8/21/2006 | 8/28/2006 | 9/11/2006 | 9/18/2006 | 9/25/2006 | 10/2/2006 | 10/9/2006
10/16/2006 | 10/23/2006 | 10/30/2006 | 11/6/2006 | 11/13/2006 | 11/20/2006 | 11/27/2006
12/4/2006 | 12/11/2006 | 12/18/2006 YOU MADE IT!INFO ON OUR COMPUTER LAB
To utilize the computer lab here at Mendocino College, you need to register for this class:
CSC 500 — Section 0274
Workshop Software Lab
Room 1280 — 8/21/06 to 12/21/06You can register at any time during the semester through the TelReg number:
(707) 468-3353
Your log-in that you use for our class will work in the computer lab as well. The only machines that have Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop on them are the ones at the far end of the back wall of this room. There are lab technicians on hand to assist you with any problems/questions you may have.
NOTE: If you live in Willits, sign up for CSC, Section 0822
WEEK ONE — 8/21/2006
Welcome to Week One of Computer Graphics! This week we will go over the Class Syllabus in detail. We will also cover introductions, class overview, software and textbooks, grading, what you will learn in this class, and what graphic design is all about.Handouts: What is Graphic Design? | Student Info
WEEK TWO — 8/28/2006
Today we will be going over Chapter One in class, with demonstrations during the lecture. There will be a fun lab assignment and some homework due the next time we meet (9/11/06). Handouts/Examples for tonight are:Homework | Lab Assignment | Book Redesign
20 points possible for turning in the Lab Assignment tonight AND bringing in your sample of a piece of graphic design to share with the class next time we meet - September 11, 2006.
WEEK THREE — 9/11/2006
Tonight we will have a lecture on Design Principles. After break, everyone will share their graphic design sample and the class as a group will critique each one, attempting to apply the design principles we have just learned about. We will have a test on Design Principles next week.
Your homework will be to pick your favorite design principle, and find a website that is either a really GOOD example of that principle or a really BAD example. Email me (my email is cmullis@mendocino.edu) the url of the site by next week, and give me a brief explanation of why you think it is really good or bad, based on the principle involved. This assignment will be worth 20 points.
WEEK FOUR — 9/18/2006
Tonight we will begin with a lecture / demonstration on Chapter Two from our book. After the lecture, we'll take a break and then have our Design Principles test. When you are done with the test, you can use the remainder of the lab time to complete the assignments from Chapter Two in the book.
This will be the homework for the week, and will be due at the end of class next time (9/25/06). The homework is to read through the chapter and practice what we do in lecture, and then save a file called "Pencil.ai" into your "To be graded" folder. This will be worth 20 points.
WEEK FIVE — 9/25/2006
Tonight we will have some fun! Take a break from the book and learn some cool tools in Illustrator. Your only homework is to figure out what your mid-term project will be and let me know via email by next week. The mid-term has the same options as the final:
- An original logo design (for any company you choose, real or fictitious)
- Re-design of the Mendocino College Class Schedule or Catalog cover page
- A Wedding Invitation
- An original CD cover design of your favorite music group or composer
- A business card with an original logo design
- A home page design for a website (real or fictitious)OR something of your own choosing (check with me first!)
The midterm will be due Week Nine: 10/23/2006
Here's the handout for tonight: Let's have some fun
[back to top]WEEK SIX — 10/2/2006
Tonight we will be getting into Chapter Four - Drawing with the Pen Tool. I will show you some basics of how to use the pen tool and contrast that with the pencil and brush tool. Then you will complete the lesson in Chapter Four and the homework will be to turn in the Chapter Four assignment in your "To be Graded" folder and name it "pear.ai". This is worth 20 points and will be due by the END of class next week (10/9/2006).
WEEK SEVEN — 10/9/2006
There are some great pears coming in! You have until the end of class tonight to finish your pears from Chapter Four, and we will be showing the variety of pears in class next week.
Since mid-terms are due in just two weeks, we are going to get started in Typography. Tonight we will begin our study of typography, and next week (10/16) we will conclude our review. It will be sort of a crash course in this fascinating aspect of graphic design!
Tonights assignment will be Typing by Mood. You will be using this handout and selecting FOUR phrases from the sheet to create type that matches the meaning or mood of the words. NOTE: If you don't like any of the phrases on this handout, feel free to choose something else! It should be a common phrase, or a movie title, song title, or book title.
This assignment will be due at the end of class next week (10/16/06). Put your finished files in your "To be Graded" folder when you are done. It is worth 20 points.
If you have finished your pear assignment from Chapter Four, and the Typing by Mood assignment you are to work on your mid-term project. If you have finished that already - work to improve it by looking at it carefully in terms of typography.
WEEK EIGHT — 10/16/2006
Tonight we will be having "Typography Lecture - Part Two." Hopefully you will learn even more about polishing up your type in time for your mid-term deadline. We will be having a Typography Test next week also, worth 20 points. You need to review the typography pages on our website to study for this test. I will let you know tonight the areas of special importance.
WEEK NINE — 10/23/2006
Tonight mid-terms are due! The class will take over the controls and each of you will share your project with the class, as I grade them. Your grade will include the presentation of your project - in other words, how it is presented to the class. You should include the following in your discussion with the class:
- Why you chose the project you did
- How you did it in Illustrator
- Other software you may have used
- What special challenges you may have had
- Why your design follows good design and typographical principlesMid-terms are worth 50 points!
WEEK TEN — 10/30/2006
Tonight, we will first give anyone who didn't share their midterm the opportunity to do so. Then we will have the Typography Test. No homework this week!
WEEK ELEVEN — 11/6/2006
Tonight, we will have a lecture on how Illustrator and the web work together. We'll learn how to save files for the web, how to create a flash animation file, an image map, and a little about SVG files. Tonight's homework will be to do one of the following:
Create your own web page with an Image Map (Instructions below)
OR
Create your own flash animation: My sample
Handouts: SVG Info | Flash Animation Instructions
To create your own web page with an Image Map:
1) Open a new file in Illustrator 800 pixels wide by 600 pixels high
2) Design it any way you like - but make sure you include the following text: company name, a short slogan, and contact info if you like.
3) Place three graphics on your web page (use symbols if you like). Put a square around each one. Select one of the squares and open up the "Attributes" pallete. Select "rectangle" next to "Image Map" on the Attributes pallette. Then type in a url of your own choosing. Do this for the other two rectangles. Then choose "Save for Web" under the File menu, and when you save, choose "HTML and images." Save in your student folder. Illustrator will automatically create an html page for you and an images folder. Test your file and links by opening up this web page in a web browser (Explorer, etc.).
My sample: Image Map
This assignment will be due AT THE END OF CLASS next week (11/13/2006).
WEEK TWELVE — 11/13/2006 - BRING YOUR BOOK
Web Project due tonight (Image Map or Flash File) - 20 points
Midterms are online - if you don't see yours, you need to make a .jpg file for it. Typing by Mood is also up, and again, if you don't see your file, you need to create outlines with your text please.
Tonight, we will be doing a fun assignment, from the book called "A Quick Tour of Adobe Illustrator CS2." Your homework will be to turn in the file completed in your To Be Graded folder for 20 points - due at the END of class next week. We'll be going over this assignment in the lecture.
For anyone who wishes, you can do a Thanksgiving project for a 20 extra credit points. It can be either a placemat or a card.
WEEK THIRTEEN — 11/20/2006
Tonight we will first show off some more exciting web projects you have completed. I will provide a handout for the class on the Final Project and go over exactly what is expected for the Final Project. I will go over some of the features in Illustrator you need to include.
At the end of class tonight, the Chapter project from Chapter 00 is due, worth 20 points. This will be your LAST project you have to do until the Final. Remember you can also do a Thanksgiving extra credit project if you wish.
We will also go over "Logo Design" for those of you who want to do a logo design for your final. There will some questions on the Final Exam relating to this page on our website too.
Finally, we will ALSO cover The Design Process, and you will need to review this handout for the final as well.
WEEK FOURTEEN — 11/27/2006
Tonight we will have a brief lecture on "Printing in Illustrator." The handout for tonights lecture can be found here:
This information is very important for any graphic artist to know and understand. We will also have some questions on the final about this handout, so be sure to read and study it.
An extra credit assignment: Design a Theatre Ad! Make it 10.5 inches wide and 5.5 inches tall. It must contain the following text:
Get your 2-year degree, transfer to a 4-year university.
Only $20 per unit
"Focused on Student Success" or a slogan of your choice!
www.mendocino.edu
Ukiah Campus, Willits & Lake Centers 468-3000The rest of the night is to be spent working on your final!
WEEK FIFTEEN - 12/4/2006
Tonight the focus is on wrapping up your final projects. We will have a very brief lecture on some things we haven't covered yet, and then you will have the majority of class time to work on the final projects.
All done with yours? Extra credit is available once again! Complete one of the tutorials on this site for an extra 20 points:
http://www.ndesign-studio.com/resources/tutorials
WEEK SIXTEEN - 12/11/2006
Final Projects are due! Be prepared to present yours to the class. Final exam is worth 70 points! Remember to include and tell the class how you used all these elements/features in your project:
- Adherence to sound design principles
- Utilization of good typography
- Use of a gradient or a gradient mesh (Object/Create Gradient Mesh)
- You must incorporate color into the design
- Use of a “blend” or “Clipping Mask”
- Use of the “live trace” feature OR an original object you made with the pen tool
You will be given a handout in class for "What you need to know for the Final" tonight.
WEEK SEVENTEEN— 12/18/2006
Final Exam Today — Class meets from 6:00 - 8:00 pmFinal is worth 50 points - there will be 30 questions and two small Illustrator projects, worth 10 points each.
HOME | SYLLABUS | LESSONS | RESOURCES | STUDENT WORK | INSTRUCTOR