NICHOLLS STATE UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF ART
CLIENT MATERIALS
WELCOME
WE ARE EXCITED FOR
THE CHANCE TO WORK
WITH YOU
On behalf of the Nicholls State Department of
Art, I would like to welcome you to our Service
Learning Initiative for Graphic Design. This
information packet is designed to guide you through your service learning experience
with us. As you review the packet, you will notice that our process is focused on
student/partner collaboration to work towards a common goal. For our students,
it is our intention to use service learning opportunities as a way to teach social
responsibility, gain personal growth, and foster a thirst for knowledge that will serve
them for a lifetime. For our community partners, we aim to provide professional, highquality design services that can fulfill the needs of your organization.
Since 2006, Nicholls State University Graphic Design students have collaborated on
design projects for over 18 non-profit organizations. Nicholls State University has also
been recognized for its service learning with a place on the President’s High Education
Community Service Honor Roll. It is our hope to continue this level of quality service
for several years to come.
Please review all of the information contained in this packet. We encourage you to ask
questions, and follow through with the procedures as stated to ensure the success of
your service learning experience. It is important that all original forms are signed by
someone with legal authority for your organization to act as a representative during
the experience. These forms must be returned as soon as possible (since most service
learning projects are scheduled a semester in advance.)
We look forward to partnering with your organization. Together we can support and
build our community.
Sincerely,
Assistant Professor Trisha Z Dubina
POTENTIAL
PARTNER
CHECKLIST
WHAT WE’LL NEED FROM YOU
Before we begin, we’ll need to
make sure your project qualifies
for service learning. Here are a
few points for you to consider...
INTERESTED?
Do you or a members of your non-profit organization have the interest and the time
to participate in collaborative service learning with our graphic design courses? Most
service learning initiatives require 3-4 client/student meetings during the course of a project.
DOES YOUR PROJECT QUALIFY?
Professors will determine if your project needs meet the student outcome objectives
for specific courses. If it qualifies, the Professor will schedule your project to match
the appropriate course level and work with you to arrange a suitable meeting schedule
with students. Since projects are scheduled a semester in advance, we ask that you
make the appropriate accommodations for deadlines and production of materials
until the end of the project’s completion. Please note that your organization will
only receive print-ready design materials since we are unable to provide production
services for designed pieces.
COMPLETE THE FORMS
Please complete all forms for your type of service, obtain all required signatures and
return to the Professor in charge prior to beginning your service.
MAINTAIN OPEN COMMUNICATION
Keep your commitment to participate throughout the course of the project by
participating in class critiques and general project discussion. Provide background
information on your project and your organization if and when necessary. Please be on
time for critiques as scheduled and arrange for potential absence.
WHAT TO EXPECT
FROM
A GRAPHIC DESIGN SERVICE LEARNING PROJECT
Here is a list of what your organization can expect by participating
THIRST FOR KNOWLEDGE
PRINT-READY SOLUTIONS
Students who participate in service
learning projects are genuinely
interested in learning about their non-profit client partners.
Students are able to provide clients
with “print-ready” artwork (files ready
to print) on a disc. Non-profit clients
will also receive one printed copy of
the artwork. Since it is not customary
nor acceptable for students to provide
clients with “editable” files, all change
requests must be made in writing to the
Professor. Minor changes may be made
on a time and materials basis. Extensive
changes may be made by hiring the
student designer once the semester
and the project period ends.
PREPARATION
Professors work with participating
students to ensure that they are
properly prepared to handle your
organization’s project.
INVESTIGATION
All good design begin with research.
Students are expected to explore
several design directions based upon
their research so that they are able
to provide non-profit clients with
knowledgeable, smart solutions.
PRODUCTIVE COMMUNICATION
Students are expected to be able to
present their ideas with poise and in a
professional manner during student/
client critiques. By nature of critique,
students welcome the opportunity to
receive constructive feedback about
their work in order to meet the needs of their non-profit clients.
WHAT IS
PRO-BONO?
Students who participate in service
learning initiatives provide their
design services pro-bono. Pro-bono
means that students will provide
their services without monetary
compensation for the public good.
In return for their efforts, they will
receive a grade for the course.
However, if you would like to hire
a student upon completion of the
project, monetary compensation is
customary and expected.
OUR
PROCESS
HOW WE WORK STEP-BY-STEP
STEP ONE
YOUR
IDEA
Identify your organization’s needs and wants.
How can we help you reach your audience or
spread your message? Fill out this Creative
Brief to help get the ball rolling.
What does your organization need? Why do you want to pursue this project?
What are your expectations?
Who specifically is your organization’s target audience?
Choose 5-9 words that you want people to use when describing your
organization to others?
Choose 5-9 words that you do not want people to use when describing your
organization to others?
What makes your organization unique?
Is there anything else you’d like for us to know about your organization or
the project? Are there any avenues you feel should be avoided?
LET’S MEET
STEP TWO
If we determine that your organization’s project fits
into the student outcome objectives for a course,
the Professor will set up a meeting with your
organization’s representative to discuss the project
and the schedule.
Usually, we like to meet in person but we can also chat over the
phone. After our initial contact, however, we’d prefer to avoid
email correspondence to keep our communications clear.
Please bring any materials, background information, and your
own personal research pertaining to the project. The Professor
will inform you of the project dates and scheduled meeting times.
It is often helpful for non-profit organizations to supply a copy
of any content required for the project at this time. This content
helps the Professor to gauge how to project process will be
assigned to participating students.
Most meetings are held in the Professor’s office or Art
Department Conference Room located upstairs in Talbot Hall
on Nicholls State University campus. Parking permits can be
obtained through University Police.
For directions to campus or a campus map, please visit: www.nicholls.edu/about/directions
LET’S MEET
again
STEP THREE
Except, this time with
the students in class.
Please be prepared for students to ask more specific questions
about your organization and the project. Depending upon the
project, non-profit client partners may bring examples of work
they admire or additional materials to help students better
understand the project purpose.
During this meeting, students and non-profit clients will sign
a Services Agreement. The Agreement states that both parties
understand the parameters of the project including project
deadlines, meeting dates and format of final deliverables (the
finished results of the project).
Please designate 1 or 2 members of the organization to act as
representatives throughout the entire course of the project.
These representatives may sometimes be required to make
decisions during meetings to keep the project on schedule. Also,
due to space limitations, we can only accommodate up to 2
representatives per organization.
It is important to choose 1 or 2 members of
the organization to act as representatives
throughout the entire course of the project.
This ensures consistent point-of-view from
start to finish.
DESIGN
TIME
STEP FOUR
Students spend class time
researching and designing.
Actually, our process goes something like this:
Research, Discuss, Design, Critique, Refine.
During student / client meetings, you will see edited versions of
the work in progress. You are encouraged to ask questions and
provide constructive feedback to students about their work. In
most cases, students will initially provide 3 variations of each
concept. Critiques are intended to help students their focus and
select one concept to investigate/refine further.
Classes meet twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Any scheduled meetings will be held during class time with
the exception of the final meeting which may be held on a
Wednesday depending on the course.
PROJECT
COMPLETION
STEP FIVE
Students show their finished work for client review.
Final meetings are usually held in the Department of Art
Conference Room. If other students, faculty or additional
members of the organization would like to attend the meeting, a larger room may be scheduled in advance if one is available.
Students will present the final versions of their work as
deliverables to non-profit client partners. Clients will then be
able to take their copy of the final deliverables present to their
organizations. Please remember that students and the University
retain the rights to the artwork created as part of the course and
cannot be altered by the client without the student designer and
the Professor’s written consent.
Should the project require minor changes, arrangements must
be made to the Professor in writing within one week of the final
meeting. Any additional changes after that date will require
design services by the student designer (or the Professor
with written consent by the student) for compensation at the
designer’s hourly rate.
At the end of the final meeting, clients and students will fill out
a brief evaluation of the project to reflect on the service learning
experience. A copy of these evaluations will be kept on file for
review by the Professor.
BRANDING
CHECKLIST
NOT ALL BRANDS ARE CREATED EQUAL.
They have specific needs that can be met in any combination. Here is a list of items we can create to help you establish your brand.
IDENTITY BUILDING BLOCKS
Personality
Key messages
Tone of voice
Primary IDENTITY
Logo
Color: preferred and variations;
positive, reverse, 4-color, 1-color
IDENTITY GUIDELINES
Clear space requirements
Sizes
Correct and incorrect usage
Secondary and supporting logos
Supporting logo system
Tagline
Corporate typefaces
Supporting elements
• Primary color palette
• Secondary color palette
• Photo or illustration style
• Typography style
Stationery
Business cards
Letterhead
Envelopes
Mailing labels
Notepads
Fax covers
Internal memos
PRINT COLLATERAL
Brochures
Booklets
Flyers (as part of a system)
Hardcover books
Posters
Packaging
Product packages
Product labels
Hang tags
Shopping bags
Shipping cartons
Point-of-sale materials
In-store displays
CD and DVD case and labels
Video cases and labels
Publications
Customer magazine
environmental graphics
Signage
Exterior facility signs
Directional
Parking
Building identification
Corporate flag
Interior facility signs
• Lobby
• Directory
• Directional
• Floor identification
• Stair identification
• Room identification
• Workspace identification
• Restroom identification
• Roof signs
• Decals on glass
Vehicle graphics
Service/Delivery vehicles
Exhibit systems
Trade show booths/exhibits
Banners
Web and interactive
Site design and interface
Web page templates
Information design
Web advertising
Multimedia presentations
Advertising
Print ads, magazine & newspaper
Outdoor ads, roadside, bus shelter
Direct mail campaigns
Banner ads, Web
Although we don’t take on branded
merchandise as a project in and of
itself, it may be a component of a
larger project.
YES,I
UNDERSTAND
the information
provided to me in this packet about
Service Learning
in Graphic Design.
I have read all the steps and understand the process.
I have accepted the role of Non-Profit Client Representative and can fullfill
the duties requested of me and my organization.
I have completed the Creative Brief in this document and I’ve made a copy
for my organization to keep on file.
DATE:
, 20
NAME OF ORGANIZATION:
ADDRESS OF ORGANIZATION:
Please sign and return
this page along with the
Creative Brief to: REPRESENTATIVE #1 (PRINT):
)
EMAIL:
Nicholls State University PHONE: ( Department of Art
Attn: Assistant professor REPRESENTATIVE #1 (SIGNATURE):
Trisha Z Dubina
P.o. Box 2025
Thibodaux, la 70310 REPRESENTATIVE #2 (PRINT):
PHONE: ( )
EMAIL:
or deliver this form to the
Art Office located upstairs,
REPRESENTATIVE #2 (SIGNATURE):
Room 221 in Talbot Hall.