Ocean County College
Professor's Syllabus
Nat Bard
Adobe Illustrator COCG164-01
Catalog Description: An industry-level course to familiarize students with Adobe Illustrator, a PostScript drawing program used to
generate and edit illustrations in various digital formats. This course is designed to introduce students to the computer as a tool for making
art, with emphasis on handbuilt two dimensional vector based images. We will focus on learning new skills in these areas, and each
individual will develop computer literacy. Students will explore and expand their skills, producing work of conceptual, visual, and technical
strength. Assignments require that students combine traditional media with digital technologies as a means of extending the experience.
Semester: Spring 2012, Fri 9.30- 1.50pm
Office Location: ACC Building B111
Phone Number: (732) 255-0400 X2319
E-Mail Address: nbard@ocean.edu or nathaniel_bard@occ.mailcruiser.com
Office Hours:
Mon8.30-9.30am
Tues 8.30-9.30am
Wed 1-2pm
Thurs 8.30-9.30am
Fri 8.30-9.30am in Tech Building 208
Other Meeting Times
To arrange a meeting with your instructor in addition to the regularly scheduled office hours, please contact your instructor directly or
contact the School of Language and the Arts (Phone: X 2193 / Email mgalindo@ocean.edu)
Required Text and other Materials:
1GB (or larger) flash drive
Scissors, rubber cement & X-acto knife w/blades
Course Learning Outcomes/Objectives
Students will gain understanding of:
 the computer as an art-making tool
 facility in working with Mac operating system
 Illustrator and vector based imagery
 the limitations of digital imagery in creating artwork
 the usefulness of transforming the digital image to traditional media
 convergent & divergent thinking and planning
 studio practice, time management and goal setting
 the basics of creative thinking: receptivity, curiosity, attentiveness, connection seeking, complexity
 the importance of digital literacy in our visual culture
 the importance of expressing written and spoken thoughts, and interpersonal relationships
General Education Goals Addressed in the Course
Beyond Adobe Illustrator, students will use the study of art to strive to address some key educational issues:
 Who you are
 How you see the world and your place in it
 How you want to live
 How you can be an agent of change
Course Standards
Critiques
On scheduled due dates for each project, a group critique will be conducted. Critiques are designed for student and faculty participation
and interaction. It is imperative that each student discuss and evaluate not only his/her project, but those of class members as well.
Unfinished projects forfeit their right to feedback and will not be subject to critique, nor will they be accepted until completed.
Active participation in critiques is required and will influence the final grade as part of the class participation component. Participation in a
critique can be an odd thing – it’s important to understand that the process is public: both your artwork and the class response. This can
lead to some awkward moments. Please understand that comments are never personal. If the critique veers towards personal attack,
condescension, or nonsense, I will intervene and the speaker forfeits the floor. Even so, you need a thick skin in this course, and it may
not be the course for you. If you find yourself uncomfortable during discussions, feel free to slip out and return shortly.
Original Work
All work submitted for a class must have been made by you, specifically for the course it has been submitted to. A specific project may not
be submitted in multiple classes. Submitting work not generated for a specific course constitutes academic dishonesty. The penalty for
academic dishonesty is an automatic "F" in the course in which the offense is committed and a report to the Dean. You are prohibited from
using any image found online or otherwise in this course – all work must be original and made by you.
During class
 You do not need to ask permission to take a quick break, go to the bathroom or get a drink
 We will take several official breaks to stay lively
 Please turn off your cellphone during class – no text messaging
 Don’t wear headphones – no iPods or other sound devices. This became a real issue last semester!
 No drawing can come from an online image source. Finding a photo online and copying it is plagiarism.
Ban list
 Online image searches
 Clichéd images
 Static, centered compositions
Attendance Policy:
Your presence is essential in this class for you and for your classmates. As a community of artists, we rely upon each other for feedback
and criticism. In addition, time in class is comprised of many important activities: discussion, demonstrations, critique, slide presentations,
and work in class, to name just a few. Since it is not possible to replicate this experience outside of class, attendance is mandatory. After
four absences, you will fail the course without notification from me.
Absences
One: yours to enjoy – no action taken.
Two: drop of one letter in your final grade.
Three: drop of one letter in your final grade.
Four: failure for the course.
Lateness Policy
It is very important that you are on time to class so that we may begin promptly and without interruption. Also, it is important that you not
miss any information as it may hinder your ability to complete your projects, or may compromise your ability to assist classmates during
critiques and discussions. Lateness is recorded. 2 late arrivals = 1 absence. This means that it is possible to fail this course based upon
lateness alone, so please be on time. It’s up to you to compensate for any parking issues. Once the door to the studio is closed, you’re
late.
Withdrawal policy
A student may withdraw or be withdrawn from a course for the Spring 2012 semester and the Spring Quickterm 2012 until Monday, April
2, 2012 with the instructor assigning a grade of “W” and providing the last date of attendance. If a student stops attending or is
administratively withdrawn after this date, an “F” will be assigned. The Add/Drop/Withdrawal Form can be obtained from the Registration
and Records Office on the first floor of the Administration Building. Return the completed and signed form to the Registration and Records
Office. The absolute last day a withdrawal will be accepted is Monday, April 2, 2012.
Grading scale
Criteria for Grading
In this class you will not be graded on how “good” your work is versus the person’s next to you. You are graded on how much you learn,
your effort and how much you challenge yourself. Your final grade will be based on the following:
Results of assignments: you will be graded on formal issues, degree of difficulty, and quality of work. Effort, craftsmanship, risk taking
and experimentation all factor in to the grade of each project.
Attendance: Too much material is covered each week to allow unexcused absences. Don’t miss class if you can help it—it can cost
you.
Performance/participation: Speaking during class discussions and critiques, consistently working during studio time.
All projects must be completed in order to receive an A in this course. Projects that are not completed on time will not be eligible for
an A grade. You have the option of re-working a project if you were unhappy with critique comments or a grade, but you cannot replace
points you lost due to lateness. You can receive updates on your grades by request at any time during the semester.
Assignments
Projects – Seven projects will begin in class, but will be completed outside of class studio time. Overall you will be completing 7
projects (30 points each) and 6 studies (10 points each).
Divergent Drawing
For this semester long drawing, you'll be crafting a response to the title Making Sense of the 5 Senses. This is wide open, and should be
interpreted freely. Keep your eye on the announcements section of OceanCruiser as I'll post links to video & radio, as well as various
readings - all of these relate to the senses, and should provide food for thought.
I've opened a forum in the Message Board section for you to chat online at any time -check in to see what others have added, and how
people react & respond.
Gather your thoughts & ideas in your sketchbook and be prepared to critique & discuss your first draft during our mid term critique on
March 23. The finished drawing is due on our last class, May 11.
Extra credit
Students have the option of extra credit to bolster project grades, and can choose from the following list:
1. Matinee Film Series – Wed Feb 8, March 14, April 11 from 1-3, Thurs Feb 16 & 23, March 22 & 29, April 19 &26 7-9pm in room
B112 - for each film attended– 3points
2. Student trip to a New York museum (the Met or MoMA)– 6 points
3. Student trip to a gallery – Noyes Museum or First Friday in Philadelphia - 6 points
4. Participation in the insite student project - 3 points
Grading Scale – 260 possible points
A
90-100% Overall excellence, exceeds expectation.
Outstanding: work demonstrating significant growth; participation in class; critical thinking; depth of inquiry; willing to take risks and
explore challenging solutions. Your work generates discussion, and needs no improvement (truly rare).
B
80-89% Impressive but not excellent.
Excellent work, but has rough edges, raises questions in critique, and could use polishing.
C
70-79% Overall average: work as expected at this level but without demonstrable growth.
Work accomplished all requirements, but without grace, significant thought or power – student did what was asked, and no more.
The equivalent of doing just enough to avoid being fired from a job – very common.
D
60-69% Overall below average: work below that expected at this level and without demonstrable growth.
Below average: work fails to accomplish basic requirements, displays a lack of effort and commitment, generally lackluster.
F
59% and below Failure to complete and submit project
Statement of Plagiarism:
Students should refer to the student handbook and review Policy #5180. Consider the previous description of online image usage as an
example of plagiarism.
Statement about Civility
Disruptive behavior
Studio classes differ from lecture classes in several key ways, but the most striking is the use of time and interaction between students and
faculty. That dynamic, paired with the very public discussion and critique of student artwork mentioned earlier can lead to difficult
moments. If such a moment becomes disruptive – behavior ranging from cutting off peers or faculty to verbal challenges of curricula or
other explosions – class will be dismissed. The perpetrator of disruptive behavior will speak with me immediately, which serves as a first
warning. The second instance of disruptive behavior will earn that student an early dismissal to meet with the Dean of the School of Arts
and Language, and said student cannot return to class again without permission from the Dean. There will be no third offense.
[See www.ocean.edu/civility.htm]
Evaluation of student:
As described above, there will be 7 projects (30 points each) and 6 studies (10 points each) for a total of 260 points. All projects are
subject to improvement and re-grading.
Campus Resources and Services:
Tutoring is available [a] in the Writing Center for writing assignments in all subject areas, not just English courses, and [b] in the
Mathematics Tutoring Center. Tutoring information for all other subjects can be found on the Tutoring page on the college website. In
addition, Study Strategy Seminars are scheduled each week and are posted on the college website under “Academics.” More information
on college services can be found by using the A-Z index on the college website (for example, under “T” for Tutoring or under “S” for Study
Strategy Seminars).
Statement of Accommodation:
If there is any student in this class who has special needs because of learning disabilities or other kinds of disabilities, please feel free to
come and discuss this with me or a staff member in the Center for Academic Excellence.
Disclaimer:
Individual faculty members may make reasonable changes to this course outline exclusive of course requirements, course calendar, and
grading procedures.
All individuals should not assume that anything received, sent, or stored in this course or in any course is private. Students’
written work, assignments, and test results may be used anonymously for college assessment purposes. Course content,
support materials, and communications (including chats, discussions, emails, and any other forms of communication) may be
used for quality assurance purposes by authorized college administrators.
Important Notes
Ocean Cruiser is the official email communication for students at OCC (firstname_lastname@occ.mailcruiser.com)
Failure to pay for this course may result in your being dropped for non-payment.
Course Outline:
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9
Week 10
Week 11
Week 12
Week 13
Week 14
Week 15
Week 16
Topics
Intro to Mac
Avoiding boring thinking
Cut paper collage – pleasant surprise
Illustrator basics – shape only drawing
Still life arrangement
Triptych
Triptych
Text tools
Text tools & hand lettering
Self portrait – real & altered
No class – spring break
1st draft critique – Making Sense of the 5 Senses
Self portrait – real & altered
Adding texture – disguising the vector look
Adding texture – disguising the vector look
From digital to the real – cut paper
Cut paper
Collaborative illustration
Collaborative illustration
Final crit