Email Suzanne Szucs

Assignments and Course Responsibilities      Art1013-Szucs

Assignments
#1 2 3 4 5

Final

WebX

Classroom/crits

Attendance

ADLS Review

Grades

Materials

Texts

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Szucs Home

I expect assignments and readings to be done on time. We will be looking and talking about work on a weekly basis and if work is not brought in, you will miss the benefit of a class evaluation. If for some reason you are not able to completely finish work, I will expect the “work in progress” to be brought in. NEVER miss a critique for lack of work - I expect everyone to be to class regardless of the status of their own work.
For every assignment, I expect you to write a paragraph of self-evaluation that should help you to prepare for class critique. Within this summary you should address the following issues:

  • what did you learn;
  • what are the strengths of the project;
  • what could you have worked harder at;
  • what changes would you make if doing it again.

An A student will be taking initiative with their projects and will make every effort to be an effective participator during class critiques, both about their own work and that of their peers.

#1 Black Square Problem:

By using four flat black squares of the same dimensions, create a graphic image to express the meaning of each of the following six words: Ambition, claustrophobia, joy, discipline, anger, arrogance.

Make preliminary sketches for each word using the template. Then select the most effective solution for each and execute it in the larger designated area. Using only four squares may seem to be a rather limited pallette for expressing such diverse words, but consider how these squares can be expanded into a more comprehensive language by utilizing various design principles.

line, shape, scale, rhythm, symmetry, balance, unity, repetition, proportion, illusion, contrast...

due 9/17

#2 Road Sign Problem:

Immediate, practical communication is the primary function of a road sign. With this in mind, graphically depict the subject indicated for each of the twelve road signs on the template. Execute each solution as a finished piece in black; if the concept dictates, the use of an additional color is permissible.

Use design fundamentals to broadcast the message as simply as possible, while at the same time, creating a vehicle for personal expression. Use all aspects of the template image, including its boundary.

due 9/29

#3 Typographic Portrait:

A specific personality aspect is described in each of the twelve rectangles on the assignment sheet. First, choose an appropriate typeface that best expresses the characteristics of each individual; then, carefully render your whole name, part of your name, or your nickname, considering the typeface style, letter spacing, and use of upper and lowercase characters. Pay particular attention to the actual size and placement of your name in the rectangles.

Pay particular attention to the language of imagery here - how line, shape, texture, color can all affect the assumptions we make. Try to design your pieces indepent of the title so that your viewer can guess who the individual is instead of reading it.

due 10/13

#4 Sample 100

Project Title: “Sample 100” - Choose one of the following subjects and visually interpret it one hundred different ways: 1) Owl, 2) Skeleton, 3) Iris, 4) Airplane, 5) Cowboy, 6) Paper Bag, 7) Rhino, 8) Hornet. Of these 100, choose one that best describes the subject and provide a clear explanation of your choice. As you work, consider the language of design and the various design principles including: cropping, touching, overlapping, intersecting, positive and negative space, composition, texture, scale, frame reference, and color. Consider how each of the 100 images work together, whether they are reliant on one another or support each other. You may choose to find images on the Internet, capture images using a digital camera or scanner, hand draw and paint using PhotoShop, or any combination of techniques.

Once you choose your subject, it will be important to decide how you will interpret this subject. Ask yourself the following questions while developing your ideas. 1) Will the base image be the same for each frame with additions and alterations? 2) Will each frame be totally different? 3) Will your project be photo based, rendered, or both? In the professional world of design, challenging problems often call for unique imagery. The challenge of this project encourages playing, risk taking, and experimentation. At the same time, this project requires endurance and resourcefulness…the requirement of trying to find so many preliminary ideas can be exhausting. This is the critical point in the assignment, when attention tends to wander and impatience begins to set in. By simply completing this project to the best of your ability, you may begin to see your own artistic possibilities. Selecting the most successful solution from a large number of choices is in itself a very important aspect of the design process. Editing (especially self-editing) is a critical skill that requires an inner sense or understanding of attracts the viewers’ attention. Good editing skills reinforce good problem solving skills (and vice versa).


For this project you may use both Illustrator and Photoshop. Reference pages 252 –260 and 454-458 in the Illustrator Quick Start book for background on using Illustrator and Photoshop together. This will be a bigger piece that you are working with, so keep resolution in the 200ppi range so that you can print parts of it later. Work in PSD or Tiff format in Photoshop not JPEG so you don't lose quality each time you save a change.

Print this image out and present it on the due date. See #5 for digital presentation.

due 11/3

#5 index

Input Sample 100 into the index system two different ways: https://index.umn.edu/index/index.jsp

#1 Through photoshop, reduce your original file to a jpeg image that is 72ppi, with a maximum pixel size of 500 x 773. Upload that image as Sample 100. Use "save for web" feature of Photoshop to make the file smaller.

#2 Take a section of your image that you feel is the most important and interesting section of the piece and rework it to create a jpeg image that is 72ppi, with a maximum pixel size of 500 x 600. Again, use the "save for web" feature of photoshop.

#3 "Share" your folder with me so that I can evaluate it. sszucs@d.umn.edu

 

 

due 11/17

Final Project

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VISUAL MYTHOLOGY- In our media saturated world, being visually literate is critical to an informed understanding of society and culture. It transcends the limitations of the written word and allows us to decode the myriad bits of visual information around us. The hundreds of thousands of images we are confronted by daily can be loaded with superficial, yet subliminal messages or they may be dense with important overt content. Visual literacy allows us to comprehend and organize this information.
A Symbol is a word or image that references meaning beyond the obvious. Symbols help us begin to understand the world around us through implication and suggestion, making us think beyond the constructs of our ordinary visual references. Symbolic imagery has been used in many cultures to enhance important ceremonial events or to explain various phenomena such as the origin of mankind, customs, or religious beliefs. Archetypal symbols may include universal themes, and are believed to arrive from the unconscious without any allusion to the natural world. These forms are often found in unrelated cultures.
Myths are stories that contain symbolic representations and communicate widely held beliefs that are essential to the understanding of culture. Cultural diffusion takes place when cultural traits or patterns spread from one culture to another. This inclination has influenced contemporary artists and designers, and cultural references have become important sources for them.
PROJECT OBJECTIVE- In this project, you will create a series of four images using Photoshop that will be a collection of symbols, patterns, and imagery. The imagery you develop will use as its inspiration the rich symbolic language of the mythology of various cultures. You will want to use a wide range of techniques in order to collect your source materials such as scanning objects or images and using a digital camera.
Each of the four images will be 200ppi, 1600x2000 pixels (8x10") for printout. You may work on them all together, however, and split them up later if you like. For final presentation, you will mount the four images together on board. You will also drop a version of this image into a drop folder. Reduce this online image to 100 ppi before dropping.

Final crits:

12/10

 

WebX & Email

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You will be expected to participate in online discussions via WebX with both readings and images. You will be expected to discuss your own ideas and to respond to other's postings.We will discuss the logistics of this in class. You will be evaluated on the quality not only the quantity of your participation.

All communication about this class will take place via email - please know how to use your UMD email address, check in often and allow at least 24 hours for an email response (48 on the weekend).

due dates will be ongoing and discussed in class.

Classroom participation
Critiques

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You will be expected to participate in class by being in class, being vocal during discussions and being active in presenting work and criticizing work. It is expected that everyone talk at least once about each person's work during crits and has at least one thing to contribute regarding readings or what ever subject matter is being presented. A strong discussion is comprised of varied viewpoints and tolerance for eachother's opinions. A useful crit will investigate both the strength's and weaknesses of an individual's work. Again, you will be evaluated on the quality of your participation.

Critiquing means that we talk about both the successes and failures in work. We will always attempt to contructively criticize work, however, you should try not to take anyone's comments personally. Critiquing in class is about trying to help you become a more successful image maker not a better person!

Lack of participation can often mean the difference between an A and B student.

Attendance

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Attendance is mandatory for this class. In missing a class you do so at your own risk and it will affect your grade.

If you have an emergency, please make every effort to email me regarding your absence prior to missing class.

If you miss a class, it is your responsibility to catch up with the material and to demostrate you have done so.

Review of Artist Lectures

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You will be expected to review a lecture from the Art & Design lecture series. Reviews will be submitted to WebX and should be approximately 500 words. The review should be written as though for publication - in other words, for a professional reader and you would benefit by consulting art journals and magazines for guidance.

As WebX times out, it might be a good idea to write your initial review in a word processing program and cut and paste it into webX.

Wed before Thanksgiving

6pm

Grades

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  • To earn an A in this course means going above and beyond the requirements both technically and creatively.
  • B is above average work – demonstrating a thorough understanding of the assignments and a higher level of creativity.
  • C is average work, fulfilling the basic requirements and demonstrating competency with the work.
  • D is work that does not fulfill the basics and we won’t even talk about F, cause none of you will go there, right?

You will be graded at a University level according to individual effort, how well the requirements have been fulfilled, and the level of creativity demonstrated. Here is an approximate breakdown of the guidelines I use:

Assignments and final index: 50%
Participation, research paper and attendance: 25%
Midterm and Final exam: 25%

If you have concerns or questions about your grades, please email or visit me in my office.

 

Materials & Expenses

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  • Time is going to be your biggest expense this semester! Come to every class on time and prepared to work and participate.
  • Surfing the web, checking email or playing computer games is prohibited during classtime.
  • You will need 1-2 Mac formatted zip dics and several cdrs (purchase as needed).
  • You will need mounting board and mounting tape, a rule, exacto knife and images to scan.
  • index notebook to present your projects and final.
Required Text:

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Design Fundamentals for the Digital Age (DFDA) by Linda Holtzschue & Edward Noriega

Visual Quickstart Guide to Adobe Photoshop 6 (VQP) - 7 is ok too

Visual Quickstart Guide to Adobe Illustrator 9 (VQI) - 10 is ok too

What you can expect from me:

My goal is to help guide you through your discovery of the 2D digital process and to help you to establish a firm grasp on the techniques we cover. I will be here for you to bounce your ideas off of, to lead critiques and to promote a high level of conversation regarding class work. However, I don’t presume to have all the answers you will need. I am a touchstone, someone to help guide you to the next step, someone who is enthusiastic in her own work and terrifically encouraging of your own explorations. Don’t try to please me, try to please yourself. If you follow your own ideas even when working on a class based assignment - listen to them and let them be your guide. As your teacher, I will be looking to see how you push yourself to look at the world in creative ways. I am here to challenge you, and in that regard I am honest and hard, but ultimately, I want the best for all my students and will try to provide individual as well as group guidance.

Obviously, one course cannot be all things to all people, so you might have some disgruntlement or some concerns with the process. Please remember that I am always happy to deal with issues that might come up for you - send emails, make office hour appointments - ask questions and be vocal - you will make yourself visible and will learn much more.

  • Tolerance in the classroom, both for ideas and for difference (or sameness!), is our highest priority and will be expected from all participants.
  • Please let me know within the first two weeks if you have any special needs or limitations that might prevent you from fullfilling the requirements of this class.

 

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