Welcome to Finals Week

Hello everyone,

This is finals week, we have no normally scheduled classes so essentially we have open studio throughout the week until thursday. As I said last week due to the snow and technical issues we will be extending our deadline for your completed blog to thursday. I will be in around noon if you would like to see me today.

If you can not get your blog completed by our normal meeting time on thursday please let me know.

2 Hour Delay… Studio Day.

Today will be a studio day. There will be no new assignments and you are not required to attend.

Considering the weather and expected weather the dead line for your finals (yes, your finals are your blogs) will be extend to next thursday at the end of our normal meeting time.

NOTE: We have very few computers running and the computers in the studios are first come first serve. If you have your own computer at home or access to one else where you are encouraged to use it. Your blogs can be done on any computer, they do not require the studio computers or software. 

Movie Day (Studio Optional)

Today we are going to take a look at typography. There are 2 videos for you here to watch one is a little review of what we have covered. The first is 'The Foundations of Typography; As I explained these things are some what subjective so you were paying close attention to the lecture you may notice some discrepancies. As I explained this is not a science nor history. Graphic Design is very new to the academic scene, these categories and names were developed in the studio for designers to communicate rather than in a text book.

The second video is by Margo Chase, a hand letter artist know and respected throughout the world for her skills. It is a short 15 min lecture showing a different approach to typography and how it is integrated into the digital format. 

Don't forget to Login to Lynda first.

Foundation of Typography

Margo Chase: Hand-Lettered Posters

Gestalt Type Part II

Today we will be having our first online critique. We will be meeting virtually today rather than in person. You are welcome to use the computers in the studio (if you can find ones that work, last count we were down to 5).  Taking this into consideration you will have until the end of the day to post your work.

By now you should have lots of ideas sketched out. Pick your best 3, scan, or take a picture with your phone, iPad, or camera and post it to your blog.

There are 2 parts to this assignment.

1. Post your best 3 pieces on your blog. They should be up by tonight, (at least before tomorrow morning 6ish)
2. Critiquing: This is a simple one, just a simple vote. Once everyone has posted there work you will need to to over to the student blog section to visit there blogs. Just rate 1st, 2nd, and 3rd as to which you feel best communicates the characters. Whichever you feel ranks first write the principle(s). that are used. This part should be done before class on Thursday. 

UPDATE: Seems I left out one part of the instructions. You are to rate the blogs as comments on the post. Click on 'No comments' of 'comments' and type in your comments. (Thanks, Felicia!)

We will begin the last part of the assignment Thursday. 

Today's Class

Ok guys. We are not exactly canceling class but there is really no reason for you to come in today. This is the situation. Todays project was 100% Illustrator work. Between both rooms we only have 4 computers that will allow you to log in. 

I will revise our project so that we can do it by hand. I will email you when it is posted later today. 

Gestalt

Gestalt Examples

Exercise: 
Search the web to find at least 2 examples of 'Similarity' and 'Proximity'. Once you have found them save them, and post them on your blog labeled appropriately. This should be completed before next class.

Lynda.com Assignment

Ok, we have all had a chance to get a little familiar with the Illustrator landscape. Now lets watch these videos to get a little better understanding of the hows and whys, it does what it does. Watch these videos before we meet again on Thursdays.

11 Things Every Beginner Needs to Learn to Love Illustrator (well for now only these six...)

Even if you think you think you know all you need to know about Illustrator watch these, it might help you do your work faster and easier.

1. Introduction
2. What is Illustrator
3. Fun with Shapes
4. The Humble Line Tool
5. Illustrator Kindergarden
6. Modifying your Paths

We will have more time on Thursday to finish our Signs.

Assignment V: Road Signs

Click here to view the next assignment.

We are still struggling with getting things up and running, the printer and open studio/lab time is part of it. So we have some modifications to this assignment so that we can keep on track for the semester.

First, do this assignment will be done in your sketch book. Start with sketches and work your ideas out (concept development). Then for you final designs, draw the sign shapes, and the design. I would suggest no smaller than 2 to an 8.5x11 sheet, (no more than 4) so that you have space to think. First in pencil, once you have the pencil sketch take some time to study them and see if there are things that you can adjust, remove, or add, to better communicate you message. Once you are set on the piece then ink them (Black and White).

You should have it completed when you come to class next Tuesday.

On Tuesday we will begin learning Adobe Illustrator to complete the project.

Late Start

In a meeting,

Start on the assignment below.
Have your mounted  up by 12:00.

Assignment IV: Unity

One design expressing the design principle 'Unity'.

Until now we have been cutting pre defined shapes and arraigning them on paper to create our designs. In this assignment you are to choose what elements of design are to be used, DEVELOP your image, refine the image, and illustrate them in ink. 

Choose 1, or 2 if necessary, not 3 of the 3 below elements of design to illustrate Unity.

• Line
• Shape
• Textur

Steps

1. Research; click the links, search the net, read books, magazines, etc. until you are confident that you understand the subject you are going to design.
2. Concept Development: Click HERE (link will be active Friday) 
3. Once you have arrived at a design your happy with, tape your bristol, or card stock, to a table securely.
4. Redraw it neatly, lightly and carefully in pencil. Use straight edge, and french curve if necessary.
5. Once drawn study it and make any changes necessary. Remove elements that interfere with the concept. Add elements that will strengthen the composition.
6. Ink your illustration; using a Sharpie, or ink and brush or pen.
7. Erase all pencil marks and fingerprints.

Some links that my help you;

• Visual Literacy: Unity
• Donna Tersiisky's Principles and Elements of Design: Unity

Specks and due date

Size: 5x5in

Materials: sketch book, Bristol or card stock, pencil, ink (india or sharpie)

Mounting: Not yet

Deadline: Next Tuesday 11:30am

Drop Day

Last friday was Drop day. Anyone who had not completed the first assignment was dropped from the class (setting up a gmail account and sending me an email). 

I sugest that all of you check on MyUNM, to make sure you were not dropped. If you were and you still want to be in the class you will need to go to the registrar asap and have me sign you back in.

Assignent III: Proportion/Emphasis And Eye Movement

I have an 11:00 meeting so I may be late. We will be using the same shapes as we did on the previous assignment. You can get started with your sketch books if I am late.

Instructions: 
We have a 2 for 1 project here, it is essentially 2 different pieces to create that will be presented as assignment. 

The instructions are basically the same for each however in one piece your subject will be 'Proportion' and the other 'Emphasis'.

Proportion: This indicates the relative visual size and weight of particular graphical elements in a design composition. 

Emphasis: Making a specific element stand out or draw attention to the eye. Emphasis can be achieved in graphic design by placing elements on the page in positions where the eye is naturally drawn, by using other principles such as contrast, repetition, or movement. Bold and italic type provides emphasis for text. Graphic elements gain emphasis through size, visual weight, color, complexity, uniqueness, placement on the page, and other features.

In addition to clearly communicating the respective principle of design, you must also move the viewers eye to 3 points in the work. 


Size 

• 3x6

Materials:

• Bristol Board
• Shapes (handout)
• Exacto Knife
• Ruler
• Mat board
• Rubber Cement

Due Tuesday Sep. 17 11:30 Unmounted
Due Tuesday Sep. 17 11:30 Mounted

Mounting Instructions: 

• They are to be mounted side by side on the same board. 
• 3 inches top, right, and left, 3 and 3/4 on the bottom. 
• Bugs 3/4 inch tall x 2 to 2 1/2 inches wide. Right your name. Left assignment, class semester, and instructor.

Late Start Today

Hello,

We are going to be starting at 12:00 today instead of 11:30.

Monday update, on Sunday

As some of you may already know, one of our studios are up and running, the other SHOULD be up sometime next week... They NOT ONLY got us up and running they left us with a few surprises. 

In a Nutshell:

1. The login is your UNM ID and PW, as you would login to your MyUNM.
2. We now have Adobe CS5, and CS 3 has been removed.
3. The computers will delete EVERYTHING each night.

What this means to us:

Upgrade CS 5: This sounds like a good thing, and it is... but a bit of a mixed bag. 

• CS5 is 2 versions newer than we expected to have this semester. 
• The Adobe Cloud, is essentially CS6, two versions ahead of what we had in the machines. This will make it much easier than it would have been to work between home and the school. 
• All of your instructors have had no warning about this upgrade, so all of our plans and materials are for cs3. This is going to take some time to get revised so have patient with your instructors.

You need storage: 

• You can no longer save ANYTHING to the schools computer (for now). If you leave anything it will be automatically deleted before the next morning. You will need a storage device, or online storage subscription. You already have one with your Google account, its called Google ‘Drive’ it is located in the links at the top of your mail page. Drop Box is another very good site to use.

Assignment II and III

To keep us on schedule we are going to combine assignments II and III. The due date will be the same as Assignment III. We will be starting them tuesday. You do not need to do anything right now. For Tuesdays class you will need...

• Exacto Knife, 
• Metal ruler (at least one with a metal edge).
• Rubber Cement or Glue Stick  
• Bristol Board or Card Stock

Meeting today

Just a reminder. We are meeting today.

Late Work

Great Job! (some of you)

Our class is now over, I have allowed an extra hour for some of you to get your assignment in. Explained in the syllabus late work will be penalized one letter grade for each class meeting that it is not turned in. 

Some of the class has not yet sent me their blog address with the assignment posted. As this is the first real assignment I will extend the deadline to 9:00pm tonight. If you are having difficulties or something is preventing you from completing the assignment I expect to hear from you as well. 

Chad

Weekly Blog

Good morning everyone.
Hope you had a great first week of classes, and an even better weekend! I am going to try to add a weekly entry to the class blog this semester. This will be to recap the previous week, and/or to give an overview of what is going on in the upcoming week.

Emails
I have corresponded with most of you, if you have not sent me an email, or if you have send an email and not received a response from me please send another ASAP (double check the the spelling of the email to be sure you have it correct). This is not a difficult class, but there is a lot of projects and you do not want to get behind. Send it to adelhardt.ddm@gmail.com

Blogs
Checking my email over the weekend, I was surprised to have not gotten any of your blog addresses. It seems there is a good reason for that. I left that step off the instructions.

Sooooo... For the last step of Find Design assignment is to email me your blog address. The name of the blog should reflect the class somehow. It can be as simple as Intro to Graphic Design.

Dont forget to include your name in the email with the address. I should receive everyones blog address before the end of our normal meeting time Tuesday.


ADDITIONAL: 

ALL of the DDM course conflicts have been resolved.
This may not apply to anyone in the Intro courses, however, if you do have any problems with registration or financial aid please contact me asap.

• Page Layout II can be taken 2x 
• 293 Photo can be taken multiple times,
• Independent Study can be taken for 1cr, 3x. (We are still waiting for registration to change the credit hour, should be done early this week)

Assignment I

Hello everyone,

As promised here is our first assignment.

Before, during, or after, you will need to set up your blog. Setting up your Blog is quite simple. You can use the pdf over in the 'Tech' section.. Over there >>>> If you have trouble setting up or designing your blog there are a couple YouTube links below to help with that. Setting up is pretty straight forward.

1. Sign in to you gmail, 
2. At the top of the screen where is says (Your Name)+, Search, Image, Map, etc, click the last one 'More' then click 'Even More' at the bottom of the list. 
3. Scroll down to the section called 'Social' and click Blogger.
4. From here it will guide you along, you just sit back and answer questions. 

The designing part is not terribly complicated but not what I consider very straight forward either. So you may want to check out that video.

When it comes to design. Keep it simple. Remember it is to show YOUR work, not photography or artwork of someone else (most templates). If you choose a template, choose one that does not distract from your work, if you want to get into the customizing options, KISS (Keep It Simple S...)


Settting up a Google Blogger Blog Part 1 of 2
 (No, that is not a typo, that is how they spell it in case there is a problem with the link and you need to search)

Blogger How to #6: Adjusting Design and Look

BTW: Setting this up gets you another 100 point (conversly not setting it up gets you a 0).

Ok on to the Assignment I

Find Design 
(You can download this and most of the assignments to your computer, disk, or even smart phone)

Click on the above link to get the assignment. If you have any questions don't hesitate to email me.

Welcome to Intro to Graphic Design

Sorry I can’t be there with you all today, having a bit of car trouble and I’m stranded. Thanks to the amazing technology Google has provided us with free of charge, that will not stop us!  In fact, my not being there may make some of you quite happy, as we get to avoid that awful bit of standing up and telling everyone your name and why your here... Since we don’t have to do that lets move on to the next part.

As for me, I am your Professor, Chad Adelhardt. My graphic arts history in a nutshell: I have been in this field since 1987, and teaching it since 1998. I started as a sign painter, then to pasteup and Illustration, (yes, real paint and brushes and stuff). In the early to mid 90s moved to digital, and began doing web design, Then in the late 90s I expanded into printmaking and photography. 

The syllabus, class plan/calendar can all be found over there >>>> in the various links as described. Please read them all carefully at your own time. We will be reviewing them soon.

What it is and what isn't

Ok, lets start with what this class is and is not. First the not part, this is not a software class. Many people sign up for this class thinking that they are going to learn Photoshop, or Illustrator or some other cool computer things. That’s not what we are about here... well, ya, we will learn a bit about both those things, but what we are ABOUT is DESIGN! 

So what is that? 

‘That’ is a, pronoun, adjective, adverb, or conjunction. When used as a pronoun... 

(crickets, blank stairs from the audience, silence...)

Oh! Sorry! You want to know what ‘design’ is –  not ‘that’. Actually ‘that’ is much easier to describe than design, but lets give it a shot. For our purposes, basically design is studying and understanding how things fit together or how we can better fit things together to capture peoples attention, be interesting, and most importantly communicate an idea (we will be calling ideas, concepts from now on). As the name of the class implies, that is what the class is all about, so we will probably be talking about this in more detail soon. 

We will be using all kinds of material to achieve this lofty goal, including computers, and the software mentioned above, but we will also be using paper, pencils, ink, brushes, scissors, exacto knives, markers, and lots of other things. 

Check out, read, and watch this page from the American Institute of Graphic Design, to get a little better understanding of WHAT IS GRAPHIC DESIGN? 

So, lets get on to what we need to do. 

• 1. Set up a Gmail Account, and send me an email from it. adelhardt.ddm@gmail.com. The class Intro to Graphic Design, is to be the subject, and Your full name is to in the body (the part you type your email in). Fill in ALL of the alternate email phone number etc options so if and or when you forget you password it can be retrieved easily. Click the ‘Tech’ link to over there >>>>>

FAQ 1 : HUUUUUUU... can I use my email? No

FAQ 2 : HUUUUUUU... can I use Yahoo? No

FAQ: HUUUUUUU... can I use? No, it must be Gmail. Gmail is much more than just email. we will be using the tools provided by Google for a lot of the class. 

DON’T forget to send me an email after you get your account set up instructed above. Its the easies A you will ever get.

• 2. Get some materials: (You can go to the syllabus and collect all of the materials listed, but these are the ones we will be using this week. (The best place to get all of this is in one stop, and where they will know what your asking for in Gallup is Buttler’s  next to Albertsons.)

You will need this for the second assignment on Tuesday. (first assignment is sending the gmail)

a. Some BLACK Sharpie Marker, Try to get at least 2 or 3 thicknesses. 

b. One tablet of Tracing paper. (Don’t listen to the students who have taken the class before, you will be using it more than they did.)

c. Pencil 

d. 1 or 2 full page advertisements from a magazine (no spreads, ads that extend across 2 or more pages). 

If you want a minimum list of materials that we will be using over the next couple of weeks, here ya go...

• Exacto knife
• 24 in steel ruler
• Scissors
• Rubber Cement
• A tablet of Bristol Board or a few sheets of card stock 

3. If you really want to get started on the computer side of things, after you set up your email you can set up your blog. We will be using this soon. Instructions also in the tech link over there >>>>

Again, Sorry I couldn’t be with you today, hope your semester is getting off to a great start. See you soon. If you have any question please don’t hesitate to email, and don’t forget to send me an email as your assignment above describes. 

Did I mention that the email is actually your first assignment? And you will be getting 100 points just for sending it before our next class meeting?

OK, Have a GREAT day, and see you soon!

ADDITIONAL: There is a new link in the 'Links' section over there >>>>
Check it out. It has some general how to videos that are useful to all DDM classes

DDM Potluck n Movie Day

Just a reminder. Tomorrow is our end of the semester Potluck and Movie Day. If you can bring something GREAT we will be glad to eat it. If your just to busy with finals to think about it just stop by and have a snack, relax and watch a movie too if you have time. It should start around noon and go till around 5 (latter if you guys want).

Drawing Type

Below is a pdf of some type face examples, an Old Style, Transitional, and a Modern. You are to redraw each of the characters at the top of the page. DO NOT TRACE. Remove a piece of paper from your sketch book (an unused one) draw your type grid, use a ruler and pencil to start. Once you have the character drawn proportional correct ink it with a sharpy. Use the ruler and make sure the lines are clean and sharp. Do not erase pencil work.

Type Examples

First Type Assiganmnt

1. Create 3 of your own  :P  :D  <3  (and find out what they are called).

2. Type animals. Create images of anything you want using only Type Faces. You may use as many or as few as you like. The only rule is you can NOT distort them. No SQUISHING, No SQUASHING, No PINCHING, No TWISTING, No ETC.

You CAN, rotate, flip, or change the size all you want. So Keep your finger on the 'shift' key when you mess with them.

Here is a link to some examples.

Assignment: Video

Watch ALL of these videos before Wednesday, and take notes.

Chapters:

• Introduction
• Chapter 1
• Chapter 2

 Foundations of Typography with Ina Saltz
(Don't forget to login first)

Another Studio

tokidoki, Character Illustrator

Find the Principles

Collect 5 advertisements (2 can be well designed articles from a magazine). In your sketch book describe how and where the Principles of Design and Gestalt are used. If you can explain how they could be applied better to improve the design with at least 2 of them.

Due: next class meeting, April 3. Bring ads and sketch book.

Assignment: Watch TV

Ok... not exactly. Rather than doing the next project, I thought it might be better to take a look at where all this stuff might leads us. There are 3 mini documentaries about some of the ways and places Graphic Designers work. One is a larger design agency, one a small, the third is a freelance illustrator designer, each with different approches and styles of working. These don't all need to be watched today, take your time. You should watch them all before next class.

Take notes on things you find interesting and think about how you might like to fit into one of these places. We will talk about the videos next class.

First, Login to Lynda.com with your UNM ID, the same you use to log into MyUNM (link over there>>>> Then click on the links to the videos.

Big Spaceship, Creative Design Agency
Margo Chase, Graphic Designer
Stacy Williams-Ng, Interactive Book Designer

Good News and Bad News

The Good News: We are very close to having our full A.A. and A.F.A. Degrees approved and do away with the A.A.S. that causes us so many problems.

The Bad News: I have no help in getting it all put together and the revisions need to be in this Friday. Sooo... to get it done I have to cancel all my classes this week.

Assignments: We will have an assignment, check back here tomorrow. If you want to turn in your last project to keep it safe, slide it under my office door (rm 221).

If you need anything email or chat with me anytime.

No Class

March 6, class cancled.

Check back for assignment.

Artist Lecture

There will be an artist lecture, this Tuesday evening by Nancy Fleming.  Nancy is a Roswell based artist who uses found objects from thrift stores to create her colorful and energetic installations. The Lecture will be at 6 pm in the Calvin Hall Auditorium 248-B.  There will be a reception for the artist in the Ingham Chapman Gallery immediately following the lecture.  All are welcome to attend and light refreshments will be served.  See you then.  John Zimmerman

Extra Credit to those who attend so be sure to sign in and tell me.

Assignment: Gestalt

Define and make simple illustrations for each of the 4 principles of gestalt.

4 Principles of Gestalt

1. Similarity
2. Continuation
3. Closure
4. Proximity

Answer the question why are we leaving figure ground out?

Gestalt Examples

New rates for Adobe Cloud. You get the full Adobe Suit now for $19.00 a month, I believe Lightroom is included. If your interested them to make sure.

GAG Email

gag.ddm@gamil.com

Video

Continue with the project. The video doesn't really apply to our project right now.

Meeting Update:
First GAG Meeting for Spring Semester:
This Wednesday, Feb 13th at 2 pm
DDM Class Studio/Lab

This should be a GREAT year for GAG! There are a lot of events coming up in our area and a lot for us to do. We also now have over $2000 in our account to do them.
 
Who MUST ATTEND...
Anyone expecting to get a degree in DDM are required to attend this and all meetings and participate in activities... the only exception is if you have a class or work at the time of the meeting or activity. (Work = a paid employee and scheduled to work at that time.) You can NOT miss classes for GAG meetings or activities (except field trips).  If you miss a meeting or event you are required to communicate with the officers, committees, or other members to find what happened at the meetings and how you can participate in any activities if they are planed.


WHO IS WELCOME AND ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND...
If you are in Intro to Graphic Design (DDM 101) or Intro to Mac (DDM 110), or if you are just taking DDM classes as electives like Photography or video, your are welcome, and encouraged to attend and be a member of GAG but it is not required.


What is GAG?
GAG stands for Graphic Arts Group. Currently we are loosely affiliated with AIGA, American Institute of Graphic Design,  (click here for student member ship page, membership not required at this time). This is one of the issues that we will be discussing at future meetings. Basically, our group is about helping us learn more about the field of graphic arts (graphic design, photography, illustration, animation, video, etc.), help us as students to participate in and travel to events related to our field, and get to know each other and begin to developed a professional network for our selves to help us once we have graduated.


We need Officers: (President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.). Ideally officers students who are in or have taken at least Page Layout I.

Added incentive for being an officer... 
Positive - You will receive extra credit at the end of the semester in any of my classes.
Positive -  I can promise you that this is a GREAT opportunity to add strengthen your resume, and will help you get a job after you graduate. 
Negitive - We will loose all that money that you have all worked so hard to get if we don't have officers by the end of the meeting.

Note: If you are interested in being an officer but can not attended the meeting contact; Michelle (michelle.eriacho@gmail.com), or Rylen (jackrabbit1492@gmail.com).

Missing Jump Drive

Yesterday, something unfortunate happened. Someone lost a jump drive, there are flyers posted around the Studio about it. Everyone check through your bags and see if you didn't pick it up by mistake and return it to the person who lost it or to Robin, Art, or me as soon as possible. The person had a LOT of work on it.

Theft

While we do not know if what happened yesterday was an accident or theft, this is a good time to talk about theft before it becomes a problem. Theft is rare in the DDM but it does happen. We are a close group of friends and we trust each other. After a while for some of us it starts feeling like another room of our house, we forget that its a public place, so we forget about protecting our self. It happens to everyone. I do it my self, a few semesters ago I even left a hard drive in there and someone took it. Thankfully, I had everything backed up.

Stealing anything is not a good thing, but stealing a storage device is probably the meanest thing that someone can do in the DDM. When someone does this they are not just taking a $15 (or more) item, they are potentially taking hours, days, weeks, or even entire semester of work, work that could even help get them a job.

This semester is a hard one for all of us. As of now we have no student workers, no part-time, and Rob is not there as much as he use to be either. So we need to be a little more careful and depend on each other a little more than usual.

First Protect your self:

• Back Up ALL of your work in a few places.
• STOP working from storage devices:  (Storage device means STORAGE, NOT WORKING DEVICE. Save your work to the computer, put your STORAGE device away in your bag. Save it to your STORAGE device when your done). 
• Don't leave things in the studio.

Protect Each Other: 

• If you see someone get up and leave things offer to or at least try to keep an eye on there stuff until they get back.
• Watch for unfamiliar faces. The DDM Studios are for DDM Students ONLY. If you see someone you don't know ask if they are DDM students. If they are not, "NICELY" explain to them that they need to find a computer lab. If they refuse, tell one of the instructors, or go to the office and tell Linda or Frank (if they are not available who ever is working).
• Don't be offended or get upset if someone asks you if your a DDM student. This should make you feel better, because it tells you that someone is watching out for you and your stuff.

If you have other ideas how we can make the DDM Studios more safe please comment on this post.

Assignment II: Black Square Problem

First I want to tell you all -- GREAT JOB! On the assignments. You impressed me! Soooo... 

We are going jump ahead to some projects that might be a little more interesting. 

You may be unfamiliar with some of the vocabulary use in art and design. Below are some words/phrases that you may want to look up and understand before you read the directions. (Use Google or Yahoo or online or old fashion hard copy dictionary)

• Dimension
• Graphic image
• Expresses
• Preliminary sketches
• Effective solution 
• Reproduce 
• Palette 
• Diverse 
• Comprehensive 
• Utilizing 

BLACK SQUARE PROBLEM:

This is to be done in your sketch books, we will complete the project in Adobe Illustrator in class Wednesday.

Instructions: By using four black squares of the same dimension, create a graphic image that best expresses the meaning of each of the following six words (below). Make eight preliminary sketches for each word. (Yes, you will have to show your work.) Then select the most effective solution and reproduce it using your sharpy markers (each on there own page). 

Using only four squares is a seemingly limited palette to express such diverse words, yet these squares can be expanded to a more comprehensive language by utilizing various design principles.

Words to Illustrate

• Order
• Increase
• Bold
• Congested
• Tension
• Playful

Click here for examples.

Work Suggestion: Sometimes its easier to actually see and move the pieces around than to imagine how they might look and try to sketch them. You might try cutting out a white square, 6x6 or so (the size of the work space is not important as long as you have enough space to work and think comfortably). Then cut out various sets of four black squares. Arrange the black squares on the white one. When you find a design that works draw it in your sketch book.

NOTICE: 
GAG Meeting will be postponed till next week. Same time, same place, same rules.

See ya then!

GAG MEETING

First GAG Meeting for Spring Semester:
This Wednesday, Feb 6th at 2 pm
DDM Class Studio/Lab

This should be a GREAT year for GAG! There are a lot of events coming up in our area and a lot for us to do. We also now have over $2000 in our account to do them.
 
Who MUST ATTEND...
Anyone expecting to get a degree in DDM are required to attend this and all meetings and participate in activities... the only exception is if you have a class or work at the time of the meeting or activity. (Work = a paid employee and scheduled to work at that time.) You can NOT miss classes for GAG meetings or activities (except field trips).  If you miss a meeting or event you are required to communicate with the officers, committees, or other members to find what happened at the meetings and how you can participate in any activities if they are planed.


WHO IS WELCOME AND ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND...
If you are in Intro to Graphic Design (DDM 101) or Intro to Mac (DDM 110), or if you are just taking DDM classes as electives like Photography or video, your are welcome, and encouraged to attend and be a member of GAG but it is not required.


What is GAG?
GAG stands for Graphic Arts Group. Currently we are loosely affiliated with AIGA, American Institute of Graphic Design,  (click here for student member ship page, membership not required at this time). This is one of the issues that we will be discussing at future meetings. Basically, our group is about helping us learn more about the field of graphic arts (graphic design, photography, illustration, animation, video, etc.), help us as students to participate in and travel to events related to our field, and get to know each other and begin to developed a professional network for our selves to help us once we have graduated.


We need Officers: (President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.). Ideally officers students who are in or have taken at least Page Layout I.

Added incentive for being an officer... 
Positive - You will receive extra credit at the end of the semester in any of my classes.
Positive -  I can promise you that this is a GREAT opportunity to add strengthen your resume, and will help you get a job after you graduate. 
Negitive - We will loose all that money that you have all worked so hard to get if we don't have officers by the end of the meeting.

Note: If you are interested in being an officer but can not attended the meeting contact; Michelle (michelle.eriacho@gmail.com), or Rylen (jackrabbit1492@gmail.com).

The link below will take you to your first full assignment. Read the instructions carefully, and do as they instruct. The dates are wrong so you may disregard that.

Assignment: Balance

Materials:
Bristol Board or Card Stock (white) 
Exacto Knife
 Metal Ruler
 Rubber Cement
 Masking Tape (optional)
 Scissors (optional)
Mat board – White or Black
 
Due: February 6th, 2:30

We will be reviewing this next Wed. That means next Wed. at 2:30, you are to tape your completed work on the white board in front of the class, then move a chair to that area of the room and wait for the mid-process critique to begin.

What is a mid-process critique you ask? We have two kinds of critiques in this class (as well as most you will take in the future). The mid-process gives us a chance to look at our work discus other solutions to the problem (problem = assignment). We listen to what is said, think about the discussion, then decide how or if we can apply what we heard about our work.

The final critique is where we present our finished work, normally matted. This time we discuss what changes we made to the work, and why we made them, and if the changes improved the effectiveness of the work or not.

Note: A critique is a time that we listen to others comment on the work. Once you have presented the work, and said whatever needs to be said about it (this should be very little, your work should speak for it self). Our time to speak is over unless we are asked a direct question about the work. This is the tough part where you have to check your feelings at the door, and listen objectively to what is said. You don't have to agree with what is said, but if you want to get anything out of the class you need to listen and think about it.

Materials for Critique: Notebook: take notes on what is said, and make notes on things that you want to say about others work.

2013 Spring Intro to GD

HELLO! Welcome to Intro to the Graphic Design Blog!

If this (blog, email, computers, etc.) is new to you just relax. No one here is expected to know anything about it yet. One step at at time.

First, this is the class blog, this is where you will go to get all the info for the class. You can think of it as a one stop shop for all the class info. All the stuff that you use to get as printed material you will find here; assignments, syllabus, how tos, outline, etc.

For starters lets take a little tour of what your looking at. There are (so far) only 2 parts that you need to pay attention to here. The main section... here where you are reading now. This is where most of the day to day info will be posted. Things like assignments, exercises, GAG meetings, general transitory news about the class. The other part is the column to the right. In this section you will find links to info about the class and your instructor, such as the syllabus, outline, your instructors schedule, and how tos, etc.

Add your email to the 'follow by email' widget and you will get an email whenever something new is posted to the email.

Blogs are dynamic, this means that they change, grow, and develop as time goes on. Check back often.

NOTE: The enters below this one are from previous semesters. They do not apply to our class.