Multimedia Production

Course Description

Introduction to the process of graphic art production, with emphasis on materials, principals and methods of translating ideas and information to printed and digital forms and formats. Primary focus on production, design and typography as related to print media, digital media and public relations.

Introduction

You will apply the principles of graphic design to print and digital media. The course will cover how publications are designed and produced, including newspapers, magazines, newsletters, brochures, advertising, and Web pages and Web sites. Students also will learn how to appropriately and creatively use typography, color, photography and illustration, layouts, and software tools such as Dreamweaver and InDesign. The role of graphic design in contemporary media and society also will be discussed.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course, my goal is for students to:

Achieve competencies with computers and design- and publishing-related software.
Learn about design strategies and principles to make more functional and creative publications and messages.
Know, understand and apply many of the principles and theories of graphic design.
Design to specification, as for clients and third parties

What you will need (required):

What you may want (not required):

Stuff you need to know:

Policies

• Attendance: Attendance is a part of your grade. Be here every day on time, just as you would for a job, surgery or a haircut. Everyone gets one unexcused absence >> no questions asked. Stuff happens. After that, unexcused absences and/or lateness will result in deductions from the "professionalism and participation" portion of your grade -- one point for each unexcused absence and/or late arrival. What is excused is at the instructor's discretion, so you are best served by discussing situations and extraordinary circumstances prior to class whenever possible.

• Late submissions: Because the due dates for written assignments are known well in advance, there is no reason why the assignments cannot be completed on time. Moreover, it would be unfair to selectively grant extensions. All late work, therefore, will be penalized. Assignments received from one to three days late will be penalized one letter grade. Assignments received four to seven days late will be penalized two letter grades. No assignments will be accepted more than one week late. Failure to submit the final paper will result in automatic failure for the course.

• Distractions: This instructor is easily distracted. Ringing cell phones, therefore, will be lobbed out of the classroom window. Chatter during lecture will result in "professionalism and participation" point deductions, particularly after a warning has been issued. If you have to arrive late or leave early, clear it with the instructor beforehand whenever possible. Do homework for other classes somewhere else. Basic civility is what is expected. If you are at all unclear as to what “basic civility” implies, the instructor would be more than happy to elaborate.

• Readings: All reading assignments should be completed before the class period for which they are assigned. You may be called on in class to answer questions related to the day’s readings. In addition, I will expand upon and update the material in the texts. It will be extremely difficult for you to follow the lectures, participate in discussion, respond to my questions and ask intelligent questions if you come to class ill prepared. This is especially true for our mock trials, during which your classmates will be depending on you to pull your weight.

• Academic integrity: Because academic integrity is the foundation of college life at Berry, academic dishonesty will result in automatic failure on the assignment in question. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, the following: cheating, unauthorized collaboration, plagiarism, fabrication, submitting the same work in multiple courses, and aiding and abetting. For definitions of these terms, please consult the instructor. Additionally, violators will be reported in writing to the Provost. Students who are sanctioned for violating the academic integrity policy forfeit the right to withdraw from the class with a grade of “W.”

To compute your final grade, add up your point totals, apply the appropriate percentages, then refer to the grading system summarized here:

Academic dishonesty in any form is unacceptable because any breach in academic integrity, however small, strikes destructively at the college’s life and work. The code is not just policy, it is foundational to the academic environment we enjoy and in which scholarship thrives. It is in force in this classroom.

For the complete Viking Code, please consult the student handbook. In short, each student is “expected to recognize constituted authority, to abide by the ordinary rules of good conduct, to be truthful, to respect the rights of others.” The College’s mission, in part, commits to a community of integrity and justice. During an era when ethics are sometimes suspect, there seems no higher goal toward which students ought to strive than that of personal honor.

If you have special needs of any kind, including learning disabilities, please let me know. Come discuss it with me. I want to make sure on the front end that we prevent any problems associated with the course. Martha Van Cise, director of the Academic Support Center, suggests: “Students with disabilities who believe that they may need accommodation in this course are encouraged to contact the Academic Support Center in Krannert Room 301 as soon as possible to ensure that such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion.”

Finally, I believe we are here for a good time, not a long time, so let’s have some fun!