FMD Syllabus – Laybourne - 1/5/15 – page 1

FOUNDATIONS OF MEDIA DESIGN

COURSE DESCRIPTION This course is designed as a prerequisite to other media production courses within the MA degree program in Media Studies: it provides a broad orientation for understanding areas of media production and the precepts of media design. Through an activity-based study of perceptual principles, drawing, graphic design, photography, sound, and the moving image, students examine the underlying forms, principles and processes of media, as viewers, reviewers, and as makers. Students will also explore their own creativity, career interests, and personal strengths in various production roles.

METHOD & COURSE REQUIREMENTS

This course stresses the use of basic digital gear and software, as applied to conceptual and analytical problems within media design. Weekly creative exercises, web research, and production projects will reinforce lectures and studio workshops. There are no tests and no formal papers, although students are expected to write design critiques and maintain a regular log of images and observations. The course content builds sequentially, and leads to a modest final project. The instructor will be consistently giving assignments that require as much as 6 hours per week of “outside” time.

EXERCISES & PROJECTS The course has three “cycles” of short, stand-alone exercises: Targeting (6 exercises), Still-Life (12) and Portraits (10). These weekly creative tasks aim to materialize abstract concepts to experiment practically. There are three larger “projects” that require sustained work through a number of steps. Each student will work individually in developing a “60 sec Spot”. Each student will also build an interactive selection of semester work as either a “Site or DV”. Finally, the class will divide into production teams that collaborate on a “Group Narrative” of about 5 minutes length.

READINGS & ON-LINE RESOURCES

There is no assigned text for the course. A number of books will be recommended and students are expected to develop production library that covers areas of particular interest to them. The course will involve considerable time reviewing the Design Chops domain within the Kit Laybourne’s web site, where you will find some pdfs. An online training site Lynda.com is recommended as single source for useful instruction about software.

ATTENDANCE & GRADES Grades will be based upon (a) attendance & participation (20%), (b) a string of short individual projects that culminate in a web site (45%), (c) a group project (25%) and a short paper (10%) that reflects upon the course a experiences vis-à-vis goals for further learning in the MA program. Attendance is important and more than two unexcused absences may result in reduction by a full grade level.

TOOLS Topics and techniques of design will be taught primarily through a digital toolset based on the Macintosh OSX operating system. Our classroom is equipped with updated Mac workstations and ample time is available for out-of-class work on the University’s hardware. On Saturdays throughout the semester, FMD Teaching Assistants will offer Saturday Workshops on particular hardware and software. A schedule for this will be reviewed in class. It is recommended that students arrange access to a digital still camera for location-based assignments. In order to store their digital files, students will need to provide approximately 5 blank CD-R compact disks (650+ MB), a Flash Drive or an external, portable Fire-Wire drive. By the second class, students will need to acquire some drawing tools plus an artist’s sketchbook.

FMD Syllabus – Laybourne - 1/5/15 – page 2

CLASS SCHEDULE #1 – Designer’s Eye & Hand - 1/22

introductions: Overview, Definitions, & Housekeeping screenings: “Why Man Creates” by Saul Bass studio: Basic drawing technique assignments: Design Chops (on- going), Skills Inventory, Still Life Cycle, Date with Mirror, Media Scan (on-going), Idea Vault (on-going)

#2 – Digital Intensive - 1/29 lecture: Short History of Graphic Style studio: Intro Computer Facilities; Digital Drawing & Graphic Design tools. assignments: Raw to Cooked, Grid Portrait, Still Life,

#3 – Illustration – 2/05 lecture: The Pathology of Notes studio: Scanning & Managing Image Files; Illustrator Intro assignments: Self as Strumpet, Alter Ego, Still Life

#4 – Type & Layout - 2/12 lecture; The Design Process studio: MS Word as Graphic Design Tool assignment: Garish Slate, Custom Font Library, Personal Logotype

President’s Day 2/19 no class #5 – Photography – 2/26

lecture: A Short History of Photography: screening “Visions of Light” studio: Lighting Basics: assignments: Camera Inventory, Portrait of a Friend, Photo Self Portrait

#6 – Image Editing – 3/05 lecture: Archiving & Non-Destructive Editing studio: Photoshop Intro; assignment: Makeovers, Retouching, Working the Edges

#7 – Images-in-Series– 3/12 lecture: Four Modes of Structure; screening: collection of shorts studio: iMovie & Final Cut Express for slide shows assignment: Scene & Structure Set

Spring Break 3/19 no class #8 –Ideation & The Production Process – 3/26

lecture: Intro to “60 Second Spot” Project studio: Ideation Techniques assignment: Three Pitches

#9 – Audio – 4/02 lecture: Lighting Basics: studio: Garage Band Intro; Recording Technique assignment: Sound Bed; Cutting to Beat, Spot: treatment, script, production plan.

# 10 – Writing, Directing, Performing – 4/09 lecture: Writing & Storyboarding studio: Group Narrative Project Intro & Brainstorming assignments: Spot: Production; Group: Beat Outline

#11 – Interactive Design – 4/16 lecture: Distribution and Sharing via Web and Wireless studio: iDVD, iWeb and others; Group: Story Conference, Role Selection assignment: Spot; Production; Group: Script Draft; site/DVD: Flowchart

#12 – DV Shooting & Non-Linear Editing - 4/23 lecture: Shooting Technique; Acting; Directing; Non-Linear Editing & QuickTime; Film & TV: The Biz, Genres & Careers studio: Group: Table Reading; Pre-Production assignment: Spot; Production; Group: Final Script & Director’s Breakdown: site/DV: Build-Out.

#13 – Narrative Production - 4/30 studio: teams shoot on location assignment: Spot; Rough Cut: Group: Assembly; site/DV: Build-Out.

#14 - One-on-One Screenings – 5/07 studio: during this open workshop, instructor will schedule quarter-hour rough cut screenings with each student of their “:60 Spot”. assignments: Course Evaluation; Complete & duplicate site/DV; Program Goal Setting.

Student Showcase – 5/11 #15 –Course Wrap-Up – 5/14

studio: World Premieres – “:60 Spot” & “Site or DVD” (by individuals) & “Group Narrative” (by teams)