Publication Design

DES 386 001 #1936
Tuesday and Thursday 5:45 pm – 8:50 pm Micheels Hall— 185

Project(s)

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Publishing is a direct form of graphic expression. Its primary concern is words and the form they take—on a page, a collection of pages or a computer screen—and how that form contributes to the meaning of those words.

Today, many designers are initiating their own projects, wielding their visual skills and knowledge of the publishing industry to become their own producers. These designers are at the forefront of the indie publishing movement. The designer as publisher is in a unique position to unify text, imagery, layout, and final production into a whole that is greater than its parts.

Book design is an art form. There is a long tradition of book making, the book design process is closely intertwined with production and manufacturing—how your book is physically constructed. This class will examine basic principles of sequence, page design, typography, and cover design. As you begin the design process, you will also need to keep in mind how your book will be made.

In this course, the act of publishing works is examined from the perspective of a variety of visual systems. Typographic systems, design theory, principles of composition; alternative publishing methods will be explored through reading, research, writing exercises, formal projects, workshops, and design production. Sequential studies will follow the design process: problem-solving through exploration, experimentation, selection, critique, and refinement. Words, phrases, and bodies of text will be manipulated to develop an understanding of how layout, hierarchy, and compositional principles effect readability and legibility – and ultimately the creation and conveyance of meaning. Along the way, craft, presentation and research skills will be refined. The primary goal of the class is to develop students’ confidence and abilities with publishing as communicative medium, an informational system, and as contemporary mode of visual expression.

ORGANIZATION

This class is organized into three sections of development:

Contents: research / writing / design
Contrast: objective / construction / composition
Context: physical / analogue / digital

This is a studio class. Class time will be primarily devoted to in-class work time; also including lectures, writing exercises, one on one evaluation, quizzes, in-class exercises, discussions, demonstrations, and critiques —so please come prepared to be productive and focused in class. Assignments for this class will include textbook readings, research from additional sources, analysis and critique of ‘found’ design, and—of course—studio design production. Exercises will involve some handwork, to train the eye and the hand; and digital typographic design and illustration using (primarily) InDesign; supplemented with Illustrator and Photoshop.

In addition to the process of design and the act of making, this course will examine and identify appropriate content for online publishing applications. You will be expected to utilize and share your work; and comment on works of your peers.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

To provide an overview of the expressive and aesthetic dimensions of published content
To engage students (individually and as collaborative teams) in the creative development and design of projects that focus on the letter, word, text, grid, and book.
To develop a critical perspective on the technological, cultural and social qualities of publishing.
To apply the elements of design to diverse methods of composition applied to a variety of media.
To solve design problems while working within specified limitations.
To develop skills involved in verbal presentation of one’s work (discussion of design concepts, reasons for selection of particular styles)
To enhance technical proficiency
Compositions combining image and type in a series of related works to organize information utilizing grid structures, with the goal of informing end-users
Compositions combining image and type in narrative sequence, with the goal of expression and entertainment.
To expose students to the technical processes inherent in the production of printed and electronic graphic works.