ClassInfo

GPH 259 Design Geometry

Winter 2014-2015
Class number: 20199
Section number: 801
Tu 5:45PM - 9:00PM
LEWIS 01107 Loop Campus
Course homepage: http://d2l.depaul.edu

Download syllabus

Summary

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course introduces students to geometry as used in design applications, especially computer graphics. It does so with a mixture of lecture, readings and lab practicums that trace geometric applications from the pre-historic roots of geometry to the present.

In the practicums students use hand drawing, CAD and computer modeling to execute visual problems in constructive geometry, surface symmetries, trigonometry, projection, spline and surface geometry.

OBJECTIVES

Among many topics, students will gain a practical understanding of the following:
1) The principles of classic constructive geometry, i.e., Euclidean geometry, and the application of these principles to solving geometric problems.
2) A working knowledge, gained in a CAD environment, of the representation of classic geometry in vector space.
3) The principles of projective geometry as they apply to 3D projections and realizing these principles using constructive means, especially angle intercept and the graphic concept of reverse perspective.
4) Pre-calculus intuitions of conic and spline curves including curved surfaces.
5) A "tradesman's" knowledge of trigonometric relationships.



Texts

TEXT AND READINGS

1) Luecking, Design Geometry, available on D2L.
2) Software tutorials on D2L.
3) Lab tutorials available on D2L.
4) Other handouts available through D2L.

LAB

The lab component in this course involves weekly lab sections. Lab activities will be defined primarily by assignments from class and by tutorials provided through the D2L site at http://d2l.depaul.edu. The initial lab session will cover accessing and using online resources for the duration of the course.

Initially, there are many short hand drawn exercises, taking only 15 or 20 minutes each. All should be executed using some basic drawing tools (e.g. drawing pencil, ruler, compass, drafting triangles, etc.) A list and sources for the recommended drafting tools will be provided and discussed during the initial class session.

Class activities and labs will then require the use of additional software available in the classrooms/labs. The following programs are primary examples of the software that will be used in the course:
1) Rhino 3D (3D design, NURBS Modeling)
2) PolyPro (Polyhedron modeling/construction)
3) Anamorph Me (3D Anamorphic Projections)



Grading

GRADING

Exercises/Assignments/Labs are worth 50% of the final grade. All must be completed. This includes three major projects worth 25% in total; five other minor assignments/labs are worth 5% each; the drawing exercises are worth 10% of the grade; the mid-term reading quiz is worth 10%; the final reading quiz is worth 10%, and the final paper is worth 10%. Class and lab attendance and participation is worth 10%. Test questions will be on terms and concepts taken from the handouts, lectures, and exercise/laboratories. A practice quiz will provide experience in the instructor's testing methods, but will not count toward the final grade.

Exercises and projects are graded equally on two aspects: 1) professional presentation and 2) mathematical validity. Professional presentation includes: control of line weight, neatness, precision, and adherence to presentation guidelines. In the case of the projects, creative engagement is also a factor. Mathematical validity includes: proper methodology, completeness and understanding of principles. Students may submit one revision of an exercise or project to achieve the higher grade. Late submissions depreciate the grade by one point. This cannot be made up.



Course Structure and General Outline

COURSE STRUCTURE

The course is structured around a series of themes that follow the history of mathematical applications in art, while offering a progressive growth in geometric intuitions and computer presentation. There are extensive hands-on assignments, which comprise much of the laboratory component of the course.

1) Constructive Geometry (2 weeks/6 hours)
Students will review the evolution of constructive geometry from pre-historic rope geometry to the Greek invention of axiomatic geometry. Students will learn the basic principles of geometry as practiced in the layout and design of such ancient monuments as Stonehenge, the Egyptian pyramids, and Hindu and Greek temples.
Lab exercises include the compass-and-straightedge construction of perpendiculars, angle bisections, determining arc centers, triangulating procedures, and the application of right triangles to proto-trigonometric problems.

Homework: Execute selected constructions given in the text handouts.
Project #1: Basic Design (Glyph or Crop Circle)

2) Vector Geometry (1 week/3 hours)
Students will learn how constructive principles of geometry are practiced in computer graphics by means of vector representation. Special focus will be given to orthographic and polar coordinate systems. Students will become familiar with the 2D/3D CAD environment by using it to execute advanced constructions.

PRACTICE QUIZ

3) Polygons and Polyhedrons (1 week/3 hours)
Students will learn the traditional process of inscribing regular polygons in a circle as well as how to generate symmetry transformations. Following this student will generate patterns for constructing polyhedrons using the edit commands in CAD.


Project #2: Polyhedral Construction (Platonic & Archimedean Solids; Symmetry)
Software: PolyPro; Rhino 3D

4) Trigonometry Basics (1 week/3 hours)
Students will be introduced to the principles of trigonometry as computational geometry including the derivation of trigonometric functions from the unit circle. Students will learn to solve triangles using these functions.

MID-TERM Reading Quiz

4) Projection Geometry (3 weeks/9 hours)
Students will develop a practical knowledge of projection especially perspective projection and learn to relate perspective to computer rendering. Students will learn the basic principles of perspective projection as developed by DaVinci, Della Francesca and Durer. They will learn to distinguish between conical and cylindrical projection and will see the derivation of conic curves from the projection of the circle.

Project # 3: Virtual Anamorph
Software: AnamorphMe; Rhino 3D (and related projects)

5) Curves and Surfaces (1 week/3 hours)
This portion of the class will address the history and development of spline geometry and the application of normals, tangents and different concepts of curvature to analyze these curves. These principles will expand to include NURBS surface geometry, especially as regards the relationships between curves and surfaces. The role of mesh geometry in the rendering of surfaces concludes this section.

6) Fractals (1 week/3 hours)
Students will learn the basic principles of fractal geometry and chaos structure as well as their applications in computer graphics

Final Project: 3D Design and Camera Animation
FINAL Paper and Final Reading Quiz



School policies:

Changes to Syllabus

This syllabus is subject to change as necessary during the quarter. If a change occurs, it will be thoroughly addressed during class, posted under Announcements in D2L and sent via email.

Online Course Evaluations

Evaluations are a way for students to provide valuable feedback regarding their instructor and the course. Detailed feedback will enable the instructor to continuously tailor teaching methods and course content to meet the learning goals of the course and the academic needs of the students. They are a requirement of the course and are key to continue to provide you with the highest quality of teaching. The evaluations are anonymous; the instructor and administration do not track who entered what responses. A program is used to check if the student completed the evaluations, but the evaluation is completely separate from the student’s identity. Since 100% participation is our goal, students are sent periodic reminders over three weeks. Students do not receive reminders once they complete the evaluation. Students complete the evaluation online in CampusConnect.

Academic Integrity and Plagiarism

This course will be subject to the university's academic integrity policy. More information can be found at http://academicintegrity.depaul.edu/ If you have any questions be sure to consult with your professor.

All students are expected to abide by the University's Academic Integrity Policy which prohibits cheating and other misconduct in student coursework. Publicly sharing or posting online any prior or current materials from this course (including exam questions or answers), is considered to be providing unauthorized assistance prohibited by the policy. Both students who share/post and students who access or use such materials are considered to be cheating under the Policy and will be subject to sanctions for violations of Academic Integrity.

Academic Policies

All students are required to manage their class schedules each term in accordance with the deadlines for enrolling and withdrawing as indicated in the University Academic Calendar. Information on enrollment, withdrawal, grading and incompletes can be found at http://www.cdm.depaul.edu/Current%20Students/Pages/PoliciesandProcedures.aspx.

Students with Disabilities

Students who feel they may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the instructor privately to discuss their specific needs. All discussions will remain confidential.
To ensure that you receive the most appropriate accommodation based on your needs, contact the instructor as early as possible in the quarter (preferably within the first week of class), and make sure that you have contacted the Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD) at:
Lewis Center 1420, 25 East Jackson Blvd.
Phone number: (312)362-8002
Fax: (312)362-6544
TTY: (773)325.7296