DD101 Introduction to the Digital Toolbox
VPA121 Painting & Drawing I
DD102 Media Design in the Digital Age
DD104 Color Theory & Design
DD105 2D Design
DD106 Intro to Usable Design
DD107 Concepts in Animation
DD111 Intro to Sound Design
DD112 Intro to Web Design
DD113 Intro to Motion Graphics
DD114 Digital Illustration
VPA 133 Digital Photography
DD201 Communication Design
DD202 Digital Video with Final Cut
DD203 Digital Photography for Design
DD204 Typographic Principles
DD205 3D Design
DD207 Introduction to Maya
DD208 Sound Design in Context
DD301 Adv Digital Illustration
DD302 Advanced Web Design
DD305 After Effects
DD307 Adv Maya
DD101 Introduction to the Digital Toolbox
This course provides students with a foundational understanding of the essential software for beginning their careers as digital designers. These will include the Adobe Creative Suite software (Photoshop, Illustrator, ImageReady, & InDesign), Apple’s iMovie, Garageband, and KeyNote as well as Microsoft’s Power Point. The class will provide an overview of the various interface elements and program capabilities through a variety of engaging design projects. The course allows students who are considering pursuing the Associates degree in Digital Design to sample the many different possible directions and methodologies that they might follow.
By the end of the course, students will have learned:
- An introduction to the Apple operating system
- The essentials of the Photoshop interface, image manipulation, and correction
- A variety of approaches for importing and exporting images
- The essentials of image optimization, and simple web page prototyping
- The essentials of the Illustrator interface, image creation, and the power of vector based imaging
- The essentials of the Dreamweaver interface, page layout, and print production methods
- Basic typographic terms and considerations
- The essentials of the Final Cut Pro interface, importing and exporting digital video files, and working with digital video.
- The Essentials of PowerPoint
- Important presentation skills
VPA121 Painting & Drawing I
In this course students will be introduced to various techniques for creating drawn and painted artwork. In addition they will be exposed to important master works of both contemporary and classical art through select readings, slide presentations and visits to museums and galleries. Focus will be paid to the process of both creation and creative thinking. In this way we will develop the students critical eye as well as their technical aptitude.
By the end of the course, students will have:
- Begun developing drawing skills
- Begun developing painting skills
- Begun developing compositional awareness
- Been required to create pieces for exhibition
- Considered their creative process and begun exploring leans of communicating it.
- Been exposed to Classical and Contemporary Art
- Been expected to compare and contrast various pieces of artwork
- Experienced how to paint shadows, tone and structure from life
DD102 Media Design in the Digital Age
This course provides students with a foundational understanding of new media, its definitions, and potential design. We
will explore the basic principles and construction methods as well as historical precedents to modern media. Along the
way students will gain a better understanding of how computers and their systems work, and be exposed to some of the
leaders in digital art and design, as well as being exposed to examples of these leaders’ work and their resulting impact on
the medium.
Course Objectives
By the end of the course, students will have learned:
• A history of media, communication, and design
• A history of computers and computer art
• A history of the World Wide Web
• Methods and examples of two dimensional digital design
• Methods and examples of three dimensional digital design
• How computers and their components work
• Principles of New Media
• How the internet was designed and how it functions
• What is and what is not New Media
DD104 Color Theory & Design
This course provides students with a foundational understanding of color from the perspective of design, and helps students to recognize how color choices can enhance or undermine an intended message. The class will explore the basic principles of color theory as well as its history and theorists, and students will learn to apply this information to the practice of graphic design through projects and brief research papers.
By the end of the course, students will have learned:
- An introduction to color theorists, their approaches and concepts
- Physics of light
- Interaction of Color
- Spatial and compositional effects of color
- Color harmony
- Color contrasts
- Color in social and psychological context
- Working with color and print based media
- Working with color and screen based media
- Transitioning from screen media to print media
- Addressing Issues of color blindness as a designer
DD105 2D Design
This course will help students to build a familiarity with the use of point, line, shape, texture and color in order to create designs that build a sense of space, time and motion. Knowledge of these tools and how they work will help them to better understand design for 2D mediums such as screen based and print media as well as photography and film. Students will develop important familiarity with concepts of harmony, scale and proportion, contrast and emphasis, as well as rhythm by means of exercises and readings. These readings and exercises will help them to realize these important concepts in their work as digital designers.
By the end of the course, students will have gained a better understanding of:
- The use of point, line, shape, texture and color
- Methods of developing perspective
- Development of visual emphasis & use of focal point
- The role of rhythm in 2D design
- The importance of value in design work
- What unity & harmony can contribute to a design
- The power of a balanced layout
- Use of scale & proportion to communicate information
- The importance of contrast & emphasis
- New techniques with Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, & InDesign
- Important movements in the history of 2D design
- Presentation and critique skills
DD106 Introduction to Usable Design
This course will explore primary issues relating to usability studies, why they are necessary, their application, and their influence on design. Students will investigate various methods of conducting usability studies for original designs through testing scenarios and heuristic analysis. Students will then analyze their collected data and learn to apply that data to their own (and each other’s) designs. The final assignment will revolve around the presentation of a paper analyzing a design of their own, the testing process and the influence of testing on that design.
By the end of the course, students will have learned:
- Usability issues
- Paper Prototyping
- An assortment of usability testing techniques
- Concepts of user centered design
- Assessment strategies
- The importance of using personas and use scenarios
- Collaborative process
- Improved presentation skills
DD107 Concepts in Animation
This course introduces students to principles and techniques of animation. With an emphasis on process, experimentation, and critical thinking, students will explore techniques for depicting movement, expression and emotion through an assortment of projects working with traditional and digital animation techniques. Projects will involve physical movement, narrative structure, character development, sound design, and considerations of perspective. By terms end each student will have the beginnings of a sophisticated animation portfolio.
By the end of the course, students will have gained a better understanding of:
- Capturing and depicting natural movement in animation
- Depicting expression in animation
- Conveying emotion in animation
- Animating the human figure
- Animating wildlife
- Creating animated special effects
- Storyboarding narrative
- Developing animatic presentations
- The importance of sound design in animation
- Adding atmosphere, realism and drama to animation
- Creating an animatic representation
- Both traditional and digital animation techniques
- Flash animation techniques
- Presentation techniques
DD111 Intro to Sound Design
This course is an introduction to audio production and sound design. Students will focus on the importance of listening as a means for developing an understanding of music while utilizing audio tools to build their own creative sound works from scratch. The course will cover concepts such as designing sound for music and multimedia with attention to physical acoustics, analog and digital recording tools including dynamic processors and effects units, techniques for recording and editing with various popular audio outboard gear and computer software packages, mixing, editing, etc.
The course will provide students with:
- An introduction to the basic components of music (e.g. melody, rhythm, form, etc.)
- An introduction to basic digital & analog sound recording equipment
- An understanding of basic sound recording techniques
- An understanding of sound editing techniques
- An working knowledge of ProTools
- An introduction to Soundtrack, & Logic
- An introduction to MIDI
- An understanding of how sound is incorporated into other media
DD112 Intro to Web Design
This course introduces Web design principles and basic programming techniques for developing effective and functional Web sites. The course provides students with a foundation in the fundamentals of Internet technology and Web authoring using current Web authoring software. Course work will emphasize information design, hierarchical and navigational models, usability considerations, and performance issues. The course will familiarize students with hypertext markup language (HTML), cascading style sheets (CSS), dynamic HTML (DHTML) and scripting, as well as Adobe’s Dreamweaver.
Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:
- Evaluate existing websites for usability issues and identify a goal-directed design approach for their correction.
- Design structural diagrams for web sites illustrating navigation and information design.
- Conduct usability tests in order to evaluate user experience and the effectiveness of web site design
- Create advanced web pages that contain text, hypertext, images, frames, lists, and tables using HTML to develop the source file and upload the pages to the web server given several page topics.
- Create website with CSS, & XHTML
- Create dynamic web content using Dreamweaver and Flash
- Evaluate the manner in which a web page meets the rules for proper page design.
DD113 Intro to Motion Graphics
This course introduces Students to Motion graphics by means of an overview of digital video techniques using Final Cut Pro and Adobe After Effects. Students will gain insight into filmmaking, editing, titling and special effects through critical viewing, lectures, in-class exercises, and creative projects.
Students who successfully complete this course will:
- Be familiar with video camera elements and functions
- Have gained a more critical eye for film production
- Have gained a familiarity with Apple’s Final Cut Pro Interface and capabilities
- Be familiar with digital video formats
- Have gained a familiarity with Adobe After Effects’ Interface and capabilities
- Be able to Animate and create Text Effects using Adobe After Effects
- Be able to edit sound and video
- Be familiar with various video and audio capture techniques
- Be familiar with various video and audio export techniques
DD114 Digital Illustration
This course introduces Students to illustration process, consideration and implementation in the digital environment with a firm grounding in design. The course will be covering historical precedents, illustrative techniques, and stylistic approaches, as well as software and hardware considerations
Students who successfully complete this course will:
- Become more aware of applications for illustration
- Have gained a greater mastery of illustration technique
- Have been exposed to historical and stylistic precedents in illustration
- Have gained a greater familiarity with Adobe Illustrator, InDesign & Flash
- Be familiar with computer hardware considerations for the digital illustrator
- Be familiar with printing issues
VPA 133 Digital Photography
This course introduces students to the basic technical skills necessary for using a digital camera and image editing software. Students will develop artistic skills in photography through experience in creating, observation and critical consideration of photography. Throughout the semester, students will be expected to photograph consistently, present assignments and projects in class, and there by develop their understanding of, and confidence in, using digital tools and media. Class time will consist of lectures, demonstrations, critique of student work, and lab work. Grading will be determined by participation in these activities, performance on projects presented as well as midterm and final technical exams. These exams will consist of exercises to ensure the understanding of basic camera functions and digital imaging skills. Students will be expected to take advantage of their access to the digital lab’s open hours.
Upon completion of this course, the student will demonstrate:
- Experience in using digital cameras
- An understanding of the elements and principles of design and composition as a means for personal expression
- Development of skills in analyzing and interpreting photographic meanings
- Knowledge and confidence in using Mac-based computers and other peripherals
- Skills in working with image editing and managing software such as Adobe Photoshop CS3, Image Capture, iPhoto, Photo Booth, Preview, Adobe Bridge
- A Print Portfolio through a finished album with a collection of images.
- Skill in uploading images via the Internet.
DD201 Communication Design
This course will explore primary issues relating to communication design, its practice and application. Students will be introduced to conceptual approaches to the field, as well as to various methodologies and points of consideration, which will assist them in their practice as designers in all media. Projects involving research and analysis, as well as practical application will allow students to put into practice what they have learned.
By the end of the course, students will have gained:
- An introductory knowledge of the communications profession
- An understanding of the history of communications design
- An understanding of design principles
- A better understanding of design methodologies
- A clearer understanding of design practice
- An understanding of how computer technologies have effected the field
- A conception of how design is effected by culture & society
- As well as an understanding of how culture & society effect design
DD202 Digital Video with Final Cut
This class is designed to build a strong foundation in all aspects of digital video production and editing. Students will learn everything from basic editing skills to creating transitions and motion effects, real-time color correcting, titling techniques, editing multi-camera projects, and outputting video for a wide array of mediums. Projects will help students to develop their strengths, explore new forms if visual expression and experience the thrill of creating their own professional quality video projects.
Students who successfully complete this course will have:
- Improved working knowledge of the Final Cut Interface
- Greater experience with titling
- Improved editing skills
- Stronger mastery of output mediums and the pros and cons of each
- Greater understanding of video image correction
- Experience creating and editing their own short video narratives
DD203 Digital Photography for Design
This course helps students to refine their technical skills for using digital cameras and digital imaging software, and to further develop students’ individual style in photography through experience in creating, looking at and talking about photography. In addition the class will consider the photograph from a designer’s perspective. Throughout the semester, students are expected to photograph consistently, present assignments and projects in class, and develop their understanding and confidence in using digital tools and media. Class time will consist of lecture, demonstrations, discussions of student work, and lab time. Students will have the opportunity to show their work for critique throughout the semester. There will also be a midterm and final technical exam. Each exam consists of exercises to ensure the understanding of camera functions and digital imaging skills. Students are expected to take advantage of their access to the digital lab’s open hours.
Upon completion of this course, the student will demonstrate:
- More expertise with digital cameras
- Skills in digital imaging, includes image enhancement, retouching, tonal and color correction, and digital photomontage.
- Maturity of individual style through further understanding elements and principles of design and composition as a means for personal expression
- A greater awareness of the Photo in context of design.
- Improvement in working method for creative and practical use of the digital workstation which include knowledge of image editing and managing softwares, such as Adobe Photoshop CS2, Image Capture, iPhoto, Photo Booth, Preview, Adobe Bridge
- Progress of a Print Portfolio through a finished album with a collection of images
Development of an on-going on-line portfolio.
DD204 Typographic Principles
This course provides students with a foundational understanding of typography, its history, principles, considerations, and techniques. Bridging the gap between visual design and language, typography is one of the most important elements of graphic and digital design. It is often used yet seldom understood, and so this course strives to help the design student understand the effect of well used typography in addition to and poorly used typography. The course will explore the power of communication that the letterform holds, and the rules that guide a typographer’s hand.
Through a series of readings and exercises, students will gain insight into the world of typography and begin designing letterforms of their own.
By the end of the course, students will have learned:
- A historical overview of typography
- A historical perspective on typographic technologies
- The Design elements that make up Typefaces and Fonts
- The terms and technologies of traditional typography
- The terms and technologies of digital typography
- Familiarity with the major typographers and their designs
- Principles of typographic arrangement and organization
DD205 3D Design
This course introduces students to three-dimensional design through a series of informative readings, enlightening gallery/museum visits, and by means of design projects exploring the issues and techniques discovered. Particular attention will be paid to the importance of forms and objects in space and time, how three-dimensional constructs inform, and how they dialogue with the world around them.
By the end of the course, students will have gained:
- An understanding of orthographic representations & their creation
- A greater awareness of line and point
- Problem solving methodology for 3D Design
- Awareness of spatial principles
- Awareness of planes and their use in spatial design
- A greater awareness of color use
- An understanding of the use of structure in 3D Design
- An understanding of the use of light & texture in 3D Design
- A greater awareness of mass and volume
- An understanding of the use of structure & Force
- An introduction to joining and construction techniques as they apply to 3D Design
DD207 Intro to Maya
This class introduces students to the powerful 3D animating program Maya with a series of exercises and projects created to develop a strong foundation with the program. Students will develop necessary modeling, rigging, and animating skills, as well as a solid understanding of the program’s complex interface. Along the way students will be exposed to stronger project development experience as well as more complex issues dealing with 3D design.
Students who successfully complete this course will have working knowledge of:
- The Maya Interface
- Animation Hardware Basics
- Manipulating Views
- Manipulating the Maya Interface
- Modeling with Polygons
- Modeling with NURBS
- Modeling from existing objects
- Shading Objects
- Rigging objects for animation
- Rendering and Exporting animations
DD208 Sound Design in Context
This course exposes students to more hands on experience with sound design and digital audio technologies by means of a number of projects meant to enhance their contextual understanding of production methodologies. The course focuses on dealing with concepts and procedures related to designing sound for animation, film, and multimedia applications. It will provide students with greater experience using digital recording tools including microphones, dynamic processors and effects units, as well as techniques for recording and editing with various popular audio outboard gear and computer software packages, mixing, editing, etc.
The course will provide students with:
- A greater appreciation for sound design
- Wider experience with digital sound recording equipment
- Wider experience with digital sound editing and mixing
- A greater understanding of sound and video issues
- A better working knowledge of ProTools
- A better working knowledge of MIDI
- A better working knowledge of Sound Processing
- A better working knowledge of sound mixing & mastering
- An wider appreciation for how sound is incorporated into other media
DD301 Adv Digital Illustration
This course takes illustration students on in-depth explorations of illustration process, technique and implementation in the digital environment. It will introduce students to a number of modern illustrators, their work, and their techniques by means of readings, gallery visits, and tutorial exercises.
Students who successfully complete this course will:
- Gain greater awareness of applications for illustration
- Have gained a greater mastery of illustration technique
- Have been exposed to historical and stylistic precedents in illustration as well as contemporary examples of the same.
- Have gained a greater familiarity with Adobe Illustrator, InDesign & Photoshop
- Have gained a greater familiarity with scanning techniques for use in illustration
- Be familiar with computer hardware considerations for the digital illustrator
- Be familiar with printing issues for many different mediums
DD302 Adv Web Design
This course starts off where Introduction to Web Design (DD112) left off enhancing students’ understanding of web design principles and programming techniques for developing exciting Web content. The course explores more conceptual issues such as whether authoritative online content can be recognized, issues of anonymity and socialization in online culture, and the inherent ramifications of universally accessible information on larger social networks such as nations and states. Students will be asked to explore on-line communities, develop web personas, and create creative and experimental content to enhance and augment this personality.
Students who successfully complete this course will gain:
- An better awareness of what makes for successful interface design
- A greater understanding of concepts in on-line community development and socialization
- Enhanced technical skills with web content development tools such as Dreamweaver, ImageReady, & Flash.
- The skills to create advanced web content, and information systems.
- Technical skills for developing podcasts
- Better collaborative skills
- A wider understanding of Usability Issues, Testing, and analysis
DD305 After Effects
This course is an introductory After Effects class designed to develop fluency in visual expression within time based digital environments. Students will gain a solid foundation in motion graphic and effects techniques that will enhance their creative expression. Complimentary relationships between commercial and fine arts work will also be explored.
Students who successfully complete this course will have:
- Improved working knowledge of the After Effects Interface
- Strong understanding of Linear & Trailing Effects
- Improved Image Correction Tool techniques
- Improved Stylizing techniques
- Skills for working in conjunction with other Adobe software such as Photoshop
- Understanding of and ability with Transitional Effects
- Skills for animating and creating basic broadcast quality animations
- Improved presentation style & techniques
DD307 Adv Maya
In this class students will explore the animation program Maya to a far deeper extent than previously experienced in its pre-requisite class Introduction to Maya. Students will explore rigging, animating and rendering their own animation short, as well as developing techniques in lighting, skinning, texturing and painting their creations.
Students who successfully complete this course will have working knowledge of:
- The Maya Interface
- Animation Hardware Basics
- Manipulating Views
- Manipulating the Maya Interface
- Basic Scene organization
- Working with surfaces
- Modeling with Polygons
- Modeling with NURBS
- Modeling from existing objects
- Working with lights
- Working with cameras & views
- Painting Maya objects
- Applying forces & constraints to animated objects
- Creating soft-body dynamics
