COMM 310: News Design
Spring 2011 <MW: 3:30-5:18p> <JR 270>
Instructor:
Elise Woolley
271B Journalism Building
woolley.9@osu.edu
688-3323
Class website: carmen.osu.edu
Sunday – Wednesday, 6:30-7:30 by appointment
Course Description
This course will provide a basic overview of various forms of visual
communication with an emphasis on designing for print. We will explore
design principles, perception, critical evaluation, ethics and
creativity as they relate to visual media.
Format
This is a progress-oriented course that requires active student
participation. Class will meet 2 days a week for approximately 2 hours
each day. Class sessions will be comprised of lectures, demonstrations,
assignments and tutorials. An equal balance between theory and practice
will be expected.
Objectives
• to develop a sense of visual literacy
• to understand principles of visual design
• to be able to evaluate good and bad design
• to be able to design an effective newspaper/magazine layout
• to show competence with InDesign CS3 as it relates to basic print
design
Requirements
Attendance is mandatory. Any unexcused absences may result in a
lowering of the final grade. Three unexcused absences may result in
failure of the course at the instructor’s discretion. Failure to
appear on time will be counted as a ½ day absence. Please notify me at
688-3323 or woolley.9@osu.edu if you will be late or absent for any
reason.
Students will be expected to come to class prepared to work and will be
expected to work diligently throughout the course’s duration. Students
should be prepared to present their work at any time. All handouts and
note should be stored in a notebook.
Many of the project resources will be delivered online via email or
Carmen (carmen.osu.edu). Therefore, it is required that you have access
to the Internet and a working OSU e-mail address.
Poor cell phone etiquette is frowned upon.
silent & do not answer them in class.
Please put all phones on
Class Participation/Critiques/Presentations
In this class you will be required to participate in many presentations and critiques. At the end of
each presentation there will be an amount of time dedicated to critique. This is an opportunity for
each group to get feedback from colleagues and the instructor. It is also an opportunity for
students to use what they are learning about design in a practical situation. You will be required
to talk during critiques.
Tutorials/Homework
Time will be given in class to work on tutorials, but outside time will likely be required. In addition
to completing the tutorials, students need to write a short (100-150 words) written statement
about each tutorial. The topic for the written deliverable will be given verbally at the beginning of
each class. Homework (tutorials) is to be submitted through Carmen on the due date. The
dropbox will close on the due date and late assignments will not be accepted.
Required Materials
Texts:
• The Newspaper Designer’s Handbook by Tim Harrower, 6th ed., 2007
• Design Elements, a Graphic Style manual, Timothy Samara, 2007
• Adobe InDesign CS3, Classroom in a Book, Adobe Press, 2007 (available
online)
Other:
• 1 GB USB flash drive
Recommended Texts:
• Mac (PC) is Not a Typewriter, Robin Williams, Second Edition, 2003
Office Hours:
Sunday – Wednesday 6:30-7:30 by appointment
If you have any questions concerning assignments, or any other issues
related to this course that cannot be answered during class times,
please see me during office hours. Please do not expect to receive
substantial advising outside of class times and office hours.
Evaluation and Grading
Tutorials & Participation
for participation)
Lab projects and critiques
Midterm Exam
Final Project
Final Project Revisions
Total points
100 pts (70pts for tutorials, 30pts
200 pts
200 pts
400 pts
100 pts.
1000 pts
Late assignments will receive a failing or lowered grade, at the
instructor’s discretion. Incompletes will not be granted except under
extreme circumstances. Extra credit or make-up projects will not be
available.
Grading Scale
A = 94-100
A- = 90-93
B+ = 87 -89
B = 83-86
B- = 80-82
C+ = 77-79
C= 73-76
C- = 70-72
D = 60-69
E = 59 or below
Disability Services
Any student who feels s/he may need an
accommodation based on the impact of a disability
should contact me privately to discuss your
specific needs. The Office for Disability Services
is located in room 150 Pomerene Hall, 1760 Neil
Avenue; telephone 292-3307; TDD 292-0901.
Academic Misconduct
Students are expected to do their own original work within the
confines of the course objectives and evaluation procedures. Any
deviation from the expectation is considered academic misconduct
and Faculty Rule 3335 - 31 - 02 will be enforced. Each instructor
shall report to the committee an academic misconduct all
instances of which he or she believes is academic misconduct.
Note on Influenza
Students should NOT attend class while ill with influenza. Students
with flu symptoms will be asked to leave class. The illness and selfisolation period will usually be about a week. It is very important
that individuals avoid spreading the flu to others.
Most students should be able to complete a successful quarter despite a
flu-induced absence. If you are absent due to the flu, you will be
provided with a reasonable opportunity to make up missed work.
Students with the flu do not need to provide a physician's
certification of illness. However, ill students should inform me via
email or phone call as soon as possible that they are absent because of
the flu.
Schedule (subject to change)
WEEK 1
March 28 (M)
Intro to Course
Review Syllabus
Find an example of good newspaper or magazine design,
Be ready to discuss 3/30
March 30 (W)
#1
Design Day—Typography basics and Newspaper critique
Reading Assignment:
Design Elements: pages 6-29
Newspaper: pages 2–42 (Intro, Chapter 1)
Lab #1 Assigned: Resume
WEEK 2
April 4 (M) InDesign Tutorial #01 & 02
Find an example of bad newspaper or magazine design,
Be ready to discuss 4/6
April 6 (W) Design Day—Layout Basics
Newspaper Critique #2
Reading Assignment
Design Elements: Chapter 3, 114-163
WEEK 3
April 11 (M)
InDesign Tutorial #03
Reading Assignment:
Design Elements: Chapter ,1 30-79
April 13 (W)
Design Day—Color
Reading Assignment:
Newspaper: Chapter 2, Story Design; Chapter 3, Page Design
Lab #1 Resume due/Lab #2 Poster assigned
WEEK 4
April 18 (M)
InDesign Tutorial #04 & 05
Reading Assignment
Design Elements: Chapter 2, 80-113
April 20 (W)
stuff
Design Day—Rastor vs. Vector and other technology
WEEK 5
April 25 (M)
InDesign Tutorial # 06
April 27 (W)
Mid-term Review, Poster Critique
Reading Assignment:
Newspaper: Chapter 4, Photos and Art
Lab #2 Poster due/ Lab #3 Feature Story assigned
WEEK 6
May 2 (M)
Midterm Exam
May 4 (W)
Design Day—Photography, Printing
Reading Assignment
Design Elements: Chapter 4
WEEK 7
May 9 (M)
InDesign Tutorial #07
Reading Assignment:
Newspaper: Chapter 5, Nuts and Bolts
May 11 (W)
Design Day—More Layout principles
Feature Story Critique
Reading Assignment:
Newspaper: Chapter 6 Graphics and Sidebars
Lab # 3 Feature Story Due/ Lab # 4 Alternate Story Format
assigned
WEEK 8
May 16 (M)
InDesign Tutorial #08
Reading Assignment:
Design Elements: Chapter 5
Final Project assigned.
May 18 (W)
Design Day – Grid/Layout systems
Reading Assignment:
Newspaper: Chapter 7, Special effects
WEEK 9
May 23 (M)
InDesign Tutorial #10
May 25 (W)
ASF Critique
Peer critique/Work Day
Be prepared to present your final project concept/layout.
Lab #4, ASF due
WEEK 10
May 30 (M)
June 1 (W)
No Class: Memorial Day
Final Project Due/Final project class critique.
Final Project revisions due: Thursday, June 9 by
3:30 PM
(Graduating seniors need to be in by Wednesday at
3:30 PM)