Syllabus DMAD-190 – Digital Illustration
Mondays 9:45 am - 11:50 am DMAD A190 – 001 (31684)
11:50 am - 5:45 pm (lab) DMAD A190L - 001L
Instructor: Jon Measures
jonmeasures@earthlink.net
www.jonmeasures.com
Office Hours: Mondays 9:15 PM -9:45 AM
Goals and Purpose
To develop and refine your Adobe Illustrator skills. To train you to be able to use
Illustrator at a professional level. This entails not only being technically proficient, but
conceptually strong as well. Your work will not only have excellent vector work, but also
be excellent illustrations. Illustrator is just a tool for you to draw with. Draw well.
Course Organization
The class will be structured upon the development and completion of a minimum of five
(5) projects. There will be no tests, and no final exam, just the projects.
On the day a project is due, you will present a “Final-to-Date” for critique. These will be
given a preliminary grade. At the end of, you will turn in all work again in a final
presentation. Any changes discussed during critique will have been made. Also, you will
turn in a CD with a digital portfolio of all your work for the semester. You will be given a
single grade for this final presentation, as well as re-grading of any individual projects
significantly improved.
Each project will involve not only conceptual elements - issues of formal design - but
production issues as well. You will be required to turn in each project completed to the
level expected in a professional environment. You will use the proper software, and your
files will be “built” properly. Specific details will be given with each project.
Grades: Your final grade will be determined through combining and averaging your
grades on the projects and final presentation.
Your projects will be graded on a standard letter-grade basis (A,B,C, etc). In addition, I
will - at times - make comments on a particular strength or weakness in your work to
help you understand my grading logic. For example, I may give you a B, and then
comment “good concept, but poor craftsmanship” or “beautiful, but not original/unique”.
Attendance
Class attendance is mandatory! A student who misses 3 classes in a row, or more than
a total of 4 classes, may be dropped from class. Additionally, poor attendance means a
poor grade. Attendance and participation is important. Students are responsible for all
material covered in class, whether you attend or not. Students are expected to read and
produce all assigned material. If you show up later than 15 minutes after the start of
class, you will be officially tardy. Two tardies equals one absence. Finally, if you stop
coming to class, don’t assume I will drop you - you are responsible to drop if you decide
not to stay in this class. My goal is to make this class SO challenging, fun and interesting
that there will be no way you’ll want to drop!
Fees
An “optional” equipment fee of $60.00 is required for the class. The optional equipment
fee is required to use the DMA/D department’s computer labs. This fee covers the cost
of repairing, replacing, and purchasing new equipment. The equipment fee does not
entitle you to use the Photo Department’s equipment or facilities.
Materials
Removable USB or other Storage Media. Solid black illustration board for final
presentation of work
Student Learning Outcomes
The student will be able to:
1. Create representational illustrations with vector graphics techniques.
2. Produce graphic designs and illustrations with representational and nonrepresentational content, using industry standard digital tools and techniques that follow
fundamental art and design principles.
3. Identify, critique and discuss specific aesthetic principles (positive/negative space,
color, scale, composition, energy, visual flow, and sequencing) in illustrations and
graphic designs by professionals and students, and explain how they convey
information.
Week-by-Week breakdown of the course
This breakdown functions as a guide to the flow of the course. However,
there is always a chance that things may change a little as we go along.
On the website I also keep a week by week breakdown that I update every
week so if you are looking at what you have missed or to see where we
are at that is a more accurate place to find information.
Week 1
Take Photographs of students
Introduction to course
introduction to Illustrator
Vector vs. Bitmap
Look at examples of vector based artwork
making Selections
Working with Basic Shapes
Introduce – Project 1
Exercises changing the point of origin including; object around a center
point, reflecting an object to make a symmetrical object and sending
things back to a vanishing point.
Lab time to start working on project 1.
Homework – hand drawn thumbnails for project 1
Week 2
Review
More examples of working with basic shapes
Using Pathfinder
Modifying shapes
Homework – work on project 1 in Illustrator
Week 3
Review
Demonstrations for the use of color and transparency
Refining line quality, shading and detail
Using multiple art boards
Lab-time to work on project 1
Homework – work on 1
Week 4
Review
Introduce project 2
Lab time to finish project 1
On screen critique
Save finished files in drop box
Work on design for project 2 and mount project 1
Week 5
Review
Use of the Pen Tool
Tracing
Use of Layers
Lab time to work on project 2
Homework work on project 2
Week 6
Review
Typography
Lab time to work on project 2
Homework work on project 2
Week 7
Review
Introduce project 3 Paper sculpture
Lab time to finish up project 2 and print
Homework work on project 2
Week 8
Critique project 2
Creating a die line
Review for practical test
Lab time
Homework work on project 3
Week 9 - Spring Break
Week 10
Practical test
Patterns and gradients
Creating shiny icons
lab time to work on project 3
Introduce project 4 – isometric – perspective landscape
Homework finish project 3
Week 11
Presentation/critique project 3
Isometric and perspective drawing
Perspective Grid Tool
Review
3D Effects
Lab time to work on project 4
Homework work on project 4
Week 12
Review
More advanced use of perspective and 3D effects
Lab time to work on project 4
Homework work on project 4
Week 13
Critique project 4 on screen
Lab time to finish project 4 and print
Introduce Project 5 – layout
Week 14
Placing images into Illustrator and working with placed images
Lab time to work on project 5
Week 15
Working with type in Illustrator
Lab time to work on project 5
Week 16
Finish up projects to present for final critique
Spring 2013
First Day of Instruction
Lincoln’s Day (holiday) CAMPUS CLOSED
Washington’s Day (holiday) CAMPUS CLOSED
Spring Recess (holidays) CAMPUS CLOSED
Monday January 28, 2013
Friday, February 15, 2013 Monday, February 18, 2013
Monday, March 25, 2013Sunday, March 31, 2013
Second Eight Week Classes Begin
Monday, April 1, 2013
Last Day of Semester
Memorial Day (holiday) CAMPUS CLOSED
Closed due to Furlough CAMPUS CLOSED
Closed due to Furlough CAMPUS CLOSED
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Monday, May 27, 2013
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Friday, June 7, 2013
Main Projects
1. Robots or Animals (week 1-4) 30
2. Tracing for poster design (Week 4-7) 30
3. 3D paper sculpture (Week 7 – 10) 30
4. Isometric or perspective view illustration cityscape or Landscape (week
10-13) 30
5. Page layout project (week 13-16) 30
Class projects 30
Practical Test 20
Total 200 pts
180 – 200 = A
160 – 179 = B
140 – 159 = C
120 – 139 = D
Below 120 = F