Classes

Week 1
8/28/24

Introduction to the class, design tools and basics of Adobe Illustrator.

Homework
Recreate the layout we went through in class paying particular attention to clipping masks, and the alignment panel (full instructions in the presentation, linked below). You can use images from unsplash.com. Upload a PDF with your first and last name as the file name (ex. StephPaulovich.pdf) to the class folder with your name on it for Week 1.

Week 2
9/4/24

In today’s class, we reviewed some basic design principles like balance, harmony, contrast and techniques like leading lines and proximity.

Homework
Review the last 4 slides of the presentation linked below. Upload your files as PDFs with your first and last name as the file name (ex. StephPaulovich.pdf and StephPaulovich2.pdf) to the class folder with your name on it for Week 2.

Week 3
9/11/24

In today’s class, we went over basic type anatomy (this will be on your type quiz in week 6). We also reviewed type measurement and how to use the brush, shape, and pen tools to create letter forms.

Homework
On the homework slide in the presentation below, take a screenshot and bring it into Illustrator. Recreate the 5 missing letters (a, d, r, v, y) to fill in the blanks. You can use either the shape or the pen tool to create the letters. Make sure you match the thickness and the curves as well as the height and width of the existing letters. It may help to trace some of the elements from the other letters to use as a guide. Upload your PDF file into the folder for Week 3 with your name as the file name.

There is also some reading in the Thinking with Type book, and optional homework to watch the film, Helvetica (available on Amazon).

See presentation for full details.

If you have trouble uploading to Google Drive, just email me spaulovich@une.edu and cc stephpaulovich@gmail.com :) see you next week

Week 4
9/18/24

We covered type classifications, how to download and install fonts and how to pair typefaces. We did a series of exercises to select fonts that match a particular image/style.

Homework:
Reference the presentation linked below for the full details, but you will be designing a concert poster for Lollapalooza music festival, and paying close attention to type pairings and arrangement. Submit your homework as a .pdf with your name on it to the class folder for Week 4.

Week 5
9/25/24

Today, we worked on arranging type within a composition and focused on kerning, tracking, and did some exercises with expressive type and typing on a path.

Homework
Study for your typography quiz, next class. Type anatomy. Classifications. Typeface vs. font. Pairing typefaces. Kerning. Tracking. Leading. Line spacing.

Reading:
Pages 91-147, Thinking with Type

Week 6
10/2/24

NOTE:
I am sick today, so class will be virtual (recording below) - we will take the type quiz next week and will do a few exercises in color palettes and choosing color palettes for brands at the beginning of class next Wednesday.

Week 7
10/9/2024

Today in class, we went over the basics of color theory that we missed in the last class - including how to create a color palette from an image file and how to use Adobe Color to add palettes to your libraries. We also went over how to design within brand guidelines and designed various graphics within three different “brands.”

Homework
Check the presentation below :) and place your homework into the folder for Week 7.

Week 8
10/16/24

Today in class, we went over different sizes of creative teams, their structures, and processes that work for different scenarios. We covered “Design Thinking” and addressed creative salaries and working as a freelancer.

Homework (MIDTERM)
You will present your midterm to the class next week, which is an Olivia Rodrigo poster design (full details in the presentation below). No need to upload to the class folder :)

Week 9
10/23/24

Today, we covered the logistics of keeping your personal brand consistent across platforms and tailoring your creative portfolio for different audiences/channels. Then, we went over the basics of removing backgrounds from images in Photoshop (manually and also using ai background removal. After that, we covered the basics of Adobe InDesign.

Homework
Design your resume in InDesign and upload your InDesign file with your first and last name to the class folder for Week 9.

Week 10
10/30/24

We covered the basics of UX, UI and “heuristics” or basic rules of thumb when it comes to designing for web and computer systems. We went over accessibility requirements and reviewed how design systems work at a large enterprise (like TD Bank). We then went over Figma and FigJam and then went through Adobe Xd.

Homework
Create a wireframe in either Adobe Xd or Figma for a brewery website. You don’t need to add images, fancy fonts or anything like that, but I want you to think about the top 3 most important actions/things the user needs to take/know when they come to your website. For example, for a nail salon website, users need to know how to book an appointment online, how to call the salon, and the salon address. What might a brewery-goer need to know about the brewery you are designing for? Then, I want you to make at least 3 pages on your website which display that key information and link them together using the Prototype tab. You’ll see an example in the presentation. When you’re done, use the Share function to create a link and email me that link to spaulovich@une.edu.

Week 11
11/6/24

Today, we covered basic elements in HTML and next week, we will cover CSS basics and how to link them. For those who missed class, or who may want a recap, you can review the presentation below or the video below (recorded from a prior semester).

Homework
Finish the basic layout in the presentation and email me your .html file to spaulovich@une.edu :)

Week 12
11/13/24

Today, we went over basic CSS (cascading style sheets) and how to link your CSS to your HTML. We went over <style> tags in the header section, in-line CSS and linking external style sheets.

Homework
In the presentation below, recreate the layout on slide 15. don’t worry about the underline on the HOME tab, and don’t worry about aligning the logo to the upper left. You can add the lines by using <hr/> (horizontal rule) in your HTML, and you can style the coloring/weight in CSS.

When you’re done, email me your HTML and CSS files to spaulovich@une.edu. See you next week!

Week 13
11/20/24

Today, we went over the basics of setting up a website in Squarespace and using the builder (editing headers, adding elements like pictures and blocks, etc.).

Homework
Create a personal portfolio project for yourself using Squarespace. You will present your portfolio to the class next week, in place of a final exam. No need to email your link to me - you will use the HDMI cable to share your screen :)

This project is worth 40% of your grade.

Your portfolio must include:

  • 2-3 projects from class (or school, or personal work)

  • Resume (link to PDF download or on-page)

  • A way to contact you (form)

  • Some information about you

  • 3-4 pages