >> lessons-week3
- Type Tool
- Color
- Masking
- Creating Outlines
- Envelope distort
Homework
1. Product Research: See handout above
2. Complete in-class exercise (3 experimental symbols using the illustrator techniques we have covered in the last three weeks – see ‘lesson’ list posted each week.)
3. Develop 15 rough sketches of possible ideas for the logo, thumbnail sketches. All work must be done with pen/pencil on paper –NO COMPUTER. Sketches should be rough (not finished pieces of art), but must be clear enough to communicate your idea. Be prepared to discuss your sketches in class. Keep in mind your logo should be: re-sizable, readable at a very small size, work in color as well as in black and white.
GRA3611 – Week2
Hello everyone – welcome to week 2.
Lecture Topics
Hopefully you all had a chance to read the project overview and watch the YouTube videos posted in week 1. Today we will brainstorm ideas and possible design directions for developing the identity of YANA. YANA’s founder Sal Lopizzo will pay us a visit next week. In preparation our goal for this week is research. Sal has provided us with three organizations that have inspired YANA:
- Alibaba Group (founder Jack Ma), an international company in China, built on the premiss: “find a social problem , fix it and you will make a fortune”
- The Alpha Workshops They give hope to individuals with HIV by training them to create decorative art and installing it
- Housing Works They are a multi-service organization that provides services in the community that individuals can not find elsewhere
Lesson
Illustrator
- Pen tool
- Expanding features
- Brushes
- Blend-beginnings
- Creating Outlines
- Blob tool – Eraser tools
- Free transform/ Distort
1. Break off into teams for brainstorming secession – word associations and image associations related to product
2. Moodboard/ Inspiration board aimed at identifying issues and concerns related to the organizations mission
3. Develop list of questions to ask Sal next week to help learn more about YANA
Moodboard – see specifications here: GRA3611_InspirationBoard You can develop your moodboard as a series of images with content in organized folders.
More about moodboards: click here
Homework
-> Send me an email (mhitchings@citytech.cuny.edu) providing me with a brief summary about yourself. Include:
1. The program you are in AD of GA (for AD specify your module)
2. What has been the most inspiring class or project you have been involved in to date?
3. What year are you in and what are your main goals for this semester?
4. What are you hoping to get out of this class?
-> Logo sketches – begin to sketch logo possibilities for YANA
-> Research: Continue to research example websites (see homework posting in week1) and research:
- Alibaba Group founder Jack Ma
- The Alpha Workshops
- Housing Works
GRA3611 – Week1
Welcome to the first class of the semester!
Lecture Topics Intro & Overview
Here are the handouts given in class including the course outline:
GRA3611_HitchingsSyllabus
GRA3611-ProjectOverview
Client Details (click here): YANA
Please look through this webpage and watch related YouTube videos:
www.good.is/posts/rebuilding-green-after-sandy-a-sustainable-pilot-project-in-the-rockaways
Here is another more recent video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=A44z33fSGqE
Lesson
Introduction to Illustrator
- Workspace
- Panels
- Bridge
- Geometric Objects
- Freehand drawing
- Alignment tools – Rulers/Guides
- Measurements – Inches/Pixels
Download lesson files here >> lesson-week1
Download exc>> PenTool
Resources
- Communication Arts: www.commarts.com
- Webby Awards: www.webbyawards.com/webbys
- The One Club: www.oneclub.org/os
- www.aiga.com
- www.tdc.org
- www.adcglobal.org
Homework
- Register for this blog to receive regular updates
- Read Project Overview & Client Details
- Watch youtube video’s (see links above)
- Make a list of questions you may have for or about the client
- Research examples of design work created for non-profits (see resource sites above)
- Complete illustrator exercises: Create three icons. Suggested: heart, four-leaf-clover, spade, jester hat
GRA3611 – Vector Art Editing
Welcome to GRA3611 (Vector Art Editing) online. Here you will find regular postings for handouts given in-class.
Course Description:
An advanced course that continues to develop how to create, correct, and modify graphics. Students will learn advanced techniques for design, illustration and production on the computer, how to simplify path points and specify the flatness value for optimized files. Students are exposed to professional techniques and tools using software such as Adobe Illustrator and Bridge on the Macintosh operating system.
4 cl hrs, 3 cr Prerequisites Raster & Vector Graphics, AD 360, GA 508
Course Objectives
- Design and develop an overarching multi -part design project
- Apply critical thinking skills supported by research
- Present a design project logically and convincingly
- Identify and apply strategies for design in three sub disciplines: identity design, advertising, and collateral design
- Create various complex vector graphics.
- Reflect learning from engaging challenging resource material that a student will interpret appropriately and accurately in his/her own words and following ethical guidelines for intellectual property.
Teaching/Learning Method
- Show and Tell – happenings within the field (websites, magazines, nyc)
- Review homework
- In-class critique of work – provide feedback
- Lectures, lessons and software demonstrations
- Discuss projects and assignments
- In-class lab time to work on assignments
- Class blog (www.artorium.com/instruction)
GRA3611 – Vector Art Editing
Welcome to GRA3611 (Vector Art Editing) online. Here you will find regular postings for handouts given in-class.
Course Description:
An advanced course that continues to develop how to create, correct, and modify graphics. Students will learn advanced techniques for design, illustration and production on the computer, how to simplify path points and specify the flatness value for optimized files. Students are exposed to professional techniques and tools using software such as Adobe Illustrator and Bridge on the Macintosh operating system.
4 cl hrs, 3 cr Prerequisites Raster & Vector Graphics, AD 360, GA 508
Course Objectives
- Design and develop an overarching multi -part design project
- Apply critical thinking skills supported by research
- Present a design project logically and convincingly
- Identify and apply strategies for design in five sub disciplines: product design, packaging, corporate communications, advertising, environmental design and information graphics.
- Create various complex vector graphics.
- Reflect learning from engaging challenging resource material that a student will interpret appropriately and accurately in his/her own words and following ethical guidelines for intellectual property.
Teaching/Learning Method
- Show and Tell – happenings within the field (websites, magazines, nyc)
- Review homework – place in ‘ghitchings’ – drop box on the server
- In-class critique of work – provide feedback
- Lectures, lessons and software demonstrations
- Discuss projects and assignments
- In-class lab time to work on assignments
- Class blog (www.artorium.com/instruction)
