FIRST-YEAR COURSES

FDD-1030 / FDD-1035
Drawing I and II
Two semesters: 3 studio credits per semester
Focusing on the perceptual skills involved in image-making, these courses will examine drawing as an act of producing independent works of art and as a preparatory process in organizing a finished work. Assigned projects will explore the formal elements of art, such as line, space, scale and texture. Materials will include pencil, charcoal, pen-and-ink and wash, among others. Projects range from the figure and still life, for example, to mapping and storyboarding.

FPD-1020 / FPD-1025
Painting I and II
Two semesters: 3 studio credits per semester
Foundation-year painting will explore various means of representation through the application of pigments to canvas, panels and paper. Color and its organizational principles will be investigated—both as a practical and theoretical endeavor. An exploration of form and content will be undertaken with an emphasis on technical skills. Class critiques and museum visits will be employed as vehicles to develop critical terms concerning painting.

FSD-1050
Sculpture
One semester: 3 studio credits
As an introduction to the material world, this course explores diverse media and their potentialities to create volume, line and mass. Ranging from the ethereal to the fabricated, materials such as clay, plaster, cardboard, wood, resin and wire will be investigated by exercises in casting, mold-making, installation and site-specific work. Discussion will include concepts of space, gravity and light, among others, as they pertain to three-dimensional form.  

AHD-1010
Survey of World Art I
One semester: 3 art history credits
As an introduction to the art of Western and non-Western cultures, this course will examine art from the Paleolithic period to 1450. Key monuments and styles will be explored in architecture, sculpture and painting through methods of visual analysis. Discussions will link the ways in which concepts in art develop and change within different cultural contexts. Field trips and museum visits will augment the course as appropriate.

AHD-1015
Survey of World Art II
One semester: 3 art history credits
Beginning with the art of the Renaissance and continuing into the modern world, this course will explore painting, sculpture and architecture in both Western and non-Western cultures. Discussions will link the ways in which concepts of art develop and change within different cultural contexts. Methods of visual analysis will be explored. Field trips and museum visits will augment this course as appropriate.

SMD-1020
Foundations of Visual Computing
One semester: 3 studio credits
Serving as an introduction to the tools, terms and techniques of visual computing for artists, this course will cover basic skills for operating and maintaining a computer, as well as the techniques to create collages and layered images and the tools required to display work on the World Wide Web. The impact of technology on the visual arts will be examined and discussed from contemporary and historical perspectives.

HCD-1020
Writing and Literature I
One semester: 3 humanities and sciences credits
This is the first part of a two-semester course that helps students become capable, critical and independent writers. With its focus on developing an argument, the course offers an introduction to some of the skills necessary for critical analysis of written art. It will include a review of writing basics (grammar, coherence, idea development, sentence and essay structure). Since reading widely is a foundation of good writing, course readings are drawn from a selection of premodern Western works, including drama, poetry, the narrative and the critical essay, which will be used as discussion and writing prompts.

HCD-1025
Writing and Literature II
One semester: 3 humanities and sciences credits
This is the second part of a two-semester course that emphasizes writing, reading and critical thinking. Students will write more in-depth essays and a research paper and continue to study grammar and essay development. Course readings are drawn from a selection of modern works, including drama, poetry, the narrative and the critical essay, which will be used as discussion and writing prompts.

SECOND, THIRD AND FOURTH YEAR COURSES

GDD-2020 / GDD-2025
Basic Graphic Design I and II
Two semesters: 2 studio credits per semester
These courses are an introduction to the various aspects of graphic communication and will cover concepts, typography, layout and general graphic techniques.

ADD-2030 / ADD-2035
Basic Advertising I and II
Two semesters: 3 studio credits per semester
What good advertising is will be explored in these courses: How to take a product and give it a unique concept, and how to take that concept and creatively execute it in a print ad or TV commercial.

GDD-2050 / GDD-2055
Basic Typographic Design I and II
Two semesters: 2 studio credits per semester
The applications of typography and color to a variety of graphic design projects will be explored in these courses. Assignments will also address the general rules of design and students will be encouraged to develop a personal vision within the framework of successful design solutions.

GDD-2060 / GDD-2065
Intermediate Drawing I and II
Two semesters: 2 studio credits per semester
These courses will explore drawing techniques using concepts of design, form, action, space, scale, texture and systems inherent to cohesive compositions.

GDD-2070
Visual Literacy
One semester: 3 studio credits
This course is run as an experimental workshop dealing with the various issues of visual communication that pertain to the graphic and advertising worlds. Weekly home assignments will be based on ideas covered in class. The work of leading designers and art directors will be shown and discussed. There will be guest lecturers.

GDD-2090 / GDD-2095
Computers in the Studio I and II
Two semesters: no credit
This introduction to design on the Macintosh desktop publishing system will begin with the basics of the Macintosh operating system, and continue with software packages (including Adobe Photoshop, InDesign and Bridge) as tools for visual creation. A minimum of three hours of lab time per week is required.

AHD-2127
History of Graphic Design
One semester: 3 art history credits
This course will focus on various graphic design movements from art nouveau and Jugendstil to De Stijl and Dada; from the impact of the Bauhaus to the fervor of the streamlined 1930s; from the Swiss International style of the ’50s to the psychedelia of the ’60s and on to the punk ’70s and postmodern ’80s. We will also examine the subjects, themes and relationship of the designer to the period. Using examples of the period as a focal point, the evolving design styles and their relationship to politics, commerce, social mores, technology and pop culture will be explored. From the beautiful to the ridiculous, the ephemeral aspects of design will be studied. Guest speakers will feature individuals who have created important design work of the periods discussed.

ILD-2133
Design Principles
One semester: 3 studio credits
This course will address various design principles that structure the underpinnings of graphic imagery, which constitute the language of this complex discipline. It will also focus on finding one’s “voice,” more specifically the form, shape, line, space and color that are central to a personal vocabulary. Assignments will range from experimental design to industry-driven projects. There will be an in-depth analysis of the design elements that determine the sensibility of graphic messages.

GDD-2153
Basic Three-Dimensional Design
One semester: 3 studio credits
Three-dimensional design is an emerging field that has opened various job opportunities in a most experimental area. You will be taught to translate your concepts into personalized 3D objects by drawing upon inspiration from all art disciplines. The course will cover many innovative as well as traditional techniques in assemblage, papier-mâché, wood, casting, and mold-making in several media, among others. The course will be augmented by guest lecturers and demonstrations of techniques and procedures.

GDD-2168
Designer as Image Maker
One semester: 3 studio credits
From the cave wall to the computer screen, the desire to communicate one’s unique vision has always existed. A great concept combined with the right technique, be it finger painting or Adobe Photoshop, can produce extremely powerful images. This course will focus on exploring style in design through experimentation with various mediums such as collage, rubbings, image transfers, use of found objects, and many other techniques. Students will be encouraged to think and create in unconventional ways. Projects for this course will include book covers, CD packages, editorial illustrations, food packaging and poster designs. Field trips will be included.

GDD-2179
Digital Photography for Designers
One semester: 3 studio credits
The basics of digital photography will be covered in this course to provide a fundamental understanding of image capture. Technique will be practiced through a series of creative photographic assignments where the focus is on creative image-making. Assignments will be designed to explore a range of photographic genres including portraiture, still life and documentary.

GDD-2186
Originality
One semester: 3 studio credits
How can you make your work stand out as distinctly yours in the midst of the many thousands of visual and verbal messages that bombard the public each day? This studio critique course will provide a structure for students to examine their preconceptions, assumptions and influences in order to freely create a unique art path and product of their own.

ADD-3010 / ADD-3015
Advanced Advertising I and II
Two semesters: 3 studio credits per semester
With heavy emphasis on concept, these courses will focus on the creative process of creating original and innovative, yet traditional, print advertising. We will also explore the many aspects of the advertising field, by learning the duties of the art director, creative director, copywriter and designer.

GDD-3010 / GDD-3015
Communication Graphic Design I and II
Two semesters: 3 studio credits per semester
An exploration of various working methods by which graphic designers precisely and effectively solve communication problems will be the focus of these courses. Design solutions will be executed from roughs to finished comps.

ADD-3131
The Art Director Who Can Write
One semester: 3 studio credits
This course is specially designed for the art director who may not become a copywriter, but wants to be an art director who can write. These skills are increasingly in demand in the industry—particularly on interviews for internships and first-time positions. The course will give students a better idea of what it takes to do effective advertising; write better headlines; work more effectively with a creative partner and, of course, create body copy the way it should be written. Not to mention adding a few portfolio pieces to your book that shows a greater range and depth of creative execution than your competitors.

ADD-3181
Advertising 3.0
One semester: 3 studio credits
Advertising 3.0 represents the next frontier of advertising: combining the power of storytelling with social connectivity and digital technology, allowing for greater creative freedom and impact. This course will focus on the ever-changing and fast-paced world of digital advertising, soon to become the mainstay. You will walk away with a well-informed understanding of social and digital media tools and demonstrated experience in harnessing them in creative new ways to tell stories in ways never before possible.

ADD-3191
30 Seconds
One semester: 3 studio credits
It takes a lot longer than 30 seconds to make a TV commercial. Even for a junior or senior with an excellent advertising portfolio, it takes an entire semester. First, you’ll spend two or three weeks on the idea—alone or with a partner. Then the real work begins: scripting and shot design, casting, wardrobe, location scouting, shooting, cutting, scoring, recording and mixing. But do not worry. We will provide the camera—and enough writing, art directing and editing advice to get you to the fun part: the screening.

GDD-3213
After Effects and Final Cut Pro
One semester: 3 studio credits
Motion graphics is an exploding field and designers have new opportunities to work in television, film, Web and interactive DVD design and production. This course will provide a foundation for working in this specialization by exploring motion and the ways in which it is created. Initial assignments are process-oriented and focus on maintaining a level of experimentation; more complex, finished pieces will be created during the second semester. The basics of special effects, compositing and video editing will be explored using Adobe After Effects and Apple Final Cut Pro.

GDD-3222 / GDD-3223
Motion Graphics Workshop I and II
Two semesters: 3 studio credits per semester
Digital video is the future of graphic design. Think of graphic design that moves in time and space, and is accompanied by a sound track. Learn Apple Final Cut Pro and Adobe After Effects, and experiment with a new form of design that allows you to include digital video that you shoot, TV that you capture, typography that you design, animation that you create—all mixed together with a sound track to form video with a graphic vision of your own. We will help students define their vision and teach the programs needed to achieve them.

GDD-3306
Toys and Games
One semester: 3 studio credits
The toy industry is a trendy business where many innovative designs are introduced every year. In this course, we’ll analyze successful products from different categories (games, plush, action figures, novelties, etc.) and explore what great toy concepts are and how to originate them. Various tools, techniques and materials will be demonstrated and utilized by students to create renderings and prototypes. By taking part in brainstorming sessions, hands-on workshops and play testing their own designs, students will learn how to develop their concepts into finished products. Product manufacturing and marketing, as well as career opportunities in the toy industry will be discussed. We’ll visit a toy store to examine the effectiveness of toy packaging and merchandising. Although weekly projects will be assigned, students are encouraged to work on any product they wish, limited only by their imaginations. The goal of this course is to create at least one finished product suitable for presentation to a toy company or for inclusion in a portfolio.

GDD-3336 / GDD-3337
Three-Dimensional Design and Illustration I and II
Two semesters: 3 studio credits per semester
Design and illustration solutions to problems that involve making 3D structures will be explored in these courses. Discussions about methods and materials will include everything from fiberglass to hubcaps: whatever conveys the designer/illustrator’s ideas. There will be demonstrations of various techniques like mold-making, paper and cardboard construction, and casting in plastic. Students will produce finished pieces for portfolio inclusion. Guest lecturers include professional designers and illustrators who have successful careers based on 3D work.

GDD-3341
Design Photo
One semester: 3 studio credits
This course will begin with an investigation of design elements such as color, perspective, contrast and composition. Through a series of photographic assignments, students will learn how to identify and apply designs that exist in everyday situations. Their photographs will then be manipulated in Adobe Photoshop and used for a variety of design projects, such as magazines, posters and book jackets. We will discuss basic camera operation and equipment. Demos in lighting techniques and shooting on location will complete the course.

GDD-3351 / GDD-3352
Design for Social Change I and II
Two semesters: 3 studio credits per semester
We’ll use design to call out new ideas and a new ethos of truth-telling. We’ll create ads, posters, books and logos to present alternatives to mind-numbing consumer culture. The focus will be on subjects that affect our lives—such as owning our own time, corporate impact on the physical environment and the human psyche, issues of economic fairness and alternatives to money obsession, gender, food, voting, animal rights, etc. We’ll explore and develop various means for making ideas for social change public. Work from these courses is in the poster collection of the U.S. Library of Congress, on the website of the Center for Constitutional Rights, was produced for the Washington, D.C. subways, and distributed throughout the New York City public school system, as well as in exhibitions, conferences, book fairs and guerilla contexts (postnobull.org).

GDD-3378
Information Graphics: How to Present Information Visually
One semester: 3 studio credits
This course explores the full range of information graphics, from the printed page to multimedia, from simple charts to complex mega-graphics. You will gain a comprehensive understanding of the field of information design, and the skills needed to create solutions of the highest caliber. In our information-driven age, design directors are looking for designers who can bring an understanding of information design to their department. It can also be a complete career in its own right.

GDD-3387
Graphic Design Workshop
One semester: 3 studio credits
This course provides the opportunity to discover how to become more decisive and versatile in their graphic solutions to any design problem. Using a revolutionary you-can-design-anything-in-three-hours approach, this workshop will give students a small taste of the pace and excitement of a real-world design studio. The projects will range from posters, brochures, logos, book covers and package designs.

GDD-3392
Drawing Inside Out for the Designer
One semester: 3 studio credits
Drawing can be a very intimate exercise of personal freedom, and a lifelong source of inspiration. This course will concentrate on the self as the reservoir of creative energy from which to produce original drawings. We’ll work on hand-heart rather than just hand-eye coordination. Our purpose isn’t to compete with scanners, cameras, copiers, and computers to reproduce the realities around us. Instead, attention will be shifted to our individual experience of our “inner” energy. Drawing from it intuitively, you’ll develop a personal style that becomes an organic part of your creative repertoire. Originality is nurtured and evolved in this course.

GDD-3414
Package It
One semester: 3 studio credits
Cans, bottles, boxes, soft drinks, perfume, pasta, outer shipping cartons and point-of-purchase displays—you name it, we package it. In this course, you will learn to create your own product and product line, from naming and designing it to creative marketing for the product and label. We will also explore materials and techniques for the fabrication of your product.

GDD-3426
Corporate Identity
One semester: 3 studio credits
Understanding the fundamentals of brand identity and how to create exciting and engaging brand experiences through design will be the focus of this course. Through exposure to a variety of visual identity issues, students will be challenged to create unique ideas and solutions that meet real world concerns. An emphasis will be placed on understanding and capturing the essence of a chosen brand (corporation, product, service, organization, personality, etc.) to ultimately develop visual identities that target all platforms on which the brand has to perform (packaging, editorial, environmental design, online, advertising, etc.). We will begin with specific visual branding exercises and students will choose topics to approach them. These exercises will then be extended into a visual identity development that encompasses several branding challenges.

GDD-3433
Package Design: Appetite Appeal Food Packaging
One semester: 3 studio credits
Food packaging is not just clear plastic. The best package demands superb typography and startling graphic design in two and three dimensions. Type is unlimited and color must challenge the senses. In this course, you will design an array of packages for specialty and fancy foods—from olive oil to pastas, candy and wine. You will learn how to source out distinct containers, special printing and other tricks and tips. And you will understand the unique restrictions involved in producing functional package designs.

FGD-3466
Poster Design: Silkscreen
One semester: 3 studio credits
This course offers the opportunity to explore the world of poster art. The process of creating a poster—from concept through final execution—will be covered. Students will complete a minimum of eight projects, each with a different focus (cultural, social, advertising), and emphasis will be placed on creating strong and memorable ideas. Projects will be researched and sketches will be presented for in-class discussion. After the approval of the concept, projects will be printed using silkscreen techniques. Silkscreen is a printing method with endless possibilities. We will experiment with printing on colored and textured papers, applying various inks and screens. How visual metaphors work successfully and how to make the work accessible and challenging will be analyzed. We will also examine the beauty and the expressive power of posters created by the masters in this field—from expressionism to Dada to the contemporary perfectionism of Japanese designers.

FGD-3472
Printed Matter: Book Art, Poster and Ephemera
One semester: 3 studio credits
Focusing on the expression of image and typography as both an art and design form, students will rethink, polish and perfect their portfolios through the art of silkscreen. Students will be encouraged to design alternative printed matter that conveys a personal aesthetic in the creation of projects such as posters, mailers, zines and book covers. We’ll explore new ideas to present portfolios bound into a book format. Bookbinding demonstrations will cover various techniques such as perfect binding, saddle stitch, bolted books and Japanese binding. There will be field trips to alternative print shops and self-publishing studios.

GDD-3476
Book Jacket Design and Beyond: Book Covers Uncovered
One semester: 3 studio credits
This course will approach the field of book and book cover design as the basis for a greater understanding of graphic design and what it means to communicate visually. Through the application of real-world assignments and more theoretical, personal experiments, we will attempt to unlock new ways to approach a format that is the very essence of type and image communication. Developing strategies for creating strong cohesive concepts and refining the skills needed to communicate these ideas will be the main focus of the course. We will also look at the future of book publishing and the potential for innovative new ways to approach book design.

GDD-3478
Experimental Book Art
One semester: 3 studio credits
In this course, students will draw upon their own creativity and vision to produce projects. The experimental and conceptual aspects of creating books will be stressed. We will explore various production ideas from the one-of-a-kind book to mass-produced books. Instruction will be given on a wide range of printing techniques—typography, binding, embossing, ink selection, paper die cutting—which will then be integrated with the projects. There will be field trips illuminating the creation and production of books. Historical information, including the Bauhaus, constructivist and De Stijl movements, which were so important in the evolution of contemporary books, will be studied. Students will be required to create several books.

GDD-3521
Editorial Design
One semester: 3 studio credits
In this course, you will conceptualize and create a lifestyle magazine, honing your layout skills and developing your unique editorial style. Furthermore, as it is important to be on trend with the fast changes into digital publishing, you will be encouraged to think beyond the norm and develop your magazine for the iPad as well. You will share your pages with the class each week and will be encouraged to be verbal, insightful and helpful in critiques of your classmates’ work. We will begin by focusing on how to design features and the general look of the magazine, and then concentrate on finessing your magazine for a beautiful product to add to your portfolio. This is a great opportunity to access editorial design as well as familiarize yourself with digital print, which is now an integral facet of publishing.

GDD-3521
Editorial Design
One semester: 3 studio credits
The study of the components of an editorial package—cover, table of contents, departments and features—will be the focus of this course. Biweekly assignments will entail the redesign of these components of various publications,
culminating, in the second semester, in the creation of a complete and original publication.

GDD-3523
Editorial Design: Style and Culture
One semester: 3 studio credits
This course takes its inspiration from image-driven publications about fashion, culture, art, and design, and the creativity of the editor and art director. These magazines transcend the boundaries of traditional publishing through their provocative content and how that content is packaged (both in print and digital apps). We will explore the different aspects of magazine design, from idea to photo shoot to editing to layout, providing the building blocks that will enable students to produce their own publications. We will examine the design principles mastered by the legendary Alexey Brodovitch, which will serve as the core for learning how to create a dynamic publication. The basic structural organization of a magazine and the specific design challenges (from a cover to the feature story to a sidebar) will be included. How to come up with ideas and how to best communicate them graphically through image creation and typography will be emphasized. Projects include the creation of a small publication, magazine covers, and the design of feature stories for print and digital (iPad/tablet).

GDD-3524
Editorial Design: Fashion and Style
One semester: 3 studio credits
The goal of this course is to broaden our understanding of the magazine world. Image-driven magazines (fashion, design, culture, architecture, etc.) have at their source the editor and art director, who assemble unconventional and original material that transcends the boundaries of traditional publications through their format, materials and packaging, design and provocative content. Students will act as graphic journalists, and will conceptualize, research, edit and art direct their own original magazine. Emphasis is on ideas as well as the graphic execution of those ideas within the magazine context and paired with typography. Visiting professionals working in the fashion industry will offer their insights into the business.

GDD-3556 / GDD-3557
The New Editorial: Digital Publishing I and II
One semester: 3 studio credits
“Edit once, publish everywhere” has become the mantra of magazine makers as they attempt to stay relevant in a world where margins are slim and readers expect content to arrive simultaneously in their mailbox and on their devices. These courses aim to inspire and equip students to become the drivers of digital publishing and to understand its place in the overall process of creating editorial content.

GDD-3611 / GDD-3612
Designing with Typography I and II
Two semesters: 3 studio credits per semester
These advanced design and typography courses will focus on working through each project to create portfolio-quality work. Assignments will include book
design, packaging, branding, posters, newspapers and magazines. Typographic craft, language, hierarchy and form will be emphasized in conjunction with ideas and narrative.

GDD-3617
Alphabets and Typeface Design
One semester: 3 studio credits
Typeface design (alphabet fonts) has continually been the mainstay of the graphic artist. Every aspect of how-to-do-it methods—with or without the use of computers—will be addressed, “imagination included.” Students will prepare a typeface design for personal use or submission to distributors of new font designs.

GDD-3626 / GDD-3627
Advanced Type I and II: The Perfect Paragraph
Two semesters: 3 studio credits per semester
In these courses, students will examine the principles of typographic design and color theory, as well as the fundamentals of traditional typesetting. Experiments with letterform design will include an exploration of color theory as applied to typographic design. Typographic books, original type treatments, word marks and logos for digital display and print will be created. Students will be encouraged to work with their own content, including original typeface designs.

GDD-3642
iPad, iPhone, App Design
One semester: 3 studio credits
In this course, you will be designing your own app for the iPhone and iPad. As print becomes increasingly integrated with other media, and the demand for instant gratification on your mobile device skyrockets, it is an exciting time for designers. You will design such things as a 60-minute guide to the Museum of Modern Art (that can be navigated as an app), or a game or music player app that you can personalize to your own interests. The goal is to create a beautiful, modern portfolio piece that shows off your ability to stay on-trend, think outside the box and design for the page as well as the screen.

GDD-3651 / GDD-3652
The Project Class I and II
Two semesters: 3 studio credits per semester
This is your project. This is your class. It’s where you will make your film on digital tape. It’s where you will work with professional people to experience an intriguing new world of artistic knowledge. These courses are an exercise in making a film, but it is not an exercise in itself. A personal, independent film made for screening purposes: in its entirety, in its integrity, in its creativity.

GDD-3661 / GDD-3662
Design for the Good I and II
Two semesters: 3 studio credits per semester
This goal of these courses is to allow you to apply your conceptual skills and talents to issues that matter to society and to the world. Assignments will challenge you to think and create innovative work that motivates people to change for the good. You will make the most of your ideas by spreading them in every medium—to be seen by as many people as possible. You will work with a program or cause of your choice to fully engage your skills that support issues important to you personally: all while doing your best creative work.

ADD-3671
IDEAtion: How Techvertising is Changing Behavior
One semester: 3 studio credits
Advertising, by definition, is a form of communication that attempts to persuade its audience. Today’s world of ever-present communication has created new opportunities to connect with people—via mobile devices such as iPods, PSPs and PDAs, with websites such as YouTube, through social networking sites like Facebook, and by way of the ubiquitous distribution and display technology that we encounter daily—screens at the ATM, in taxi cabs and at the supermarket checkout line, for example. Indeed, advertising has evolved from the didactic medium of the spoken, written and moving word, to the participatory medium of the interactive word. In this course, students will explore strategies, create designs and discuss practical applications for advertisements that invite viewer participation. They will execute compelling, original ideas that are imaginative, even inspirational and effectively establish new dialogues, new media, expand spaces of interaction and generate new paradigms that invite and reward every level of interface and engagement.

GDD-3731
Advertising, Interaction, Design, the Future
One semester: 3 studio credits
See what is around the corner and embrace the evolution of technology. Be a part of the new digital agency model, which in the 21st century has already proven to be the only model appropriate for every client’s needs. In this course, you will develop digital and design expertise, to create immersive, innovative experiences. We will explore the elements of a 360° advertising experience from an initial creative brief, concept, interaction and visual design and copywriting to campaigns, platforms, online marketing, mobile and social media. Sessions will be conducted at a digital agency and guest speakers will discuss their areas of expertise.

GDD-3741
Digital Design
One semester: 3 studio credits
The foundations of designing for digital experiences will be the focus of this course. Students will learn how to adapt their design skills from traditional to new media, with emphasis on the classic digital channel and websites. Topics include: grid systems for interfaces (how to design for flexible, interactive modules), choosing and using typefaces for electronic interfaces, designing at 72 dpi, working in the RGB color space, how to visually distinguish content areas from function areas; designing for touch screens and motion.

GDD-3742
Designing the Digital Ecosystem
One semester: 3 studio credits
Serving as a continuation of GDD-3741, Digital Design, this course will incorporate additional digital channels and disciplines to those already covered. Topics will include: user-centered design methodology; the interface—where the brand and the consumer meet; thinking in systems to design a single experience across multiple channels; designing in flexible, modular systems rather than rigid templates; designing the right experience for the right context. There will be small projects that address channels, including mobile technology (iPhone or Android application); touch screen (iPad or kiosk application); retail (in-store digital experience); OOH (interactive billboards and signage), and social media experiences.

GDD-3751
Visual Identity and Multimedia
One semester: 3 studio credits
Today’s constantly evolving multimedia world demands that a successful graphic identity be simple, bold, memorable and flexible. This course will teach students how to create powerful, concept-based identities that thrive in the multimedia realm. Chermayeff & Geismar has developed an idea-driven methodology for identity design that has resulted in identities for hundreds of major clients like Chase Bank, NBC, The Museum of Modern Art and the Library of Congress. The course, held in the Chermayeff & Geismar studio, will lead students through the firm’s problem-solving approach to graphic design as they work with a local organization or small business to develop a visual identity from start to finish. Working with the firm’s partners, students will especially be encouraged to explore opportunities for identity expression in new media.

GDD-4010 / GDD-4505
Graphic Design Portfolio I and II
Two semesters: 3 studio credits per semester
Entering the graphic design profession is more demanding than ever. Your portfolio needs to reflect not only your own conceptual voice, but also communicate your values, strengths, interests, skills and ambitions. Whether your design discipline is traditional, motion graphics, interactive, 3D or alternative, this course will be a thorough and intense investigation of what your portfolio needs to be to meet your personal needs and professional goals. Students will develop their own ideas, define content and ultimately design the type of projects they want for their portfolio, as well as hone their communications skills for presenting themselves and their work in a professional environment.

SENIOR PROJECT COURSES

GDD-4601
Visual Storytelling I and II
Two semesters: 3 studio credits per semester
These courses will explore the connections between storytelling, design and motion graphics. A compelling story is key to any form of effective visual communication, regardless of the medium or technology. Students will learn universal narrative techniques and apply them to visual, time-based design projects. Conceptual clarity will be emphasized to develop a unique and personal voice. Through critical thinking and group discussion, students will be motivated to create powerful visual solutions with enduring meaning. Guest lectures and critiques will provide insights into storytelling techniques in related disciplines.

GDD-4706 / GDD-4707
MoGraph Essentials—CINEMA 4D and After Effects I and II
Two semesters: 3 studio credits per semester
Whether your field of work is print, advertising, graphic design, film, or motion graphics, MAXON CINEMA 4D gives you all the tools you need to make your ideas reality. Students can create 3D elements for storyboards, animations and designs. The software’s intuitive interface and logical workflow make it possible for those new to 3D artistry to dive right in. In these courses CINEMA 4D will be used for enhancing animation to go hand-in-hand with Adobe After Effects. Students will start by learning the application and working on real world projects ranging from a logo animation to a full television promo spot. 

GDD-4701
Production Studio for the Graphic Designer
One semester: 3 studio credits
Today’s graphic artist is required to have technical knowledge and production ability. This course offers a unique opportunity to work on projects both in the classroom and then watch the final production on-site at A to A Studio Solutions, Ltd., a full-service production studio, and receive complete instruction in the skills necessary to produce and manufacture finished portfolio pieces. Using Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, and layout programs such as Adobe InDesign, we’ll examine all aspects of production as they relate to print, including correct document construction, color space and color systems, separations, trapping, preflighting, print production and paper considerations. Assignments will be produced in the studio using various output devices, from inkjet proofers and large-format digital printers to high-resolution film negatives. Students will be able to produce their work combining digital output, transfers, direct imaging, embossing and three-dimensional packaging construction. The opportunity to experiment and work with digital and analog print production tools will be an invaluable experience.

GDD-4702
Website Design
One semester: 3 studio credits
Creating innovative websites for the Internet will be the focus of this course. Utilizing HTML for their web designs, students will also be introduced to a variety of software programs to serve as a technical foundation. Students are expected to develop complete websites for their final project.

GDD-4714
Designing a Business
One semester: 3 studio credits
If you have an entrepreneurial spirit, this course is for you. It will be a comprehensive experience for anyone who wants to learn the skills it takes to make a business idea become a business reality. We will cover the steps to bring an idea to the marketplace: defining the concept for a business or product of your choice, designing the prototype and corporate identity for your company, writing a business plan and the basic legal requirements to open a business and protect your intellectual property. The final step will be the art of the pitch. Guest speakers will offer their guidance and input.

GDD-4722
Type Design
One semester: 3 studio credits
This course is for seniors interested in further developing their individual sensibility and type design proficiency. From information to concept to the evolution of a design, type will be the source of impetus to a cohesive design solution. We will rigorously pursue the key areas for a successful outcome of projects: a strong sense of composition, the elements of typography, aesthetic principles and visual experimentation.

GDD-4732
Typography and the Portfolio
One semester: 3 studio credits
This course is designed for students who would like special assistance with their typography as it relates to their portfolio projects. Guidance and direction are given in the choice of type and the best application as circumscribed within the contextual framework of the student’s design originating from a given portfolio assignment. The objective of which is to achieve the best possible typographic solution helping to enhance the finished work. The course is useful to those students who feel unsure of their type skills and very beneficial to those who are confident but want guidance in the more subtle aspects of achieving typographic excellence in their work. This course is an adjunct or auxiliary to the primary portfolio course and critiques of work remain within the domain of the portfolio instructor.

GDD-4746
Differentiate or Die: How to Get a Job When You Graduate
One semester: 3 studio credits
You are about to graduate, and you might not have relatives that work at Apple or Google. You need to know how to sell, present, cold-call and talk about money to get a job. This course will address how to make a presentation with conviction and meaning; write a project proposal and how to talk about compensation; develop a unique point of view about design or advertising; craft a powerful résumé; sell your design services in the “real” world with more confidence and success; create persuasive, honest, and effective design presentations, and set yourself up to succeed after graduation.

GDD-4754
Yearbook
One semester: 3 studio credits
Students will create the concept and design of the SVA undergraduate yearbook.

GDD-4801
Designing a Phenomenon
One semester: 3 studio credits
How do you cause a commotion, inspire excitement and get the attention of a city? The challenges and factors that create and cause phenomena are not easily definable. However, this is precisely the puzzle this course will try to solve. We begin by asking the question: Can design create a phenomenon? To answer this question, students will be challenged with rebranding real-world companies and working through the process of creating innovative and dynamic design systems.  We will craft systems that can respond to a multitude of needs and opportunities necessary to turn a business on the street into a citywide, sustainable trend. At the beginning of the course, each student will be assigned a company to develop the strategy, execution and engagement of the rebrand. While the course is grounded in formalist theory, students will be challenged with making graphic decisions based on a set of criteria that they will define. The class is incredibly fast-paced and students are required to create work as if they are in a real-design company. Work will be presented weekly.

This is a foundation year in which the curriculum covers a broad spectrum of universal principles related to image-making, ranging from the abstract to the narrative and including two-dimensional and three-dimensional disciplines. This is augmented by a comprehensive introduction to digital imaging.

Required Courses
AHD-1010 Survey of World Art I 
AHD-1015 Survey of World Art II
FDD-1030 Drawing I
FDD-1035 Drawing II
FPD-1020 Painting I
FPD-1025 Painting II
FSD-1050 Sculpture
SMD-1020 Foundations of Visual Computing
HCD-1020 Writing and Literature I
HCD-1025 Writing and Literature II

In your second year, you will start to focus on graphic design as a distinct discipline. You will be learning an array of basic graphic design skills, developing a visual vocabulary of forms, and studying the elements of typography, all of which are essential to creative problem solving.

Required Courses
GDD-2020 Basic Graphic Design I
GDD-2025 Basic Graphic Design II
GDD-2050 Basic Typographic Design I
GDD-2055 Basic Typographic Design II
GDD-2060 Drawing I
GDD-2065 Drawing II
GDD-2070 Visual Literacy
GDD-2090 Computers in the Studio I
GDD-2095 Computers in the Studio II
AHD-2127 History of Graphic Design

ADD-2030 Basic Advertising I*
ADD-2035 Basic Advertising II*



*Students may substitute two of the following courses in place of ADD-2030 and ADD-2035.
*Students who elect to pursue an advertising/graphic design double major must take ADD-2030 and ADD-2035.

GDD-2153 Basic Three-Dimensional Graphic Design
GDD-2168 Designer as Image Maker
GDD-2179 Digital Photography for Designers
GDD-2186 Originality
ILD-2133 Design Principles

Traditional and computer executional skills are further honed. At the same time, classes become more conceptually driven and help you explore how new ideas are generated as part of an interactive, problem-solving process. You will be given projects designed to help you explore conceptual issues in practical contexts, such as the organization of information in The New York Times.

Required Courses

REQUIREMENT A
One semester of:
GDD-3010 Communication Graphic Design I
GDD-3015 Communication Graphic Design II
GDD-3611 Designing with Typography I
GDD-3612 Designing with Typography II

REQUIREMENT B
Students must choose two courses per semester from any of the following specialized areas.  Students may take more than one course from any area.

Advertising
ADD-3010 Advanced Advertising I
ADD-3015 Advanced Advertising II 
ADD-3162 Design in Advertising I
ADD-3163 Design in Advertising II
ADD-3191 30 Seconds

Digital Video and Digital Techniques
GDD-3213 After Effects and Final Cut Pro 
GDD-3222 Motion Graphics Workshop I
GDD-3223 Motion Graphics Workshop II 
GDD-3281 The Music Video I: A "Real-World" Workshop
GDD-3282 The Music Video II: A "Real-World" Workshop

Editorial Design
GDD-3521 Editorial Design 
GDD-3526 Editorial Design: Style and Culture
GDD-3556 The New Editorial: Digital Publishing I
GDD-3557 The New Editorial: Digital Publishing II

Graphic Design
GDD-3010 Communication Graphic Design I
GDD-3015 Communication Graphic Design II
GDD-3306 Toys and Games
GDD-3341 Design Photo
GDD-3351 Design for Social Change I
GDD-3378 Information Graphics
GDD-3384 How to Thnik (spelling intentional)
GDD-3387 Graphic Design Workshop
GDD-3392 Drawing
GDD-3414 Package It
GDD-3426 Corporate Identity
GDD-3433 Package Design
GDD-3476 Book Jacket Design and Beyond
GDD-3478 Experimental Book Art
GDD-3661 Design for the Good I
GDD-3662 Design for the Good II

Interaction Design
ADD-3181 Advertising 3.0
GDD-3642 iPad, iPhone, App Design
GDD-3741 Digital Design
GDD-3742 Designing and the Digital Ecosystem

Three-Dimensional Design
GDD-3336 3D Design and Illustration I
GDD-3337 3D Design and Illustration II

Typography
GDD-3611 Designing with Typography I
GDD-3612 Designing with Typography II
GDD-3617 Alphabets and Typeface Design
GDD-3626 Advanced Type I: The Perfect Paragraph
GDD-3627 Advanced Type II: The Perfect Paragraph

Honors Courses
GDD-3651 The Project Class I
GDD-3652 The Project Class II
GDD-3751 Visual Identity and Multimedia
GDD-4754 Yearbook

The final year is a synthesis of computer literacy, conceptual and executional abilities, personal process and presentation skills, all leading toward the preparation of a highly competitive portfolio that will enable you to engage the professional world of graphic design. You will develop a portfolio focused on a particular discipline, such as editorial or package design, or one that reflects a broader presentation of your skills, interests and capabilities. Either way, the portfolio will serve as your entry into the job market.

Required Courses

REQUIREMENT A
GDD-4010 / GDD-4505 Graphic Design Portfolio I and II

REQUIREMENT B
Students must choose one course per semester from any of the following areas:

Digital Video
GDD-3213 After Effects and Final Cut Pro 
GDD-3222 Motion Graphics Workshop I
GDD-3223 Motion Graphics Workshop II 
GDD-3281 The Music Video I: A "Real-World" Workshop
GDD-3282 The Music Video II: A "Real-World" Workshop 

Editorial Design
GDD-3521 Editorial Design
GDD-3526 Editorial Design: Style and Culture
GDD-3556 The New Editorial: Digital Publishing I
GDD-3557 The New Editorial: Digital Publishing II

Graphic Design
GDD-3306 Toys and Games
GDD-3341 Design Photo
GDD-3351 Advertising and Graphic Design for Social Change
GDD-3378 Information Graphics
GDD-3387 Graphic Design Workshop
GDD-3392 Drawing Inside Out for the Graphic Design
GDD-3426 Corporate Identity
GDD-3433 Package Design
GDD-3476 Book Jacket Design and Beyond
GDD-3478 Experimental Book Art
GDD-3661 Design for the Good I
GDD-3662 Design for the Good II 
GDD-4702 Website Design

Three-Dimensional Design
GDD-3336 3D Design and Illustration I
GDD-3337 3D Design and Illustration II

Typography
GDD-3617 Alphabets and Typeface Design
GDD-3626 Advanced Type I: The Perfect Paragraph
GDD-3627 Advanced Type II: The Perfect Paragraph

Senior Project Courses
GDD-4601 Broadcast Design I
GDD-4602 Broadcast Design II 
GDD-4701 Production Studio for the Graphic Designer
GDD-4714 Designing a Business
GDD-4722 Senior Type Design
GDD-4746 Differentiate or Die: How to Get a Job When You Graduate
GDD-4752 Life Insurance