Instructor: Mark Pease
Office: Glove Factory 110
Telephone: (618) 453-3260
Email: markpease@siu.edu
Office Hours/Informal meeting and availability: Monday and Wednesday, 2:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Meeting Times and Location:
Monday and Wedesday, 8:00 - 10:50 AM, Pulliam 0163
Course Description:
The course will cover the foundations of digital art and design. Primarily using the Adobe Creative Cloud, students will gain proficiency and skills in digital illustration, digital imaging, image manipulation, layout, and digital output. Refinement and development of the design process and digital art concepts is emphasized as well as technical proficiency and practical application. Components of the class will include: assignments, work on projects, readings, discussions and critiques.
Course Objectives:
- Students shall obtain the skills to operate the core functions of Adobe Creative Cloud software applications (Illustrator, Photoshop) through the completion of tutorials and class work.
- Students will become competent in the process of visualizing and creating digital art and design.
- Students will become acquainted with the role of digital media within various disciplines of art and design.
- Students will continue to develop and manage components of their portfolio through class projects.
Text:
- Much of the course material will be delivered through online demos. Additional readings will provided by the instructor.
Required Materials:
- Students will need to provide a dedicated storage device for project files and have devices in class. A minimun 32 GB USB storage drive is required. A secondary storage locations is highly recommended such as Google Drive, OneDrive, etc. for backups. Students will be responsible for backing up and having all files ready at all times.
- Students will be expected to take notes through out the semester and use a sketchbook, pencils, pens, erasers, etc. for preliminary drawings.
- Optional - specific 3-Button Mouse, stylus tablet.
- Adobe Creative Cloud (desktop) applications available in the lab (students will need to create a free Adobe ID for log in). Students are not required to buy this software, but access to the SOAD Lab is limited. Students may work in Communications B9 after hours. * Note compatibility issues.
- Some assignments will require color prints. $5 will cover printing for the course.
- Students will need access to either a DSLR camera capable of shooting in RAW format OR a smartphone with the Adobe Lightroom App installed (the Lightroom App from Adobe is included with the Adobe CC subscription)
- Google Drive and One Drive are recommended. Backup and storage of working files is required.
- Optional - Maxon One - 1 yearsubsription ($60) for personal machine access to RedGiant FX suites.
Assignments and points
- Assignment 1 - Illustrator Shapes - 10 pts.
- Assignment 2 - Pen Tool Primer - 10 pts.
- Assignment 3 - Animal Illustration - 50 pts.
- Assignment 4 - Stamp - 15 pts.
- Assignment 5 - Appliance - 30 pts.
- Assignment 6 - Found Image Collage- 15 pts.
- Assignment 7 - Image Correction - 35 pts.
- Assignment 8 - Collage Portrait - 15 pts.
- Assignment 9 - Digital Matte Painting- 50 pts.
- Assignment Final - You Pick 2 - 2 @ 15 pts. each
CRITIQUE/PRESENTATONS AND POINTS
- Points will be awarded for attending critiques, participating in discussion, and presenting projects
- Assignment 4 - Stamp - 10 pts.
- Assignment 5 - Appliance - 10 pts.
- Assignment 9 - Digital Matte Painting - 10 pts.
- Final Assignment - 10 pts.
PARTICIPATION POINTS
Throughtout the semester participation points will be assigned to discussions, chats, feedback critiques, and breakout sessions. These points will count towards the final semester grade. Some participation points will be determined by participation and attention during demonstrations. Texting and phone usage during demonstrations may result in a loss of participation points.
Work time:
The expected worktime + contact time for each week is approximately 8-10 hours. (Based on an in-person section of 6 hours of in-class worktime/lecture time and 2-4 hours of outside worktime/homework)
evaluation methods:
Grades in the course are based on points earned for each assignment and participation in critiques and discussion.
Grading criteria will be established for each project and points will be awarded based on 4 categories: focus, design, craftsmanship, and creativity. Specific criteria and a rubric will be provided for each project.
Grades will be assessed according to the outline below:
Focus: Completion of outlined criteria, meeting objectives, following directions, time devoted inside and outside of class
- A- superior focus. Meets or exceeds all criteria and expectations of the assignment.
- B - above average focus. Missing one criteria or expectation of the assignment.
- C - average focus. Missing two criteria or expectations of the assignment.
- D - below average focus. missing three or more criteria or expectations of the assignment.
- F - poor to no focus. missing more than three criteria or expectations of the assignment.
Design: Understanding and demonstration of the elements and principles of design as they relate to the assignment
Elements of Design
line, form, shape, space, color, texture, value
Principles of Design
contrast, unity, dominance, balance, rhythm/repetition, movement, pattern, weight
- A - superior and consistent understanding and application of design elements and principles.
- B - good understanding and application of design elements and principles with some inconsistency.
- C - basic understanding and application of design elements and principles with several inconsistencies.
- D - weak understanding and application of design elements and principles with several inconsistencies.
- F - minimal to no understanding and application of design elements and principles with a large number of inconsistencies.
Craft: Skill and aptitude for handling digital and analog materials and tools. Skill in execution. Proper use of digital components and files.
- A - superior display of skill for manipulating tools. superior techniques used to complete projects and assignments
- B - proficient display of skill for manipulating tools. proficient techniques used to complete projects and assignments
- C - good degree of skill for manipulating tools. good technique used to complete projects and assignments
- D - less than average display of skill for manipulating tools. less than average technique used to complete projects and assignments
- F - minimal to no display of skill for manipulating tools. minimal display of technique used to complete projects and assignments
Creativity: Original, inventive and independent thinking used to solve problems and generate solutions to assignments with unique styles and ideas.
- A - superior and consistent originality used to achieve a unique solution; highest degree of independence for solving problems and totally self-initiated style and ideas
- B - above average and mostly consistent originality used to achieve a unique solution; ability to work independently to solve problems and find solutions. application for style and ideas with outside sources
- C - some originality used to achieve a solution; some style and ideas present thematically
- D - below average originality used to achieve a solution; style and idea is not fully developed with little initiative
- F - minimal to no originality with weak or copied solution; no independent development of idea and style
GRADE scale:
| letter grade equivalent | |
| 94-100% | A |
| 90-93% | A- |
| 87-89% | B+ |
| 83-86% | B |
| 80-82% | B- |
| 77-79% | C+ |
| 73-76% | C |
| 70-72% | C- |
| 67-69% | D+ |
| 60-66% | D |
| 0-59% | F |
Late Work:
- Work must be submitted according to instructor’s guidelines COMPLETED and ON TIME on the due date.
- Late or unfinished work will lose 10% PER DAY including weekends.
- 6 days after the due date, late work will not be accepted and earn 0 points.
- If a student is absent when an assignment is due, they are responsible for submitting the assignment on time.
Attendance policy:
- Students are required to attend all regularly scheduled classes. Attendance will be taken.
- Students may not arrange to leave early or arrive late.
- Arriving late or leaving early (10+min) equals an absence.
- An absence will be recorded for not showing up with materials, working on other projects during class, or not working.
- An absence will be recorded for students working on Facebook, Instagram,YouTube, email, texting, etc.
Absence Policy
- Students are allotted unexcused 3 absences for the semester. (personal health, personal day, possible exposure to a virus, conflict for another event, etc.)
- On the 4TH unexcused absence a student’s semester grade will be lowered 1/2 OF A FULL LETTER GRADE and continued to be lowered 1/2 OF A FULL LETTER GRADE for each additional absence.
- Students are required to keep track of absences and may receive a warning after 3 unexcused absences. Students are required to keep track of unexcused absences.
- In-class quizzes and progress checks cannot be made up.
- Participation points for critiques can only be earned on critique days.
- Absences will be excused only for the following reasons: SIU athletic department sponsored activity, observances of major religious holidays, DSS attendance adjustments, Student Absence Notification from the Universty, and scheduled medical appointments for the student with written documentation (no health center walkout statements). Students are required to notify the instructor 3 days prior to a scheduled medical appointment for themselves and provide a letter from the medical provider upon return to class.
Studio Policies/ Studio Guidelines:
- All SIUC computer lab policies must be followed
- NO FOOD in the labs.
- All SIUC health guidelines must be followed according to the syllabus attachment.
- Cell phones must be turned OFF during meeting times and will not be answered.
- No headphones during specified times.
SoAD Lab:
Students must abide by all posted rules when using the SoAD Lab.
SIU Syllabus Attachment
Click here for official Syllabus Attachment