ah teaches graphic design (Sketchapalooza lecture)
Sketchapalooza
Lecture outline
An overview of the course and the fundamentals of sketching and design process. Lecture slides will be made available on the day of the lecture.
Sketchapalooza
Welcome to IAT-102!
In preparation for lecture...
Please close up any laptops, cellphones, BlackBerries, Pippin's and other 'beep-boop' devices.
Your teaching team
Lecturer:
Andrew Hawryshkewich
TA:
Luke Blanchett
Meet your neighbours
We are going to take a moment to meet your neighbours. Find someone sitting next to (or near to) you that you have not met before and:
- Introduce yourself (Hello, my name is INSERT_NAME_HERE!)
- Describe any previous experience with graphic design (I once Photoshopped myself out of a photo...)
- Explain why you are interested in this course (I am in this course because I really want to learn about octopods...)
- Share a fun summer anecdote (I didn't know it was possible to be attacked by so many mosquitoes...)
You have 5 minutes.
Announcements
Important announcements will be posted to Canvas. These will often clarify or remind of important upcoming items.
Contacting your instructors
A friendly how-to
Andrew and Luke are available:
- Through email at
- On our Discord channel (sign up on Canvas)
- During office hours
Email rules
No design critique via email or chat. Please arrange a meeting or attend office hours for design critique.
To make responses faster, please include the following in your email:
- Your full name.
- The course number (IAT-102).
- A clear question.
Chat conduct
When chatting:
- Please treat our online interactions the same way you would in-person interactions.
- Please do not posting personally identifying information about yourself or others.
- Any questions about grades or feedback should be directed to Andrew via email.
If you have concerns about anyone's conduct at any point, please direct message or email Andrew.
Office hours
Please make sure to reach out to us in advance of office hours to let us know you are coming. It helps us with budgeting time and making sure we can see everyone.
Zoom etiquette
Most office hours will be available through Zoom. You will need to log in through sfu.zoom.us before being able to access the room.
- Links are provided on Canvas.
- Please use headphones.
- Bring any materials for critique ready as a web link that we can download/share screen from.
Illness policy
If you are ill, stay home. Follow-up with Andrew to arrange an alternative time for critique.
If you will be ill for a prolonged period of time (more than a week) please email Andrew to arrange accommodations.
If Andrew is ill, I will notify you via Canvas and course chat before 8:30am on the day of the lecture.
Lectures
This term we are holding our class as a 'studio' lecture - a communal space we meet to cover theory, practice, critique and software for graphic design.
Workload
A reminder that this course expects about 2-5 hours of work per week outside of class. You will be able to complete some of this work in the lecture.
If you ever have concerns with workload please email Andrew.
Canvas
Our main course-site
Projects
- Process — 10% (Individual)
- Layout — 20% (Group)
- Presenting — 15% (Group)
- Portfolio — 30% (Individual)
75% of your grade.
Readings
Fee-free!
Readings are available entirely digitally.
Activities
In-lecture individual and group activities will only be available in-person during lecture time.
10% of your final grade.
Sketching exercises
Sketching exercises are to help further explore your projects and practice your sketching. We will typically discuss some of the prior week's sketches at the start of lecture.
10% of your final grade.
Use of AI
In this course you are welcome to make use of generative AI tools — unless specified — with the following condition: You must state how you generated the result you are working with in the submitted document.
This will include:
- the name of the tool;
- the parameters or prompt used; and,
- a copy of the generated material linked.
You may use the generated material as a starting point or assistant for your own work, but the AI result cannot be your final submission.
Plagiarism
This course has a zero tolerance policy for plagiarism on projects. If you are found presenting work that is not your own or resubmitting old work without notice, you will receive a failing grade on that project. No exceptions.
Late or problematic submissions
Late submissions receive 10% per day late.
Problematic submissions — i.e. we can't open the URL or the wrong files were submitted — receive an immediate 20% off plus late penalties on the resubmission.
Concerns with grades
Please notify Andrew via email of any grading concerns within 10 days of the grades being released. This can include just getting some further feedback and/or wanting to have something regraded.
Course overview questions?
If you have any questions that linger about the course overview, please feel free to email Andrew or ask during our lecture time.
This term
We will cover (but not limited to):
- Process
- Creativity
- Perception
- Composition
- History
- Type
- Audience
- Presenting
- Colour
- Medium
- Message
- Portfolio
- Ethics
- Interacting
Design Process
(also referred to as design 'thinking')
- Define
- Research
- Ideate
- Choose
- Try
- Learn (and repeat)
Design Thinking
- Define
- Research
- Ideate
- Choose
- Try
- Learn (and repeat)
Define
What you believe 'defines' graphic design?
Pull out your sketchbooks and a pen and write down as many things that 'define' graphic design as you can.
You have 5 minutes.
Look back at your ideas
How do you know your definitions are 'correct'?
Ideate
Generate ideas, lots of them
For today we are focusing on sketching as a means of generating ideas.
Good Sketching
When generating ideas
We are looking to suggest and explore, not to confirm our ideas.
Generating ideas
We are looking to suggest and explore, not to confirm our ideas. Our sketches should be:
- Quick
- Plentiful
- Appropriately detailed
- Disposable
Quick sketching
Quick sketching can be achieved through making appropriate sized sketches and not committing too much time to each sketch.
Work small and fast for ideation
Plentiful
We want to be generating lots of different ideas when we sketch.
'Similar' ideas:
Less 'similar' ideas:
Appropriate detail
When generating ideas our sketches should be low fidelity; rough with enough detail to talk about.
Keep Your Work
We will require all your paper, digital and in-process materials for your final project. Therefore keep all materials.
How to Choose the Best?
When dealing with a series of sketches, picking the best options to further explore is part of the challenge of learning design.
Technical Notes
Some things to be wary of in the coming weeks
Good Scan Quality
If you don't have access to a scanner taking photos is okay only if the clarity of the image is good. (see image on the right)
Bad Scan Quality
If we have trouble seeing the sketch clearly, we have a problem. If using your phone, 'scan' apps can help clean up the image for you.
Let's sketch
Take your brainstorming ideas from earlier, and turn them into something visual. What could visually represent the definitions for graphic design you came up with earlier?
You have 5 minutes.
Graphic Design is ______________?
With two neighbours, discuss your understanding of what graphic design is. You have 3 minutes.
Graphic design is expression?
Graphic design is icons?
Graphic design is logos?
Graphic design is type?
Graphic design is communication?
Graphic design is human?
Graphic design is for "creatives"?
In-class activity
Please follow the instructions on the print-out provided to complete your first in-class activity.
Figma tutorial time
As part of today's tutorial, we will be covering:
- Setting up a document in Figma
- Managing 'pages'
- Adding text
- Adding images
- Sharing projects
Please take a couple of minutes to set up an account with Figma so you can work on your own machine.
Moodboarding
A primer
- Have a clear goal.
Moodboarding
A primer
- Have a clear goal.
- Collect materials — images, typography, colours — that evoke the 'mood' you are striving for.
Moodboarding
A primer
- Have a clear goal.
- Collect materials — images, typography, colours — that evoke the 'mood' you are striving for.
- Review, edit, and present.
What patterns do you see?
Sketching Exercises
Some items to remember about the exercises and sketching:
- Sketching is not about how beautifully you render something.
- We should still be able to read and interpret your sketches clearly.
- Sketches will be (mostly) due the next Monday before 8am.
- Sketches may be shown in lecture, so please avoid putting your name on them.
Homework review
Things to work on this week:
- Submit your sketching exercise before 8am on Monday (September 8).
- Work on your project and bring your deliverables to class next week.
Next week we talk about perception and design principles.
Break time!
Please return for class in 10 minutes