DES-220 - 2D Digital Imaging - Spring 2010
Section 002, M.W.F 10:10am - 12:10pm, APPA 123
Section 003, M.W
2:30pm - 5:30pm, MICH 295
Instructor – Jason Quick
quickj@uwstout.edu
715.232.2548
Micheels 186
Office hours:
Tues / Fri, 1:30 - 3:30pm & by appt.
Official Course Description
Creative use of digital technology: the design of 2D images and illustrations in printed and digital formats, using bitmap, vector, layout programs
and HTML editors.
Additional Info
This course is an introduction to digital image creation. The course will focus on two-dimensional image making using the Adobe CS Suite, which
includes Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign. We will also cover basic web design, and may experiment with Dreamweaver if time permits.
Course Objectives
Students will be able to: understand similarities and differences of file formats and image types; create simple documents in a page layout
program, use vector- and raster-based software to generate images; develop digital images with visual aesthetic considerations.
For Art Ed students this course meets:
- Wisconsin Standard 1: The teacher understands the central concepts, tools of inquiry, and structures of the discipline(s) he or she teaches.
- UW Stout School of Education Domain Ia: Demonstrating knowledge of content and pedagogy.
- Wisconsin Standard 9: The teacher is a reflective practitioner.
Course Layout & Schedule
2D Digital Imagery (DES 220) consists of in-depth studio projects combined with short exercises that reinforce learning objectives. Students learn
through a variety of methods including lectures, readings, demonstrations, tutorials, quizzes, individual instruction, group work and four extensive
projects. Critiques are an important part of the curriculum where students develop analytical thinking and vocabulary skills. See the course
schedule provided separately for details on class goals, activities, assignments and deliverable due dates.
Course Recommendations
As you are working on your own computer, it is highly recommended that you back up your files regularly. The best way to do this is to get an
external hard drive which can be purchased at a number of commercial locations: Target, Best Buy, etc. or online, ewaggle.com, egghead.com all
have devices for reasonably low cost. You can also back things up on USB flash drives, or CD’s. Many of you files will be large, and may not fit on
some smaller devices that are up to 1GB(gigabyte). It is important to save files in a sequential manner at logical stages of development to assure
proper backups. Saving files in this manner not only guarantees you have a backup of your progress, but it allows you to retrace you steps to an
earlier version if your most recent files become corrupt, or if you decide to move in a different direction with you work. Save early, save often.
Attendance
Students will be allowed no more than three absences. Every absence after three will result in a lower grade (i.e. B+ becomes a B or a C becomes
a C-). Tardiness (> 10 minutes late) will count as 1/3 absence. If you miss six classes, you will automatically fail the class. Note: I do not
differentiate between excused and unexcused absences (i.e., a missed day is a missed day). Plan your meetings, appointments and other
obligations accordingly.
Attendance is REQUIRED for ALL class presentations and group workdays; these dates will not be rescheduled (except in case of emergency). If a
student cannot attend one of these schedule events, advance notice should be given to the instructor so that alternative arrangements can be
made. If no prior notice is given (or no valid excuse is presented), the student will receive an F for that stage of the project.
If I have an unforeseen absence from class, a note will be posted on the door of the classroom. You should not expect an email notifying you of
the change in class.
Participation
The information in the course will be delivered through lecture, discussion, critique and lab work. Information will not be repeated. EVERYONE is
expected to participate. If you are unclear about expectations, please ask questions. Assignments (including readings, notes, quizzes and
projects) are to be completed on time, at the beginning of each class period (or as required in D2L). If you miss a class, it is your responsibility to
find out what you missed from other students in the class.
No sleeping, headphones, IM’ing, Facebooking, texting…turn cell phones off/silent. These will not be tolerated in class. If you do these things in
class, you will be asked to leave and marked absent for the day and any assignment due that day will receive a zero.
Students should come to class equipped with laptops, sketch/notebooks and any other appropriate materials. If a student arrives without the
appropriate materials for class, he or she may be dismissed and counted as absent. Students are expected to use the entire period allocated for
class to work on the current project. Leaving early without permission may be penalized as 2/3 absence.
Presentation of Work
All printed assignments should be presented on the critique wall as soon as class starts, please do not wait for the instructor to tell you to do so.
Work should be clean and displayed properly (no fingerprints, torn edges, tape marks). All digital assignments should be uploaded in the
appropriate D2L dropbox, available on your laptop for in-class presentation and saved on a backup media for sharing with the instructor.
Course Risk Factors
Continued computer usage may be linked to repetitive stress injury. It is highly recommended that you take a short break every hour while
working. Sit up straight and practice proper keyboard and mouse use, and consider using a mouse instead of your laptop trackpad.
Academic Honesty
Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated. Any work that involves such activity will be given a failing grade and the student will be reported to
the University for actions as described in the student handbook.
Grading + Evaluation
All assignments must be delivered when due, whether finished or not, for grading purposes. Students turning in late assignments will be “downgraded” one letter grade (A to B, B+ to C+, etc.) for each class day late (with the exception of documented emergencies). Projects that are
incomplete will not be accepted. You will be graded on many things in my class, including class participation, projects, attitude, participation in
critiques, attention to detail and craft, taking suggestions and especially improvement.
10% = Weekly Notes & Participation (lowest grade will be dropped)
10% = Quizzes #1-7 (lowest grade will be dropped)
10% = Daily Assignments: Homework #1-4, Group Summary #1-4
70% = Projects #1-4 (see D2L for project weights)
Projects will be evaluated on the degree to which they:
1. Fulfill the assignment objectives
2. Demonstrate the required technical and craft demands
3. Illustrate personal investment in skill and creative development
Satisfactory completion of an assigned project will be given a letter grade of “C”. Work that surpasses or fails to meet the requirements will be
graded accordingly. A letter grade of “A” is given only for exceptional work.
10 - 9
A/-
Consistently excellent all on all course projects.
8.9 - 8
B+/-
Consistently very good work on all course projects.
7.9 - 7
C+/-
All project work complete, and meeting stated requirements at the level expected of University students.
6.9-6
D+/-
Below average work or incomplete projects.
5.9-0
F
Not passing.
Time Outside of Class
Lab classes are time intensive. On average, expect to spend 2 hours of outside work to every hour spent in class in order to complete the
required assignments. This will depend on the project, the student’s time management skills and dedication. The more inspired you are about the
project and skills being practiced, the easier it becomes.
Limitations, Disabilities & ADA Compliance
If you have any specific limitations or disabilities that may affect your performance in class, please make the instructor aware so that your needs
can be accommodated. You will also need to contact Kara James in Disability Services (206 Bowman Hall, jameskar@uwstout.edu, 715-2322995) Through the Office of Disability Support Services, UW-Stout makes necessary accommodations for qualified students with disabilities, as
required by the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 5-4 of the Rehabilitation Act. If you need any kind of accommodation under the terms
of the above-referred Acts, please provide the written request on or before the 12th class day. Additional info:
http://www3.uwstout.edu/disability/index.cfm
Resources
Digital Media, An Introduction by Richard Lewis. Please pick up your book from Instructional Resources.
Lynda Tutorials @ UW-Stout http://lynda.uwstout.edu
Final Evaluation Period
SECTION 002: Friday, May 14, 8:00 - 9:50 a.m.
SECTION 003: Thursday, May 13, 12:00 - 1:50 p.m.
Disclaimer
All of the information provided in this syllabus, all assignments, and scheduled dates represent the objectives of the course and the intent of the
instructor. All information is subject to change, if deemed necessary, at the discretion of the instructor.
Email & Phone Etiquette
I am on campus Monday, Tuesday afternoons, Wednesday and Friday—and I am available during my office hours or by appointment. Please
include the class number “DES-220” in the Subject line of emails, and also include the Section number (002 or 003) when appropriate. If you
need to contact me, feel free to email me or call my office number and leave a message, but please allow me 24 hours to reply to you. Also know
that I don’t respond to e-mails over the weekend.
Lab Guidelines:
No food or open drink containers in class.
Be engaged, committed, respectful, ethical, thoughtful and open-minded.