Instructor: Shane McDermott smcdermott@mca.edu
Office: Gibson Hall # 156 Hours: Tuesday 2-4
IL365 Illustration: Style
and Vision S15 MW 1-3:35pm
Course Description
Encountering a wide variety of subject matter, students respond
to assignment prompts reflecting the contemporary illustration marketplace.
They are encouraged to develop unique approaches to solutions, showing
integrity and authority in their visual speech by delving into style as it
relates to and effects substance. Conceptualization with a high level of visual
acuity is the main focus.
Course Outcomes
The
successful student will achieve the following course outcomes:•
Students will be able to visually communicate the source content
•
Students will provide evidence of concept development and ideation using
various modes of illustrative communication
•
Students will be able to competently craft representational images.
•
Students will demonstrate knowledge of composition and rendering using various
techniques and media
•
Students will begin a lifelong investigation of personal voice, documenting
exploration of content and process.
P2 Outcomes
The successful student will
achieve the following course outcomes:
•
Students will demonstrate the ability to document their work.
•
Students will demonstrate the ability to exhibit their work beyond the
classroom.
• Students will demonstrate computer/software literacy applicable to their
field.
•
Students will demonstrate the ability to research to stay current in their
field.
•
Students will demonstrate the ability to work collaboratively.
Grading/Professionalism
This course involves both
in-class and out-of-class assignments.
Projects will be graded on research (including sketches and visual
reference), composition (the design of the picture plane or integration of
illustration with text), communication (whether or not your image communicates
your intended idea clearly), technique (your exploration and mastery of digital
techniques), and personal development.
- Incomplete work is work that is not completed according to project
specifications and not completed for review or critique. (incomplete thumbnails or unfinished
projects) Incomplete work results
in an automatic C, but can be improved upon completion.
- Late work is any work not presented at the scheduled time for
review or critique. Late work
receives zero points, but can be turned in before the next class for a
grade no higher than a B. The
project is lowered an additional half letter grade for each week it is
late. It is the student’s
responsibility to present late work.
The instructor will not ask for it.
- A final project grade is the average of the thumbnail, revised
sketch, and project grade. Point
deductions for incomplete or late work are made after the average is
completed.
- Misspellings in headline text are deducted 10 points. Misspellings in body text are deducted 2
points each.
- Additional points may be deducted for pour resolution or print
quality, imagery that is unclear, compositional oversights, or an
unprofessional presentation.
- Every student is expected to participate in critique and to offer
both positive and negative feedback for a constructive discussion.
Project grades
Grading information distributed on 1/14/2015
Final Project Grades and Averaging
Research, Sketches, and Blog posts 50%
Illustration Projects 50%
Attendance
Absences
- There is no penalty for 3 or 4 absences in a MW class.
- The fifth absence reduces the final grade by 10 points (this can
be a tardy-absence)
- The sixth absence results in automatic failure of the class.
- Absences during critique irreversibly lower the project grade 5
points unless it is turned in before 9am on the morning of critique.
Tardies
- Arriving late to class or leaving early can be marked as a tardy.
- Three tardies equal one absence.
- Being tardy for critique irreversibly lowers the project grade by 10
points
- When possible and as soon as possible, notify your instructor of
impending tardies or absences.
Classroom Etiquette
Cell phones:
Make
sure that your cell phones are turned off during class. You may set your phone to vibrate if you have
an ongoing emergency (meaning birth, death, or catastrophic illness). DO NOT answer your phone in class. It’s rude.
In the event of an emergency call you may exit class and then answer or
return the call.
Music:
Headphones
are permitted, but ONLY during in-class work when I am not instructing and ONLY
if low enough that you can still hear me if I address you. Do not play music through the speakers.
Media:
I
don’t care if you occasionally check your email or watch someone’s bulldog
skateboard on YouTube, but it MUST NOT interfere with your work and it should
never be through the speakers.
Contact
The best way to contact me is
at smcdermott@mca.edu. Please give your
email a clear, descriptive subject line because I’m old and easily
confused. In turn, be sure to check your
MCA email account regularly because I will contact you if there are any last
minute changes to an assignment.
Class materials
- A thumb drive with sufficient storage space
- Access to a digital camera
- Good paper for printing your illustrations (when specified)
- Found textures for scanning (when specified)
Class Folder
You will each have a folder
on the server and there will be a class folder as well. This is where you’ll place your assignments
for critiques unless stated otherwise. I
will distribute this information when the folders have been completed.
Class Blog
The syllabus, schedule, and first
assignments are posted to the class blog at www.mcaill4.blogspot.com. Future assignments will be posted as they
are distributed. NEVER TELL ME YOU DIDN’T HAVE THE ASSIGNMENT! I will also post instructions here in the
event of a class cancellation.
Health and Safety
All students must comply with
health and safety regulations. Of
particular relevance to this class will be disposal of art materials. The classroom is provided with a sink, but
only water should be poured down the sink’s drain. All other materials should be collected for
appropriate processing. You will be
required to have an MSDS (material safety data sheet) with any and all
materials you bring to class. MSDS
sheets can be found online at DickBlick.com.
Keep the sheets with your materials when you bring them to class. Some materials require latex gloves, goggles,
or even masks. When using such materials
you will be required to take the necessary safety measures in class. If you have turned in MSDS for materials used
in a previous semester then you need only update existing supplies and record
any new materials you use in class this semester.
Mac Lab Rules
Observe and adhere to all Mac
Lab Rules as I will be enforcing them.
No food or drink is allowed in the lab.
Do not draw on the tables or the mouse pads. Do not chew on tablet pens. Make sure your area is clean and tidy with
your chair pushed under the table when you leave class.