GD 231 Typography in Motion
Summary
GD 231
Section 701
DePaul University
College of Computing and Digital Media
Fall 2020
Credits: 4
Online—Asynchronous
Instructor: Kyle Green
kyle.andrew.green@gmail.com
Return email policy: within 24 hours
Zoom Office Hours
Thursday 6pm–7:30pm
By appointment
Final Exam
Week of November 16
Last Day to Drop Course
See https://academics.depaul.edu/calendar/Pages/default.aspx
Last Day to Select Pass/Fail Option
September 24
Course Basics
Description
This course will introduce students to the fundamental principles of typography within motion design.
Assignments will apply concepts of the sequential organization of typography as both form and expression, over time.
Goals / Learning Outcomes
Apply formal design principles and methods to motion typography.
Analyze how motion can enhance a typographic narrative.
Understand the history and discourse of motion design.
Study the basic principles of motion and gain a better understanding of the tools that motion designers use.
Objectives
Development of a title sequence for a film
on Swiss Graphic Design.
Translate the work of an artist into a promotional
motion piece for an exhibition.
Generate a series of videos over the course of the class that allows
the student to explore new aspects of motion.
Materials and Software
Sketchbook, laptop,
external hard drive,
Adobe Creative Suite
General Note on Technology
Rendering projects out from After Effects can take a long time. Please make sure progress is fully rendered out before each time we meet and before every critique. If students do not have their projects rendered before a critique, the class will not be able to critique their projects.
Make sure to save documents regularly while working as well as saving daily versions.
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.
Methods
This class will be taught asynchronously online. This means that we will not be meeting as a full class. Instead I will be releasing course materials to you throughout the quarter. You will work on the materials as you are able and submit them according to set due dates.
Each student will be required to sign up for weekly Zoom chats. There will be several time slots to sign up for each week. There will be slots for both individual and group options it is your decision which to sign up for. If you are unable to attend any of the time slots you will be required to email me to let me know so we can coordinate an alternate time for that week, depending on our schedules.
Weekly Work and How to Submit
All materials for the course can be found in the Content section of D2L. I will be creating a module for each week and all materials you are required to complete will be found in that module.
Each item you are assigned will have a due date. You will be required to upload a .MP4 file (or PDF depending on the assignment) to the D2L submissions folder associated with the item by the due date.
Below are different types of materials you will receive during the quarter:
- Lectures / Tutorials
Lectures / tutorials will be recorded by me and uploaded to D2L for you to watch. These will include items that will help with conceptual thinking and general knowledge about motion design along with tutorials that will help with form-making.
- Assignments
Assignments are projects that will last multiple weeks and will focus on using the skills you will learn during tutorials and workshops. There will be 2 assignments during this course.
- Weekly Experiments
In addition to the two main assignments during the quarter you will be expected to produce and deliver one motion experiment each week. You will recieve a PDF that outlines these weekly experiments.
- “in-class” Workshops
In order to learn and improve your skills using motion software, I will be assigning one workshop each week that will go over techniques that will help you in both your assignments and weekly experiments. While I am requiring you to turn in the end results of these workshops, I will be more focused on whether you are able to learn the new technique rather than the quality of the video you produce, meaning that as long as you do each workshop and upload your file of your end result you will pass this portion of the course.
Critiques
Group Critiques
Group critiques will be used as a way to generate dialogue on the aesthetic and conceptual subject matter being explored. Every student should consider how they can constructively help their classmates to move their ideas forward.
Is the message getting across?
What is the voice and tone of the design?
Is the typography used in a thoughtful and meaningful way?
Group critiques will usually take place when a project is in its final stage and may take up an entire class period.
Desk Critiques
Desk critiques will be used for individual meetings and to review progress on assignments. These one-on-one critiques are an opportunity to discuss issues of concept, form, and any technical or craft questions students may have. The duration of each desk critique will very depending on the schedule for that day.
Attendance and Grading
Attendance
Attendance will be measured by a student's ability to keep up on submitting materials on time along with signing up and joining weekly video chats.
Not signing up or not showing up for a scheduled video chat during any given week will count as an absence. If you need to miss a video chat for a valid reason please let me know at least 2 hours before the scheduled chat.
Two unexcused absences will result in a 0% for your class attendance grade.
Three unexcused absences will result in a failing grade for the class.
If a student misses four meetings, whether or not for a reasonable cause, the student
will fail the class if the student does not withdraw from the class prior to the deadline
for withdrawal.
Grading
15% Attendance
10% Class Participation in Critiques & Workshops
25% Weekly experiments
25% Assignment 1
25% Assignment 2
Students will be required to turn in final files by the listed due dates; however students can continue refining their projects with input from critiques and submit new files by the last day of class. Grades for that assignment will be updated based on the updated submission. If you do resubmit work, please let me know so I can update the grade.
Grading Scale
A 93–100%
A- 90–92%
B+ 87–89%
B 83–86%
B- 80–82%
C+ 77–79%
C 73–76%
C- 70–72%
D+ 67–69%
D 60–66%
F 0–59%
Pass / Fail Option
With this quarter being unique in that it is fully online and with limited communication, I would encourage you to explore making your grade in this class be pass/fail. This year students in all undergraduate classes, with the exception of those in CEO cohort programs, may opt to change the grading basis for any or all of their courses to Pass/D/Fail. A grade of Pass (P) will indicate that the student's work met expectations for a grade of at least C-. Work that would merit a grade of D+ or D in the traditional grading basis would still earn a D+ or D. Work that does not merit a passing grade will earn a Fail (F). The Pass/D/Fail grading option may apply to any graduation requirement, including courses in the major, minor, Liberal Studies Program or open electives.
https://resources.depaul.edu/coronavirus/faqs/Pages/classes-academics-students.aspx
Incomplete
An Incomplete grade is a special, temporary grade that may be assigned by an instructor when unforeseeable circumstances prevent a student from completing course requirements by the end of the term and when the student had a record of satisfactory progress otherwise in the course. CDM policy requires the student to initiate the request for Incomplete grade before the end of the term in which the course is taken. Prior to submitting the Incomplete request, the student must discuss the circumstances with the instructor. Students may initiate the Incomplete request process in MyCDM.
All Incomplete requests must be approved by the instructor of the course and a CDM Associate Dean. Only exceptional cases will receive such approval.
If approved, students are required to complete all remaining course requirements independently in consultation with the instructor by the deadline indicated on the incomplete request form.
By default, an Incomplete grade will automatically change to a grade of F after two quarters have elapsed (excluding summer) unless another grade is recorded by the instructor. An Incomplete grade does NOT grant the student permission to attend the same course in a future quarter.
Academic Policies
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. Please see https://resources.depaul.edu/teaching-commons/teaching/Pages/online-teaching-evaluations.aspx for additional information.
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.
Resources on Enrollment, Withdrawal and Grading
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
Withdrawal
Students who withdraw from the course do so by using the Campus Connection system http://campusconnect.depaul.edu. Withdrawals processed via this system are effective the day on which they are made. Simply ceasing to attend, or notifying the instructor, or nonpayment of tuition, does not constitute an official withdrawal from class and will result in academic as well as financial penalty.
Retroactive Withdrawal
This policy exists to assist students for whom extenuating circumstances prevented them from meeting the withdrawal deadline. During their college career students may be allowed one medical/personal administrative withdrawal and one college office administrative withdrawal, each for one or more courses in a single term. Repeated requests will not be considered. Submitting an appeal for retroactive withdrawal does not guarantee approval.
College office appeals for CDM students must be submitted online via MyCDM. The deadlines for submitting appeals are as follows:
Autumn Quarter: Last day of the last final exam of the subsequent winter quarter
Winter Quarter: Last day of the last final exam of the subsequent spring quarter
Spring Quarter: Last day of the last final exam of the subsequent autumn quarter
Summer Terms: Last day of the last final exam of the subsequent autumn quarter
Students With Disabilities
Students seeking disability-related accommodations are required to register with DePaul’s Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD) enabling them to access accommodations and support services to assist with their success. There are two office locations:
• Loop Campus (312) 362-8002
• Lincoln Park Campus (773) 325-1677
• Email: csd@depaul.edu
Students who register with the Center for Students with Disabilities are also invited to contact Dr. Gregory Moorhead, Director of the Center, privately to discuss how he may assist in facilitating the accommodations to be used in a course. This is best done early in the term. The conversation will remain confidential to the extent possible.
Please see https://offices.depaul.edu/student-affairs/about/departments/Pages/csd.aspx for Services and Contact Information.
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.
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.
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.
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 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