This schedule is subject to change based on student needs. Please check it regularly to stay up-to-date on assignments.

The following abbreviations are used in the schedule below:
DDTC- Document Design: A Guide for Technical Communicators by Kimball & Hawkins
TWT- Thinking with Type by Lupton
RWDW- Robin Williams Design Workshop by Williams & Tollett
All other readings available as PDFs linked from the schedule below

TH 8/18:
Class Activities

• Visual Literacy activity
• Introduction to course and one another
• Syllabus overview
• Design and technology experience writing activity
• Design Center introduction and overview

T 8/23:
Reading

• Shriver "What is Document Design?" (PDF)
• DDTC Chapter 1 "What is Document Design"
• DDTC Chapter 3 "Theories of Design"
  

Class Activities

• Use sample designs to discuss readings
• Directions for Design Analysis Collection & Reflection project

TH 8/25:
Reading

• TWT "Letter"
• DDTC Chapter 6 "Type"

Class Activities

• Watch "Font Conference"
• Discuss readings
• In class type analysis activity using readings

Reading response # 1 due

T 8/30:
Reading (PDFs)

• Jan Tschichold- "New Life in Print"
• Beatrice Ward "The Crystal Goblet or Printing Should Be Invisible"
• Jeffery Keedy- "The Rules of Typography According to Crackpots Experts"
• Edward Rothstein- "Typography Fans Say Ikea should Stick to Furniture"
  

Class Activities

• Watch Helvetica
• discuss film and readings
  
  

TH 9/1:
Class Activities

• Photoshop demo part I- working with type
  

Reading response # 2 due

T 9/6:
Reading

• DDTC Chapter 2 "Principles of Design"
• RWDW Chapter 4 "Understanding Design Challenges and Approaches
• Williams (NDDB) "Part I: Design Principles" (chapters 1-5)

Class Activities

• Discuss design principles from Kimball and Hawkins and Williams
• Continue working with Photoshop and type
  
  

TH 9/8:
Reading

• Using Photoshop- handout

Class Activities

• Tile Ad Redesign assignment using the CRAP principles
• Photoshop demo part II- layers, transformations, color, & filters
  

Reading response #3 due

T 9/13:
Class Activities

• Directions for Visual Identity Package(VIP) project
• In class work time on Tile Ad Redesign assignment

TH 9/15:
Reading

• DDTC Chapter 10 "Projects"

Class Activities

• Meet with clients (Blue Caliber Innovations) to discuss communication needs and ideas for Visual Identity Package
  

T 9/20:
Reading

• DDTC Chapter 7 "Graphics"
• RWDW Chapter 2 "Taking Advantage of Clip Art"
• RWDW Chapter 3 "Working with Photographs"
  

Class Activities

• Graphic uses scavenger hunt
• Look at online design resources
  • iStockphoto
  • Stock.xchng
  • Clipart.com
  • Creative Commons on Flickr
  • Getty Images
  • Acid Fonts
    
    

TH 9/22:
Reading (PDFs)

• Lupton- "How to Define Problems"
• Lupton- "How to Get Ideas"

Class Activities

• Work with VIP team on brainstorming, planning, and Part 1: Short written analysis of client needs, rhetorical situation, and evaluation of competition

Redesigned Tile Ad and Memo due (response #4)

T 9/27:
Class Activities

• Work with VIP team on brainstorming, planning, and Part 1: Short written analysis of client needs, rhetorical situation, and evaluation of competition
  
  

TH 9/29:
Reading

• Barthes "Rhetoric of the Image" (PDF)
• Kinross "The Rhetoric of Neutrality" (PDF)
• Kostelnick & Roberts "Rhetorical Background" (PDF)
  

Class Activities

• discuss readings
• Analysis using readings and case study of the California Avocado Commission's rhetorical approach

Part 1: Short written analysis of client needs, rhetorical situation, and evaluation of competition (individual) due

T 10/4:
Reading

• RWDW Chapter 6 "Logos"
• Airey- "No Escape!" (PDF)
• Airey- "It's the Stories We Tell" (PDF)
• Airey- "Elements of Iconic Design" (PDF)
• Airey- "25 Practical Logo Design Tips" (PDF)

Class Activities

• Discuss readings
• Discuss Client needs and interests for logo
• In class time to work with VIP team on spec sheet and logo development

TH 10/6:
Reading

• TWT "Text"
• DDTC Chapter 5 "Pages"
• RWDW Chapter 5 "Creating Visual Impact"
  

Class Activities

• Discuss readings
• InDesign Demo

Reading response #5 due

T 10/11:
Reading

• DDTC Chapter 4 "The Whole Document"
• RWDW Chapter 7 "Business Cards, Letterhead, and Envelopes"

Class Activities

• Discuss readings
• look at NMSU branding and color palette guidelines
  
  

TH 10/13:
Class Activities

• In class work time with VIP team on Part 2: Spec sheet/style guide (include logo, color palette, typefaces, and other specifications)

T 10/18:
Class Activities

• In class work/design time- work with VIP team on Part : logo drafts, initial style specifications
  

• In class feedback feedback on logo, colors, and typefaces

Part 2: Spec sheet/style guide (include logo, color palette, typefaces, and other specifications) (team) due

T 10/25:
Reading

• TWT "Grid"
• RWDW Chapter 13 "Newsletters and Brochures"
• RWDW Chapter 14 "Flyers"

Class Activities

• Discuss readings
• In class group work/design time
  

TH 10/27:
Class Activities

• In class work/design time- work with VIP team on Part 3: Business card and product label
  
  

T 11/1:
Class Activities

• Discuss readings from 10/25

  • TWT "Grid"
  • RWDW Chapter 13 "Newsletters and Brochures"
  • RWDW Chapter 14 "Flyers"
    
    
• In class work/design time- work with VIP team on Part 3: Business card and product label
  
  

11/3:
Class Activities

• In class work/design time- work with VIP team on Part 3: Business card and product label
  

T 11/8:
Class Activities

• In class feedback on business card and product label drafts
  

Part 3: Draft of business card and product label (team) due

• In class work/design time- Work on Parts 4 & 5: Flyer/Poster and Brochure
  

M 11/21 - F 11/25:

Class cancelled for break

T 11/29:
Class Activities

• In class work/design time- revision of parts 2-5 based on peer and instructor feedback
  

TH 12/1:
Class Activities

• Course review and class wrap-up
• In class work/design time- revision of parts 2-5 based on peer and instructor feedback

T 12/6:

Share final Visual Identity Package Projects

Part 6: Final Project (team) and written reflection memo (individual) due