Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2012

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

The aim of graphic design is to create and promote attractive and effective visual messages. In this unit, you will build upon the knowledge and skills you have gained in visual communication to consolidate an advanced understanding graphic design and how it impacts our contemporary society. This unit is focused on the design process and projects (publications, corporate identity, digital media and advertising), therefore, there is an emphasis on interpreting and responding to design briefs and on developing creativity and design innovation while improving your technical image generation skills.

Aims

The aim of this unit is to provide you with advanced theoretical knowledge and practical skills in graphic design. This will be achieved through the provision of multiple cultural and historical perspectives in graphic design; through the actual design of innovative solutions to real graphic problems; and through reflective and critical thinking.

Objectives

On completion of this unit you should be able to:

1. demonstrate the ability to apply creative, experimental graphic processes when responding to design briefs
2. reflect upon the role of graphic design in contemporary societies
3. plan, investigate, design and present the outcomes of a complete graphic design project
4. recognise exemplary practice in the field of graphic design and position your work within the field
5. use current industry standard software and technology to create and produce artwork

Content

This unit addresses content such as history of graphic design, exemplary practice and contemporary issues, graphic design processes (briefing, research, conceptualisation, testing, production, launch, evaluation), graphic projects (publications, corporate identity and branding, digital media, packaging and advertising) and layout production (composition principles, images, colours, text formating).

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

This subject is delivered via lectures and tutorials. Lectures will provide concepts and principles of graphic design, graphic design history and will introduce topics for reflection upon contemporary issues and the roles of graphic design in our society. Tutorials will be focused on the development of practical skills through design challenges linked to the theoretical concepts explored during the lectures. Tutorials focus on producing integrated graphic design outcomes and also encourage group discussion and individual critiques in relation to their work.

This unit is co-ordinated from the QUT Blackboard web site where a range of support materials will be published.

Assessment

LATE ASSESSMENT ITEMS
An assessment item submitted after the due date without an approved extension will not be marked. If you are unable to complete your assignment on time and you do not have an approved extension, you should submit on time whatever work you have done.

Faculty Assessment Information
To access complete Creative Industries Faculty Assessment Information please refer to the Blackboard site for this unit.FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT
Description: You will receive formative feedback on your progress in this unit during tutorials and discussions throughout the semester.
Weight 0%

SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT
You will be awarded a final grade on a 1 to 7 scale.

Assessment name: Portfolio of tutorial exercise
Description: (Formative and Summative) A series of tutorial exercises employing graphic design principles and processes. This includes discussions during the tutorials and one final written reflection on the development of your design concepts.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Weight: 50%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Mid Semester

Assessment name: Major Design Project
Description: A body of work based on the exploration of an individual design brief. This submission includes a reflection on the development of concepts and strategies, and an oral presentation of your final designs.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Weight: 50%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Group
Due date: End of Semester

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

Required Text

Ambrose , G. & Harris, P. (2009) The fundamentals of graphic design. Lausanne, Switzerland: AVA Academia.

Recommended References

Airey, D. (2010) Logo Design Love: A Guide to Creating Iconic Brand Identities. Berkeley: New Riders.

Bierut , M. (2007) Seventy-nine short essays on design. New York: Princenton Architectural Press.

Cullen, K (2005) Layout workbook : a real-world guide to building pages in graphic design. Gloucester, Mass.: Rockport Publishers.

Heller, S. and Balance, G. (Eds.) (2001) Graphic Design History. New York: Allworth Press.

Holland, DK (2001) Design Issues: How Graphic Design Informs Society. New York: Allworth Press.

Hollis, R. (2001) Graphic Design: A Concise History. London: Thames & Hudson.

Lupton, E & Phillips, J. (2008) Graphic Design: the new basics. New York: Princenton Architectural Press.

McAlhone, B. & Stuart, D. (1996) A smile in the mind : witty thinking in graphic design. London: Phaidon Press, 1996.

Meggs, P & Purvis, A. (2006) Meggs' History of Graphic Design. New Jersey: John Wiley and Sons.

Megs, P (1992) Type and Image: the language of graphic design. New York: John Wiley and Sons.

Morioka, N., Adams, S. & Stone T. (2006) Color Design Workbook: A real-world guide to using colour in graphic design. Gloucester, Mass.: Rockport Publishers.

Roberts, L. (2006). Good: An introduction to ethic in graphic design. Lausanne: AVA Publishing.

Whitbread, D. (2009). The Design Manual: Revised and expanded version. Sydney: UNSW Press.

Risk assessment statement

There are no out-of-the-ordinary risks for this unit.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 28-May-2012