Advanced Page Layout, Using Adobe InDesign :: GCOM 314 :: syllabus
GCOM 314
SESSION 1 – JANUARY 21
Section: 32672, 3 units
January 21 – May 18, 2010
Thursdays, 5:30 – 7:10 p.m.
SCC Main Campus
Classroom: Technology 100
TOPICS COVERED I NS T RU C TO R : JO D I A DKINS
advanced-indesign-gcom314.blogspot.com
email: adkinsj @ scc.losrios.edu
cell: (916) 798-1761 (urgent only)
REQUIRED TEXT
“THINKING WITH TYPE” by Ellen Lutpon
• Course objectives
• Requirements and expectations
• Review InDesign demonstration
ASSIGNMENT: Buy required books and appropriate portable media
SESSION 2 – JANUARY 28
TOPICS COVERED
• Design: Discuss required reading. INTRODUCE: DESIGN JOURNAL
• InDesign: page setup, paragraph styles review
ASSIGNMENT:
Begin reading “Thinking with Type”
also: www.ThinkingWithType.com
SESSION 3 – FEBRUARY 4
“LAYOUT ESSENTIALS – 100 DESIGN PRINCIPLES
FOR USING GRIDS” by Beth Tondreau
TOPICS COVERED
D E S I G N LA B HO U R S :
• Design: anatomy of type, introduce PROJECT 1: RESUMÉ
• InDesign: Frame editor; advanced Bezier curves; pathfinder, text on a path
Resumé sketches next class
Monday – Thursday: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.;
Friday: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Saturday – Sunday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
ASSIGNMENT:
D E S I G N LA B
• Design: color and shape, use of white space, introduce PROJECT 2: RECIPE
• InDesign: Multiple master template pages; style sheets; story layout and composition
ASSIGNMENT: Resumé sketches due today, finished project due next class
The Advanced Technology Design Lab is
equipped with Apple iMacs loaded with the
latest software. They are for students to use
for class projects. Students are required to
sign-in at the computer near the door using
their student ID number.
Lab coordinators and tutors are available to
assist students with homework and software.
Their goal is to help students learn the
material. Whenever possible, bring your text
book to the lab as reference material. There
will be times when the lab is very full, please
be patient when seeking assistance.
O F F I C E HO U R S
Virtual office hour, just email me and I will
respond within a day. Call my cell phone for
more urgent needs.
G R A D I NG B R E A K D OW N
Six total projects:
resumé, recipe, 2-page spread, timeline,
book
and design journal (turned in 3 times)
Final grade scale:
A - 90-100%, B - 80-89%,
C - 70-79%, D - 60-69%, F - 59-0%
Scores will be reduced by one letter grade
for late projects.
SESSION 4 – FEBRUARY 11
TOPICS COVERED
FEBRUARY 12 & 15
:: PRESIDENTS’ DAYS, CAMPUS CLOSED
SESSION 5 – FEBRUARY 18
TOPICS COVERED • Design: Deconstruct existing printed materials
• InDesign: Baseline grid; kerning; tracking; color modes
ASSIGNMENT: Recipe due today • Journal 1: Color & Shape, due next class
SESSION 6 – FEBRUARY 25
TOPICS COVERED
• Design: introduce PROJECT 3: 2-PAGE SPREAD
• InDesign: Advanced type features, creating tables, setting paragraph rules
ASSIGNMENT: Journal 1: Color & Shape, due today • 2-page spread sketches due next class
SESSION 7 – MARCH 4
TOPICS COVERED
• Design: “Introduce Layout Essentials” book
• InDesign: Special characters; type preferences; type as art
ASSIGNMENT: 2-page spread sketches due today, final due next class
SESSION 8 – MARCH 11
TOPICS COVERED
• Design: introduce PROJECT 4: TIMELINE
• InDesign: Demonstrate various timeline techniques
ASSIGNMENT: final 2-page spread project due today
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Advanced Page Layout, Using Adobe InDesign :: GCOM 314 :: syllabus
P RO JE C T S AT A G LA NCE
SESSION 9 – MARCH 18
PROJECT 1: Resumé, sketches Feb 4
TOPICS COVERED
JOURNAL 1: Color and Shape, Feb 25
• Design: Review student projects, discuss design rules from Thinkng with Type
• InDesign: organization and visual hierarchy
ASSIGNMENT: Journal 2: Type, due next class
PROJECT 3: 2-page Spread, sketches Mar 4
SESSION 10 – MARCH 25
Final Feb 11
PROJECT 2: Recipe, Feb 18
Final Mar 11
JOURNAL 2: Type, Mar 25
PROJECT 4: Timeline, sketches Apr 15
PROJECT 5: Book, sketches, Apr 22
JOURNAL 3: Composition, Apr 29
PROJECT 5: Book, final presentation, May 6
TOPICS COVERED
• Design: Begin discussion of book design
• InDesign: Technical do’s and don’ts
ASSIGNMENT: Journal 2: Type, due today
MARCH 29 TO APRIL 4
:: SPRING BREAK, CAMPUS CLOSED :: NO CLASS APRIL 4
SESSION 11 – APRIL 8
C HA P T E R S AT A G LA NCE
TOPICS COVERED
TEXT: pages 61-136, read by Mar 4
• Design: introduce FINAL PROJECT: BOOK
• InDesign: Special effects; clipping paths; publication design
ASSIGNMENT: Begin book design research
GRID: pages 138-160, read by Apr 4
SESSION 12 – APRIL 15
APPENDIX: pages 164-173, refer to often
TOPICS COVERED
Thinking with Type:
TYPE: pages 1-60, read by Feb 4
Layout Essentials:
ENTIRE BOOK: Begin reading immediately,
refer to as often as needed.
• Design: review newsletter themes
• InDesign: Creating die lines for special projects such as pocket folder, discuss gatefold,
double paralell, z-fold, etc.
ASSIGNMENT: Book sketches due next class
SESSION 13 – APRIL 22
NE W G R E E N A P P ROACH
TOPICS COVERED
The GCOM Department at SCC recently
became the first community college in
the U.S. to join the Designers Accord –
an international coalition of designers,
educators, researchers, engineers,
business consultants, and corporations –
working to create positive environmental
and social impact.
SESSION 14 – APRIL 29
As part of GCOM’s effort, we have begun
to implement more “sustainable” practices
in the way we teach and run our program.
As much as possible, handouts will be
available as PDF files and not handed out
in paper form in the classroom. Students
are encouraged to save and read them in
digital form rather than print them out.
For more info on the Designers Accord,
visit www.designersaccord.org
• Design: review thumbnail sketches
• InDesign: creating chapter, book, table of contents and index
ASSIGNMENT: Book sketches due today, Journal 3: Composition due next class
TOPICS COVERED
• Design: review design theory learned this semester
• InDesign: field production questions
ASSIGNMENT: Journal 3: Composition due today
SESSION 15 – MAY 6
TOPICS COVERED
• Design: Students will present and discuss final projects
ASSIGNMENT: Final Project due • All late assignments due • no projects accepted after today
SESSION 16 – MAY 13
Informal class, projects returned to students, instructor available
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Advanced Page Layout, Using Adobe InDesign :: GCOM 314 :: Learning Outcomes and Classroom policies
3
COURSE DESCRIPTION
CLASSROOM POLICIES
This is an in-depth course about page
layout design, multipage production and
electronic publishing, utilizing a page layout
industry standard software- Adobe InDesign.
Through lecture, demonstration, and handson methods, as well as class/instructor
critiques, students will employ the graphic
design process for page layout design from
creative concept to printed page. Topics
include multipage publications, using a grid,
typography, composition, and interfacing with
professional printing services.
• At the beginning of each class, please sign the attendance sheet next to your name.
Attendance is required for this class.
LE A R N I NG O U TC O M E S
A ND O B JE C T I V E S
If you are planning to miss a class please notify me in advance so that we can make appropriate
arrangements for missed lessons/tutorials. If you have an unplanned absence, please get
information from the class blog and classmates.
Upon completion of this course,
the student will be able to:
• organize and prepare an editorial layout
• Except for special, prearranged circumstances, no guests are allowed in class.
• Cell phones and pagers must be silent during class and in the lab.
• Please raise your hand to ask questions or speak up if I’m not looking! Your questions are very
important. If I don’t have an immediate answer, I’ll let you know the following session.
• Feel free to tape record lectures. Please set up your recording device with minimal disruption.
• I invite you to email me questions about class during the week. Do not wait until you see me
again if it will affect your project score.
MISSING CLASS
DROPPI NG CLASS
• create style sheets to build multipaged
documents with speed and efficiency
It is my policy to drop students after three missed classes if the student has not contacted me
during that time. It is each student’s responsibility to initiate a discussion (in person or via email)
with the instructor regarding illness, planned absence, or other issues as needed.
• implement visual hierarchy methods in
page layout
If you wish to drop the class, please do so. Please do not count on the instructor to drop you.
If you wait until late in the semester you run the risk of receiving an F as your final grade.
• develop magazine, newspaper, and book
cover designs that communicate to a
specific audience
INCOMPLETE POLICY
• prepare a document for offset printing
• compare and analyze different layout
styles/critique
• choose appropriate typefaces to
communicate effective visual messages
A typical evaluation and assessment method
would include:
• proper use of master page setup
Only extreme circumstances warrant a grade of “incomplete.” An incomplete grade is reserved for
those who meet the following criteria:
1.Student experiences an extreme situation which is unexpected. (Death in the family, serious
illness, loss of employment or other incident requiring the student to miss several classes)
2.Student has earned a passing grade at the time of incident.
3.Student notifies instructor within 10 days of incident occurrence.
Please note, home computer failure is not an acceptable excuse for asking for an incomplete since
computers and software are available in the Design Lab.
AVOID PLAGIARISM
• design and composition used effectively
Plagiarism in any form is unacceptable and will be dealt with accordingly. The punishment for
academic dishonesty will vary according to the seriousness of the offense. Sacramento City
College’s Student Code of Conduct provides for the following possible consequences of dishonesty:
•successful use of a design grid and layout
• Receiving a failing grade in the course
• proper use of style sheets
• Having a course grade lowered
• Receiving an “F” in the course
• Being placed on disciplinary probation or suspension
• Being expelled from Sacramento City College