|
Working
Procedures
This
class met only one-hour a week. I took an hour from the Basic
Design class. This worked well as Basic Design incorporated
refinement, tight restrictions and it was tedious; Visual
Communications was fast paced, varied, colorful, individualized
and was a good counterpoint to Basic Design. It also balanced
perceptual and conceptual student development concurrently.
The
one-hour class period was used for critiquestudents put work
on the board and it was critiqued by both the teacher and
students. The time was also used for presenting the next problem.
My belief is that the work is best done outside of class so
there is less tendency for students to borrow ideas from one
another.
The
first problems are done with 1-inch squares and communication
is established through arrangement. By using 1-inch squares,
it forces students to work abstractly without detail, and
establishes the importance of juxtaposition, color and abstraction
in visual communication. Students can focus on communication
without having to also cope with color, shape or content at
the same time.
Working
with squares reinforces the premise of abstract communication.
The simple addition of color as an added communication device
is a small but valuable step. Once the concept of abstract
communication is recognized by students, the limitations can
gradually be relaxed.
I
began building a slide file of professional work employing
strong communication concepts which periodically was shown
to and discussed with students so they might better understand
their role as visual communicators.
Students
keep the work until semester reviews. They are encouraged
to do work over, and over again. If students do not do work
over, especially weak pieces, for semester review, it should
count against them.
Criteria
There are three main criteria:
1
The
quality of communication concept. Simplicity and directness
of communication are essential. Is the image uncomplicated
and the communication clear?
2
Formal values or aesthetics of the image - composition,
shape, color, etc.
3
Craft of putting the image together
It
is extremely important
that there be follow-through with the concept of the Graphic
Designer as a visual communicator. Throughout the program,
students should be held accountable as to what are they communicating,
and are they communicating it clearly and directly?
|
