MCOM 404 - Advanced Publication Design

Spring 2005  - TH 11 a.m.  Ð 12:20 p.m.  -  Room 4, Byars Hall (Mac Lab)

 

Instructor

Dr. Tracy Lauder                                              Office Hours

216 Miller                                                         MW 12:30-1:30 p.m.

944-6152                                                         (and by appointment)

tlauder@ehc.edu                                            

 

Course Objectives

The purpose of this laboratory class is to move beyond the basic design and typographic principles covered in MCOM 204, Beginning Publication Design, by adding to those skills and utilizing them in a variety of more complex print publications such as newsletters, magazines, books, and multi-piece promotional packages. Upon completion of the course, students should be able to apply design and typographic principles, while utilizing InDesign software, to a variety of basic publication design projects.

 

Required Texts

The Newspaper DesignerÕs Handbook, 5th ed., by Tim Harrower (McGraw-Hill, 2002).

The Non-DesignerÕs Design Book, 2^nd ed.,  by Robin Williams (Peachpit Press, 2004)

The Non-DesignerÕs Type Book by Robin Williams (Peachpit Press, 1998)

Supplemental Reader (availability TBA)

Recommended: InDesign for Macintosh & Windows, A Visual QuickStart Guide by Sandee Cohen (Peachpit Press 2004)

Also required: 128mb or higher flash drive

 

Course Requirements

A variety of assignments will be utilized in this course, including

- readings

- assignments and quizzes

- design critiques

- design projects

Classroom attendance and participation are necessary for successful completion of the course. The instructor will make every effort to explain the process, expectations, and grading criteria for each assignment. Clarification about assignments should be sought from the instructor as soon as questions arise.

 

Grading

The final grade for this course will be computed in the following manner:

            Short assignments/quizzes       20 percent

            Two Promo Packages              20 percent

            Two Newsletters                       20 percent

            Magazine Project/Presentation 20 percent

            Final Exam                               10 percent

Participation/attendance                      10 percent

 

Writing & Editing Skills

As in any mass communication course, students must exhibit strong writing and editing skills. While this class focuses on the design aspect of publications, the highest standards of writing and editing will be expected and enforced. All students, therefore, must be able to edit their work for grammar, punctuation, accuracy, clarity, conciseness, and style. No matter how strong the design, poorly written work will receive a reduced grade.

 

Attendance Policy

Dedicated class attendance is essential for learning in this course. Students are expected to attend every class meeting and arrive on time unless absolutely unable due to unusual circumstances. A student should make every effort to contact the instructor prior to the class meeting if he or she will be unable to attend; in some cases (such as the death of a family member or a serious injury to the student), makeup work may be arranged. In general, makeup work will not be allowed, and the absence of completed assignments will decrease the studentÕs final grade.

 

Students will be penalized for more than two absences in the course; five points will be deducted from the final course grade for each absence after two. If you already know that you will need to miss several classes due to extracurricular activities, a job, family responsibilities, or other obligation(s), you should consult the instructor before the course begins.

 

Attendance will be taken at the beginning of the class period. If you arrive after roll is taken, you will be counted absent. If you arrive late for class, you should verify your attendance with the instructor after class. Three tardy arrivals will count as one absence.

 

Deadlines

As in any mass communications course, students are being trained to follow the professional standards of the media industry. Deadlines, therefore, are strictly enforced.

            Out-of-class assignments must be turned in at the beginning of the class period in which they are due. Late assignments will be accepted but will receive a penalty of one letter grade for every 24-hour period past the deadline. As with class attendance, if a student encounters circumstances that prohibit him or her from completing the assignment by the deadline, he or she should contact the instructor as soon as possible, but exclusion of a late penalty is never guaranteed.

            In-class assignments must be turned in by the end of the class period. The instructor will make every effort to assign in-class projects that can be completed during the allotted time. While performance on tight deadlines is sometimes stressful, such is the nature of working in the media industry. The ability to turn a project around quickly is necessary training for mass communication careers.

 

Academic Misconduct

Representing another personÕs work as your own not only violates journalistic ethics, but it also violates the collegeÕs Honor Code. Copying homework assignments, cheating on quizzes or exams, lying about sources of information, and plagiarizing on projects all constitute academic misconduct, a serious offense with serious consequences. Cases of academic misconduct will be turned over to the DeanÕs office for investigation and disciplinary measures.

 

The House Rules

Respect for fellow students and the instructor are necessary for an enjoyable learning experience. This includes being prompt for class, turning off cellular phones before class, and participating in classroom discussions that foster a healthy exchange of ideas. Class critique sessions will offer an opportunity to exchange feedback on individual work; a spirit of balanced criticism that praises and offers suggestions is encouraged. For the protection of technology, food and drink are prohibited in the computer lab.
Tentative Course Schedule

H          8/25     Introduction

 

 

Unit I (Weeks 1-5) Promotional Packages

 

Week 1

T          8/30     Review basic design principles, The Non-DesignerÕs Design Book (NDDB), Chs. 1-7. pp. 11-116

                        Review InDesign basics

Begin assignment: Flyer/ad

           

H          9/1       Review basic typographic principles, NDDB, Chs. 8-10, pp. 123-174

                        Also, The Non-DesignerÕs Type Book, (NDTB), pp. xi-xiii, pp. 16-20, and Ch. 1, pp. 21-29

                        More on InDesign

                        Continue work on assignment: Flyer/ad

 

 

Week 2

T          9/6       Critique Session: Flyer/ad

Review use of color (supplemental readings available TBA)

Discuss ÒTelltale Signs of Desktop Publishing,Ó NDTB,Ch. 32, pp. 189-198

Begin project: Promo Package #1

 

H          9/8       Due: Flyer/ad

                        Type Lesson 1: Readability & Legibility, NDTB, Chs. 2-3, pp. 31-41

                                    - Presenters: Courtney Bledsoe & Heath Van Dyke

                        Continue work on Promo Package #1

 

 

Week 3

T          9/13     Critique Session: Promo Package #1

                       

H          9/15     Due: Promo Package #1

                        Begin project: Promo Package #2

 

 

Week 4

T          9/20     Continue work on Promo Package #2

                        Type Lesson 2: Evocative Typography & Choosing a Typeface, NDTB, Chs. 29  & 31,

pp. 167-172 and 179-188

- Presenters: Becca Boney & Ian  Temple

                         

H          9/22     Critique Session: Promo Package #2

 

 

Week 5

T          9/27     Continue work on Promo Package #2

                        Type Lesson 3: Special Effects, NDTB, Chs. 24-28, pp. 151-166

                                    - Presenters: Kendall Walter & Jason Willis

 

H          9/29     Due: Promo Package #2

 

 

Unit II (Weeks 6-10): Newsletters

 

Week 6

T          10/4     Introduction to newsletter design

                        Supplemental readings (available TBA)

                       

H          10/6     Review basic newspaper design principles, The Newspaper DesignerÕs Handbook,

        Chs. 1-3, pp. 14-130

Begin Project: Newsletter #1

 

 

Week 7

T          10/11   Continue work on Newsletter #1

                        Type Lesson 4: Headlines, Pull Quotes, and Captions, NDTB, Chs. 18-20, pp. 121-134

                                    - Presenters: Alicia Hall, Megan Higgins, and Ariane Scinta

                         

H          10/13   FALL BREAK

           

 

Week 8

T          10/18   Critique Session: Newsletter #1

 

H          10/20   Due: Newsletter #1

                        Begin Newsletter #2

 

 

Week 9

T          10/25   Continue work on Newsletter #2

                        Type Lesson 5: Emphasizing Type, Line Breaks, & Hyphenation, NDTB, Chs. 21-22, pp. 135-144

                                    - Presenters: Leslie Johnson & Sara Stilwell

 

H          10/27   Critique Session: Newsletter #2

 

 

Week 10

T          11/1     Continue work on Newsletter #2

                        Type Lesson 6: Spacing, NDTB, Chs. 14-17, pp. 101-120

                                    - Presenters: Jenn Houston &  Francesca Stanchi

                       

H          11/3     Due: Newsletter #2

Type Lesson 7: Punctuation, NDTB, Chs. 4-7, pp. 51-76

- Presenters: Hillary Crowder & Jess Long

 

                       

Unit III (Weeks 11-15):  Magazines

 

Week 11

T          11/8     Introduction to magazine design

                        Supplemental readings (available TBA)

                        Begin Project: Cover

 

H          11/10   Introduction to magazine design

                        Supplemental readings (available TBA)

                        Continue work on Cover

 

Week 12

T          11/15   Critique Session (small groups): Cover

                        Begin Project: Table of Contents

 

H          11/17   Continue work on TOC

 

 

Week 13

T          11/22   Critique Session (small groups): Table of Contents

                        Begin Project: Departments

 

H          11/24   THANKSGIVING BREAK         

 

 

Week 14

T          11/29   Critique Session (small groups): Departments

                        Begin Project: Well Feature

 

H          12/1     Continue work on Well Feature

 

           

Week 15

T          12/6     Critique Session (small groups): Well Feature

 

H          12/8     Assign final exam (due at the final exam period)

 

 

 

Final Exam Period:     Tuesday, Dec. 13, 1:30-4:30 p.m.

Formal Magazine Presentations

                       

                       

 

Review Days: Sat.-Sun., Dec. 10-11

Final Exams: Mon.-Sat., Dec. 12-17