Quiz One - Basic Computer Skills (10 questions, 10 points)
(taken by the end of week two)
This course requires basic computer skills with Macintosh and Windows operating systems. The instructor will review these skill elements as part of the course and the student will be required to demonstrate computer competency skills in the following areas (this course has a CIS1200 pre-requisite): Macintosh and Windows file management, network access, document management, interface elements, mouse techniques, hardware profiles, software, differences and similarities in the operating systems (cit account, vt grading, cross-platform information), setting up E-mail applications (MacOS Mail, web-based, etc.), and using web browsers (Internet Explorer, Netscape, Safari, etc.).
Quiz Two & Three - Taken From In-class lectures (5 questions, 5 points each)
(taken randomly during the semester whenever the instructor decides to)
These quizes will be unannounced, and cannot be made up if you are not in class the day that it is given.
Assignment One - Advertisement Collection
Collection of 10 examples of good design. Look for advertisements, brochures, invitations, or magazines (each ad must be from a different source) and collect and be prepared to discuss 10 different designs. Be prepared with comments on the following: What message did it communicate? Was the ad effective? What caught your attention? What did you like about it? What elements did you dislike? Are there things you would change about it? Why? How well does it communicate a message to buy goods or services? Does it have a sense of discovery or is it clever in some way?
Discuss elements of them that are well done, are unique or different, or stand out including the elements of balance, emphasis, rhythm, unity, fold, size, paper, color, copy, type, and photos. Pay attention to the typefaces that are used. Is the typography well done?
Each student will be graded in class, you will bring the ads to class and present them.
Assignment Two - Imaginary Company Profile
Each student will create an imaginary company. This profile should include (but not be limited to): Name of the company, web domain name (must be available to register at register.com as of the due date), primary and secondary markets for the company, customer profiles (who are the company's customers), marketing plan for the company, company products, etc. The assignment should be typed and turned in electronically including the student's name. Thumbnail sketches and ideas of what the company's logo would look like should also be turned in with the document describing the "new" company. Here is an example of a company profile. Email this assignment to pedersen@dixie.edu with 'vt1300 - Assignment 2' in the subject line.
Note: Assignments 3, 6 and 7 will use this profile, so it's important that you complete this assignment thoroughly.
Assignment Three - Logo Collection and Design
Part 1- Collect 5 good logos and 5 bad logos. Look in magazines, the web, phone books, newspaper, etc.
For each good logo: Write what you liked about the design, and why it is effective in representing that company.
For each bad logo: Write what you didn't like about it, and describe how you would improve it if you were hired to redesign it. Turn this in as a printed copy, including a cover page, and two inner pages, one for the good logos, one for the bad logos, with your assessments to the side of each logo example.
Part 2- Individual Logo Development. Each student will turn in a completely finished version of their company logo. Here is an example of a logo designed for Discovering Utah, a proposed television show. The logo should be created on the computer (using Adobe Illustrator or other vector-based design software). The instructor will provide a due date for this assignment in class.
Assignment Four - Scanning and Tracing
In this assignment the student will use Adobe Illustrator to trace 5 files that can be downloaded by clicking the link at the bottom of this assignment. In addition to tracing these five files, the student will choose 2 others to trace (any design that the student wants to trace that takes shows off the capabilities of the tools available in Illustrator). These will be submitted electronically to the stargate server. Upload a folder named with your last name, containing the 7 Illustrator files.
(Click here to download the files for tracing.)
Assignment Five - Web Site Evaluation
Evaluate 5 websites from the perspective of design. Questions to consider include: Does the overall image or design contribute to the web site? Do the colors and graphics convey the meaning they should? Is the web site attractive? Is the typography easy to read? Are the fonts well chosen? Is it well organized for the user? Is the key information easy to find? Other design concerns?
You will type up each evaluation along with the URL of the site and turn it in electronically to the instructor Email this assignment to pedersen@dixie.edu with 'vt1300 - Assignment 5' in the subject line.
Assignment Six - Web Design
This assignment involves the design side of developing a mock-up web site for the fake company you created in Assignment Two. The student will use graphic design tools (such as Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop) to design a web site. Be prepared to present your design to the class, to defend your design, to explain your reasoning, and to suggest alternatives and options you considered in the process. Please present a front or home page as well as a second page if there is a need for a second page (a second page means what the interface looks like when you click a link on the home page). No HTML is needed to complete this assignment, simply design concepts.
Assignment Seven - Business Collateral Package
Develop and present a business collateral package to the class. All elements will need to be finished as printed media and complete mock-ups! (That is to say, if you are making an envelope, it should be a real envelope...)Required elements of the business package include the logo, business card, letterhead, envelope, and a newspaper or magazine advertisement. Choose one other element to develop such as a website, direct mail piece, brochure, poster, interactive CD-ROM or DVD interface or other element you get approved by the instructor.
Assignment Eight - Your choice!
For this assignment, you will basically just show me what you learned in this class. You could use one of the possible options from Assignment 7 that you didn't end up doing, or you could just try to impress the instructor by creating something completely random. Make sure that the piece shows strong design skills, and communicates the message that you want to convey.
Standard Design Rubric for Grading Projects
Click here for pdf
Last Updated 08/15/06
Send questions and comments to
pedersen@dixie.edu
