ILL 562 / Illustration Design Concepts
Instructor: Tara Hogan
Shaffer room 332
Office hours: Tues. 8:30am.-12:00pm. (by appointment)
Mail box: Main office in Shaffer
Description of this Course
Class will include creative problem solving in illustration and design concepts (grid/scale/color/layout), integration of illustration and design, typography, layout, use of AIGA design methods, Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign lab time, resource list for illustration/design/blogs, and letterpress. Boxcar Letterpress field trip (date/time TBD) – discussion of letterpress history, modern approach, file prep, and more.) There will be two main class assignments and a third main final project that is created by each student in addition to design and illustration exercise assignments completed in studio and lab.In class, students will work in computer lab/studio and participate in group and individual critiques. When there is a model/in class exercise in class, students will draw while classmates have individual critiques with the instructor. Drawing in class will be done within a ruled out space (rectangle, square or circle) and should address composition, spatial relationships, action and narrative storytelling.Upon the completion of an assignment there will be group critiques before it is handed in to the instructor.
At the completion of this course, students are expected to understand how to define and solve a merged illustration and design concept
- incite and inspire the audience
- create mock up design mood boards/prototypes
- envision the project’s final state which will be easily understood by the consumer
- art direct and revise / process of elimination skills (editing your work)
- choosing the best solution
- selling the solution
- integrate typography, layout and grid, scale and color, and the Creative Suite software
No texting or phone calls during class. You will be given 2 warnings about texting in class, your 3rd offense will result in an automatic fail.
All instruments that receive calls, messaging or anything else that makes a sound should be put on vibrate.
If you receive an emergency phone call or text you should leave the classroom to answer it.
Presentation of assignments reflects attitude and is part of the classroom participation component of your grade.
Small sketches created in your sketchbook so you can see how your thoughts work on paper. These sketches are for personal critiquing only. This method should help you see if an idea can work on paper. Since thumbnail sketches help you resolve your ideas, you should complete as many as possible. A good amount of thumbnail sketches for each illustration assigned is 15 – 20.
Your favorite thumbnail sketches that are presented for class critiques. These sketches should be cleaned up either by redrawing or copying and enlarging them on a printer to roughly 5 x 6”. Most importantly, rough sketches should be in proportion to the final illustration. If the final image is going to be vertical, your rough sketch should be vertical. You are required to bring in 3 rough sketches for each assignment.
Please create and present clear, clean and easy to read. Rough sketches should be completed on white paper using black line and 3 values -black, gray and white, and composed of simple shapes that can be “read” from about 10 feet away.
Assignments are evaluated by the class during critiques but are not handed in.
A final review by the class and handed in at the end of class.
SYLLABUS: The syllabus is subject to change as the need arises.
SURVEY: At the end of each semester, your work will be displayed and individually assessed by department faculty. All illustration majors must participate in the end of the semester survey.
The two assignments from the instructor are worth 20% each for a total of 40%
Classroom/Lab projects are worth 20%
Final project is worth 40%
You will receive additional credit for the following:
- Work done in your sketchbook
- Participation in classroom critiques
- Any additional reading or research on websites, blogs or articles
- Visiting museums and galleries
- Additional drawing, painting and experimenting
- Subscriptions to magazines
A – 100% – 90%
B – 80% – 89%
C – 70% – 79%
D – 60% – 69%
Incompletion of any assignment is an automatic failure. Any late assignments must be excused at least 2 days prior to due date with an adequate reason.
Three unexcused absences is an automatic failure.
Incompletes will be granted only in extenuating circumstances. If you have a valid medical excuse or family emergency, and you’ve completed the bulk of course work for the semester, an incomplete is possible. You are responsible for initiating the paperwork for an incomplete.
Any student who needs special consideration in the course due to a disability of any sort, please make an appointment to discuss accommodations.
Students who are in need of disability-related academic accommodations must register with the Office of Disability Services (ODS), 804 University Avenue, Rm. 309, 315/443-4498. Students with authorized disability-related accommodations should provide a current Accommodations Authorization Letter from ODS to the instructor and review those accommodations with the instructor. Accommodations, such as exam administration, are not provided retroactively, therefore, planning for accommodations as early as possible is necessary. For further information, see the ODS website, http://disabilityservices.syr.edu/