Digital Art Studio
Towson University, Towson MD (2011-2013)
Course Description
Students will become familiar with the concepts, terminology and techniques used in World Wide Web Authoring. Students will also begin to think critically about effective site design, information architecture and interactivity. To do so, students will produce a series of websites, complete development assignments, give critical presentations, and keep up on related readings.
Course Objectives
Gain skills in producing two-dimensional art images on the computer. This course will be heavily focused on concept development, ideation and artistic process. The projects assigned are designed to give you the opportunity to develop your technical skills in tandem with the development of your ability to generate effective visual ideas. Keep in mind throughout this course that in Digital Art and Design, there is always a blog template or a WYSWYG that can generate digital visuals very easily and cheaply, so the strength of your original ideas is going to be what allows you to compete with automatic layout programs.
Materials and Texts
Flash/Thumb Drive for frequent back up of work. It's not a bad idea to have two.
Attendance
I want this to be a fun, exciting and challenging experience that is loose in many ways of interpretation, but be warned, I take absences and lateness very seriously - we cannot get into the nuances and minutia of this course without full participation from everyone. If you are ill, please stay home, however, giving me notice of your absence PRIOR to class via email. If you do not let me know prior to class that you will be absent, I will not excuse the absence.
Three unexcused absences will result in a half-letter drop in your grade. Each subsequent unexcused absence will result in another half-letter grade drop. Should you miss a class, you're responsible for keeping abreast of what is due next class, either through this syllabus or contacting a classmate. I do not take responsibility for letting you know what you missed. Ask a classmate. Find a buddy to keep in touch with through out the semester incase you are absent or late and miss information given in class. Again, I don't take responsibility for letting you know what you missed, excused or unexcused.
You are also expected to arrive on time to class – After 10 minutes, I keep a policy of closing the locked door and not allowing students to join class. Late arrivals past ten minutes are considered an absence. Late arrivals are extremely disruptive, disrespectful, and rude. I keep this policy to minimize the disruption for students who have arrived on-time.
If you are any more than ten minutes late or leave class early without prior conversations with me, I will consider that an unexcused absence.
Three late arrivals up to ten minutes will be considered an unexcused absence.
Grading
6 Projects 60%
FINAL Project 20%
Artist Presentation 10%
In-Class Participation 10%
Extensions may be possible with prior conversations with me regarding your situation.
Any project accepted will not receive full credit and will be graded at my discretion.
Academic Integrity
All class members are to follow the fundamental principles of academic integrity outlined in the Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct. The policy on Academic Misconduct appears in the code and in the schedule of classes. The basic principle is that students take credit only for the ideas and efforts that are their own. Any act of academic dishonesty will place you in jeopardy of the most severe form of sanction by Towson University expulsion from the university.
Included among dishonest behaviors in an academic setting are cheating (using or attempting to use unauthorized assistance, materials, information, or study aids in an academic exercise), fabrication (falsifying or inventing information in an academic exercise), plagiarism(adopting or reproduction of ideas, words, or statements of another person without appropriate acknowledgment), interference (stealing, changing, destroying, or impeding another students work), and facilitating (intentionally or knowingly helping or attempting to help another student commit an act of academic misconduct.
Students with Disabilities
As required by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, appropriate accommodations will be made for all students with documented disabilities. If you have a disability requiring accommodation in this class, please notify the instructor as soon as possible. This information will be kept confidential.
Course Calendar
Week 1
Project 1: Sign System: A piece which has two different kinds of sign systems (image/text for example) combined in some way. Some artist references: (Matt Mullican, Jeff Koons, Sherrie Levine, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Andy Warhol, Ed Ruscha, Neil Jenney, Jasper Johns, Barbara Kruger, Mark Tansey)
Week 2
Week 3
Project 2: Create a work based on a color system that combines found objects, pigments, paint and other materials
Week 4
Week 5
Project 3: Create a work that gives evidence of the passage of time and/or motion. (Jonathan Borofsky, Izhar Patkin)
Week 6
Week 7
Project 4: Use Architecture as a work surface, make a model of a viewable scale, incorporate the design into the architecture.
Week 8
Week 9: BREAK
Week 10
Project 5: The miniature can be a window into another world, into a space that we can only inhabit through imagination, perhaps making the space within it full of exploratory possibilities. Make a work that explores the potential miniature.
Week 11
Week 12
Project 6: Digital art in three-dimensions
Week 13
Week 14
Week 15
Week 16
Grading Criteria
A Level Work:
A 93-100%
A- 90-92.9%
Outstanding work!
Demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of concepts and techniques presented shows exceptional attention to detail and excellent craftswo/manship demonstrates outstanding creativity and initiative
B Level Work:
B+ 87-89.9%
B 83-86.9%
B- 80-82.9%
Good job! You are on the right track, but you could improve a little bit.
Demonstrates a good understanding concepts and techniques presented shows attention to detail and commendable craftswo/manship demonstrates creativity and initiative.
C Level Work:
C+ 77-79.9%
C 70-76.9%
You are doing ok, but you could be doing better. Ask for help.
Demonstrates a base level understanding of concepts and techniques presented shows little attention to detail and lacking in craftswo/manship lacking in creativity and initiative.
D Level Work:
D+ 67-69.9
D 60-66.9
Poorly executed.
Demonstrates no understanding of concepts and techniques presented shows no attention to detail and deficient craftswo/manship demonstrates no creativity or initiative.
F Level Work:
F 0-59.9%
Not executed or fraudulent submission
Student does not attempt the course activity or submits a project which shows evidence of plagiarism, fraud, or copyright violation.
Examples of Student Work:
Students will become familiar with the concepts, terminology and techniques used in World Wide Web Authoring. Students will also begin to think critically about effective site design, information architecture and interactivity. To do so, students will produce a series of websites, complete development assignments, give critical presentations, and keep up on related readings.
Course Objectives
Gain skills in producing two-dimensional art images on the computer. This course will be heavily focused on concept development, ideation and artistic process. The projects assigned are designed to give you the opportunity to develop your technical skills in tandem with the development of your ability to generate effective visual ideas. Keep in mind throughout this course that in Digital Art and Design, there is always a blog template or a WYSWYG that can generate digital visuals very easily and cheaply, so the strength of your original ideas is going to be what allows you to compete with automatic layout programs.
Materials and Texts
Flash/Thumb Drive for frequent back up of work. It's not a bad idea to have two.
Attendance
I want this to be a fun, exciting and challenging experience that is loose in many ways of interpretation, but be warned, I take absences and lateness very seriously - we cannot get into the nuances and minutia of this course without full participation from everyone. If you are ill, please stay home, however, giving me notice of your absence PRIOR to class via email. If you do not let me know prior to class that you will be absent, I will not excuse the absence.
Three unexcused absences will result in a half-letter drop in your grade. Each subsequent unexcused absence will result in another half-letter grade drop. Should you miss a class, you're responsible for keeping abreast of what is due next class, either through this syllabus or contacting a classmate. I do not take responsibility for letting you know what you missed. Ask a classmate. Find a buddy to keep in touch with through out the semester incase you are absent or late and miss information given in class. Again, I don't take responsibility for letting you know what you missed, excused or unexcused.
You are also expected to arrive on time to class – After 10 minutes, I keep a policy of closing the locked door and not allowing students to join class. Late arrivals past ten minutes are considered an absence. Late arrivals are extremely disruptive, disrespectful, and rude. I keep this policy to minimize the disruption for students who have arrived on-time.
If you are any more than ten minutes late or leave class early without prior conversations with me, I will consider that an unexcused absence.
Three late arrivals up to ten minutes will be considered an unexcused absence.
Grading
6 Projects 60%
FINAL Project 20%
Artist Presentation 10%
In-Class Participation 10%
Extensions may be possible with prior conversations with me regarding your situation.
Any project accepted will not receive full credit and will be graded at my discretion.
Academic Integrity
All class members are to follow the fundamental principles of academic integrity outlined in the Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct. The policy on Academic Misconduct appears in the code and in the schedule of classes. The basic principle is that students take credit only for the ideas and efforts that are their own. Any act of academic dishonesty will place you in jeopardy of the most severe form of sanction by Towson University expulsion from the university.
Included among dishonest behaviors in an academic setting are cheating (using or attempting to use unauthorized assistance, materials, information, or study aids in an academic exercise), fabrication (falsifying or inventing information in an academic exercise), plagiarism(adopting or reproduction of ideas, words, or statements of another person without appropriate acknowledgment), interference (stealing, changing, destroying, or impeding another students work), and facilitating (intentionally or knowingly helping or attempting to help another student commit an act of academic misconduct.
Students with Disabilities
As required by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, appropriate accommodations will be made for all students with documented disabilities. If you have a disability requiring accommodation in this class, please notify the instructor as soon as possible. This information will be kept confidential.
Course Calendar
Week 1
- Introductions to the course and each other, Artist Presentation Sign Ups
- Presentation of Artists who work in unorthodox ways
- Review reading list for the semester
Project 1: Sign System: A piece which has two different kinds of sign systems (image/text for example) combined in some way. Some artist references: (Matt Mullican, Jeff Koons, Sherrie Levine, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Andy Warhol, Ed Ruscha, Neil Jenney, Jasper Johns, Barbara Kruger, Mark Tansey)
Week 2
- Presentations of previous student work
- Artist Presentation Sign-Ups
- Reading Response 1 Due: Discussion
- In class work on Project 1
Week 3
- Project 1 Due: Critique
Project 2: Create a work based on a color system that combines found objects, pigments, paint and other materials
Week 4
- Reading Response 2 Due: Discussion
- Artist presentations (2-3 students)
- In class work on Project 2
Week 5
- Project 2 Due: Critique
Project 3: Create a work that gives evidence of the passage of time and/or motion. (Jonathan Borofsky, Izhar Patkin)
Week 6
- Reading Response 3 Due: Discussion
- Artist presentations (2-3 students)
- In class work on Project 3
Week 7
- Project 3 Due: Critique
Project 4: Use Architecture as a work surface, make a model of a viewable scale, incorporate the design into the architecture.
Week 8
- Reading Response 4 Due: Discussion
- Artist presentations (2-3 students)
- In class work on Project 4
Week 9: BREAK
Week 10
- Project 4 Due: Critique
Project 5: The miniature can be a window into another world, into a space that we can only inhabit through imagination, perhaps making the space within it full of exploratory possibilities. Make a work that explores the potential miniature.
Week 11
- Reading Response 5 Due: Discussion
- Artist presentations (2-3 students)
- In class work on Project 5
Week 12
- Project 5 Due: Critique
Project 6: Digital art in three-dimensions
Week 13
- Reading Response 6 Due: Discussion
- Artist presentations (2-3 students)
- In class work on Project 6
Week 14
- Project 6 Due: Critique
- Presentation and Discussion of Final Project Ideas
Week 15
- Artist presentations (2-3 students)
- In class work on Final Projects
Week 16
- Critique Final Projects
Grading Criteria
A Level Work:
A 93-100%
A- 90-92.9%
Outstanding work!
Demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of concepts and techniques presented shows exceptional attention to detail and excellent craftswo/manship demonstrates outstanding creativity and initiative
B Level Work:
B+ 87-89.9%
B 83-86.9%
B- 80-82.9%
Good job! You are on the right track, but you could improve a little bit.
Demonstrates a good understanding concepts and techniques presented shows attention to detail and commendable craftswo/manship demonstrates creativity and initiative.
C Level Work:
C+ 77-79.9%
C 70-76.9%
You are doing ok, but you could be doing better. Ask for help.
Demonstrates a base level understanding of concepts and techniques presented shows little attention to detail and lacking in craftswo/manship lacking in creativity and initiative.
D Level Work:
D+ 67-69.9
D 60-66.9
Poorly executed.
Demonstrates no understanding of concepts and techniques presented shows no attention to detail and deficient craftswo/manship demonstrates no creativity or initiative.
F Level Work:
F 0-59.9%
Not executed or fraudulent submission
Student does not attempt the course activity or submits a project which shows evidence of plagiarism, fraud, or copyright violation.
Examples of Student Work:
