TELEPHONE: 435-652-7970
OFFICE: Üdvar-Hazy Bldg., Room 324
FALL 2009 CLASS INSTRUCTION:
2:00 p.m. to 2:50 p.m., MWF (section 01)
Üdvar-Hazy Bldg., Room 120
Explore the unique medium of packaging design by creating branded products for retail display. How do you make a product stand out from competitors on the shelves? What motivates the targeted consumer to buy one product over another? Students will address these questions via course projects including various bottle packaging, pizza box, perfume bottle, and mass vs. prestige applications.
This course will address the basic elements and principles of package design. The emphasis on compelling and innovative graphic design solutions, compositional organization, efficient mechanics, and effective presentation. Included is a study of how products are effectively packaged in unique and aesthetically pleasing containers. A secondary study of how packaging can use recyclable, sustainable, and "green" materials, not only for fostering responsible commercial citizenship, but as an aspect of marketing strategy.
A review of typography, materials used, photography/graphics/images, and their application to the packaging projects are included, combined with computer animation technology using 3-D software to bring the product to life. Key software applications used in this course include Adobe Photoshop will be used for raster image editing, Adobe Illustrator for vector image editing, Maya for 3D modeling, InDesign for layout, and Flash for animation.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
"Students apply design principles in a 3-D form by creating containers for a variety of products. Emphasis is placed on promotion, impact, construction, display and function of the design. The course also aims to provide an understanding of market studies on design impact and effectiveness through the production of 3-D prototypes. Prerequisites: VT 2500, VT 2600, and VT 2700, all with a C- or better. 3 lecture hours per week." (Dixie State College Catalog, 2009-2010)
PRE-REQUISITES
VT 2500, VT 2600, and VT 2700. (See the current course catalog and this semester's class schedule for more information about these courses.)
Familiarity with the MacOS and Windows operating systems is assumed. A solid understanding of file management — including the concept of file pathnames — is essential to successful delivery of your projects. A good working knowledge of Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator is expected. (Lack of functional working knowledge of computers in general, and the software tools taught in the prerequisite courses specifically, may adversely affect your ability to perform well in this class.)
REQUIRED TEXTBOOK and SUGGESTED SUPPLIES:
- Storage media to backup and/or manage your coursework during the semester
- Multiple blank DVD-R/RW disks (to back up data and files)
- A USB flash drive of sufficient size (1 GB or larger)
- An external hard drive of usable size (suggested 80 GB or larger, optional)
- Multiple blank DVD-R/RW disks (to back up data and files)
- Textbook: The Packaging & Design TEMPLATES Sourcebook, complied by Luke Herriott
© Copyright 2007, RotoVision SA (Switzerland)
ISBN-13: 978-2-940361-73-1, ISBN-10: 2-940361-73-8
- Suggested Reading:The Little Book of BIG Packaging Ideas, by Catharine Fishel & Stacey King gordon
© Copyright 2007, Rockport Publishers, Inc.
ISBN-13: 978-1-59253-353-4, ISBN-10: 1-59253-353-1
SPECIAL NEEDS HELP:
If you are a student with a medical, psychological or a learning difference and requesting reasonable academic accommodations due to this disability, you must provide an official request of accommodation to your Professor(s) from the Disability Resource Center within the first two weeks of the beginning of classes. Students are to contact the Center on the main campus to follow through with, and receive assistance in the documentation process to determine the appropriate accommodations related to their disability. You may call (435) 652-7516 for an appointment and further information regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 per Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
ESCAPE CLAUSE:
The instructor reserves the right to change the specifics of this syllabus and the schedule (weekly topics of instruction, assignments, assignment details, due dates, etc.) as determined for the betterment of the class. Any changes will be announced in a timely manner during class instruction periods.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this course is to teach students how to use the computer as a design tool. Students will learn the technical aspects of the software that enables and facilitates those goals. Students will receive design projects at intervals throughout the semester, which they will be expected to produce on the computer. Assignments are tailored to require the application of concepts presented in class periods. Students will learn to distinquish between effective and ineffective design approaches through instruction, exposure to expert examples, and course projects.
At the completion of the course, students will be expected to know the following technical skills:
- Collect and gather examples of contemporary industry work to clarify conclusions in design thinking by choosing similar package design
solutions that clearly show the relevant graphic design and packaging principles in action
- Research the target audience, demographics, and budget by asking the client specific questions during meetings and creating informal consumer-oriented questionnaires
- Communicate concepts and compositions using thumbnail sketches, appropriate design tools / software, and photorealistic 3-D models
- Create a concept for the package design that expresses the personality or spirit of the company/product through the creative use of concept, imagery, materials used, and typography
- Produce visual elements that are appropriate and effective in representing the client / product / service that...
- represent the company, service or product in a positive way
- communicates the mood, spirit and/or theme of the product and company
- does not offend people
- appeals to the target audience
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POLICIES, PROCEDURES and ASSIGNMENTS
Attendance is important to your success in this course; therefore, the grades earned will reflect your attendance habits (this is a department policy). No points are allotted toward the total points possible to determine your grade, but attendance will be used as a measure of participation.
TEXTBOOK READINGS: The textbook will be used as a reference manual and idea-starter in this class. A CD-ROM is included with the book, which contains related files and templates that can help in developing the various projects. By using the index and table of contents to find the specific information needed at the moment, you can jump in anywhere and read those parts most relevant to your immediate questions and needs. Additionally, each topic typically includes one or more tips, notes, cautions, and cross references. No specific reading assignments are scheduled in the textbook. However, you are encouraged to keep this book with you and bring it to class.
PACKAGING DECONSTRUCTION. The first project in this course will be a presentation of a unique example of packaging that you find. PART 1: In class, you will lead a discussion as you open and analyze the packaging for a specific product that interests you. PART 2: Submit a written 2-3 page, double-spaced summary of your package deconstruction, including before and after photographs and any observations you and the class participants make during your presentation. The summary should be typed and double-spaced. This paper must be saved in Rich Text File (RTF) format — the universal word processor format. There are 50 points possible. The presentation and summary are due during week 2.
Submit this summary of a packaging deconstruction in electronic format, again, saved in RTF format. Include a COVER PAGE with the following information:
- Full name and last four (4) digits of student ID number
- Class number and section number
- Assignment name — Packaging Deconstruction Summary
Assignments will be submitted electronically to a networked server. Instruction will be given in class before the first assignment is due concerning how to access the submission web page and find the appropriate sub-directory to submit the assignments. Additionally, students will present their work to the class on pre-announced days. The class will participate by critiquing each others' assignments in order to provide artistic feedback and help improve students' design skills. It is important that you attend and participate on the peer-critique days to receive points for that part of your assignment score.
All assignments will be due by 10:00 P.M. on the day(s) specified. To earn up to the full points for projects, students must submit assignments on time and also present their work in class. POINTS WILL BE DEDUCTED FOR LATE ASSIGNMENTS. ASSIGNMENTS MORE THAN FOURTEEN (14) DAYS LATE WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED! NO EXCEPTIONS.
WRITTEN MID-TERM EXAM. A mid-term test will be given during week nine (9) of the semester. There are 50 points possible. The written test will be taken at the Campus Testing Center at a time of your convenience. It must be taken by the close of business on Saturday of week 9. A standard 100-question ScanTron card (green ink) is required to participate in the mid-term. Also be sure to take some identification with your photo. Students arriving for the test without a photo ID and a ScanTron card will be turned away.
WRITTEN FINAL EXAM. A final exam will be given during the scheduled time for this class period. There are 50 points possible. A standard 100-question ScanTron card is required to participate in the final. Students arriving for the final without a ScanTron card will be turned away. While the time allocated for the final is two hours, you should be able to complete this test in 30 minutes. Any student not present one-half hour after the final exam begins will be considered a "no show" for the final and will not be allowed to take the test. DO NOT BE LATE!
MISSED ASSIGNMENTS AND TESTS. First and foremost, technical problems with computers or software will NOT be accepted as a reason for late coursework. Technology is not an excuse; it is a resource. If you cannot figure out how to use the technology to accomplish the coursework and meet the published deadlines, perhaps you should consider another area of study. Points will be deducted for late submissions. Assignments will not be accepted if over fourteen (14) days late. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS POLICY, REGARDLESS OF THE EXCUSE! Projects are given specific due dates during the semester. Tests will be administered at the times specified in this syllabus. If you cannot take a test at the scheduled time, due to an APPROVED reason, you must contact the instructor and arrange to take the test early. Plan ahead and make sure you deliver your work on time — Just do it.
GRADING PHILOSOPHY: The design quality of your assignments is a significant factor in the points evaluation. Adherence to the technical specifications of the assignment will also be checked — image size and file formats are the most-often ignored issues that will lose assignment points. If you hand in all assignments on time and score well on the tests, you will receive at least a "C" grade. A higher grade can be earned on the creative and design components you add to your assignments. I am looking for more than the minimum work required to meet the assignments. If you have questions about what is considered "A"-, "B"-, or "C"-level work for this course, read this page on establishing grading criteria. If you have further questions, contact the instructor for this class.
GRADING
Points for course work are earned by turning in assignments and taking tests on time. (See the weekly course and assignments schedule for the due dates.) Allocation of points for the five components of coursework are as follows:
| 50 | ...Packaging Deconstruction | |
| 300 | ...Six (6) Creative Projects | (50 pts. each) |
| 50 | ...Mid-Term Exam | |
| 50 | ...Final Exam | |
| 450 | ...Total points possible |
Letter grades will be earned based on the following percentages of the total points possible:
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IMPORTANT: Letter grades below a "C-" in any course designated as part of the Visual Technologies program cannot be used toward obtaining a Certificate of Competency or a baccalaureate degree. For further information, contact Marci Olsen (molsen@dixie.edu), advisor for Applied Technology Programs, or Trent Staheli (tstaheli@dixie.edu), advisor for the 4-year CIT baccalaureate degrees. |
Last Updated 08/21/2009
Send questions and comments to
woodland@dixie.edu
