syllabus — ART 101 — Digital Foundations

Final Project

Raster / Vector / Mixed-Media

a brief description:

This last project is an opportunity for you to create your own artwork and express your own artistic voice. Consider this a chance to build a portfolio piece that relates to your artistic interest(s) instead of simply fulfilling course requirements. The subject matter, concept, format, production media, and output media is entirely up to you with one caveat – the work must use Photoshop and/or Illustrator in some way in the creation/production of your artwork.

The goal of this assignment is for you to create a high-quality finished work. I hope that this is the best project you produce for this class and it should be finished with the highest quality and care.

suggestions to help you generate an idea:

• You can re-address or elaborate on an issue that you touched on in class or in a previous project. (Be sure the new work reflects a substantial change that I can evaluate for the final project grade.)
• You can create an Image based on something you are learning in another class, or based on something you are experiencing in your life.
• You can come up with something completely unique and unrelated to any of your previous work.
• You can use other digital tools (apps, software, hardware, etc) along with Adobe software.
• You can use services like DePaul’s IRL lab or Edgewater Workbench or Latitude Digital Lab or Moo or Blurb, etc. to produce physical work.
• You can print the image and then manipulate it by making it into a collage, painting it, or using it in part of a sculpture. The digital print may be part of the final image or it may have been a template for your work and will be entirely covered in the final work. (If the use of “digital tools” is obscured in the final project I will look at your submitted files, but the grade will be for the success of the project as a whole and not just the digital component.)
• You might consider making a book/pamphlet, ironing images onto fabric, etc. (Keep the minimum size requirement in mind; multiple images can combine together to reach the size requirement)
• Obviously a straightforward print on photographic paper or other materials like a sheet of watercolor paper or canvas is always great.
• Sometimes open-ended projects can actually be stifling because the options are too broad. Please speak to me ASAP if you find that it is stifling to you and we will work together to generate an idea (see: Concept Paper below).

requirements:

• You may choose RGB or CMYK color space as appropriate for your image.
• The total size of your work(s) must be at least 150 square inches or larger. You may add up multiple images to reach this total. This is a requirement for the entire work, not necessarily the digital image portion if you are creating a multi-media work (talk to me about 3D/virtual 3D, time-based, or web-based work that may not fit this criteria).

• You must author all parts of your final image(s).
• ABSOLUTELY NO WEB IMAGES unless you clear each image with me to see if it will be possible to use them.
• If you plan to use “digital tools” minimally in your work, please talk to me in advance to discuss your evaluation criteria.
• Work should be produced for critique in some form off of the computer. Printing on paper provided in our classroom is one appropriate solution, but it is not the only option.
• Complete and submit all steps of the project from concept paper to submission (below)
  
  NOTE: If you feel that your concept for this project will not be possible within these stated requirements, please talk to me so we can work out a different set of requirements.
  
  

step one: concept proposal

Brainstorm ideas for your work. This may take many forms including sketches, lists, word mapping, stream-of-conscious writing, or a scrapbook/collection of images related to your ideas.

Next, make a brief 300-600 word written proposal for your ideas; your proposal should describe your idea and plans for the final project including your concept for the finished work, your approach to making the work, and your expected format for the final piece if it is something other than a digital image.

You will be evaluated on the effectiveness of the proposal and your ability to convey your ideas and intent for the project. Therefore, you need to solidify your plan before writing the proposal. If you are debating between more than one idea, then you either need to decide on one idea before writing the proposal or you need to make a proposal for each idea.
NOTE: While working on your image you may feel that you need to change your idea; this is fine and is a natural part of the process. It is important to start with a clear focus, but it is also important to change, respond, and adapt while working.
NOTE: Please avoid overgeneralizations and unsubstantiated assertions by adding detail, description, and specificity to your writing.

Submit your 300-600 word proposal as a Microsoft Word DOC or PDF in the appropriate D2L submission folder by the date specified in the course schedule.

NOTE: Per class request, you may use images and sketches to augment your proposal.

step two: make your work

Complete your project and save original working files with appropriate file format:
TIFF format for Photoshop
PDF format for Illustrator

Save files with your last name as the first part of the file name:
LASTNAME_anytitlehere.tif (or .PDF)

step three: save / export jpg(s)

Photoshop: flatten your layers and save JPG
Illustrator: go to “file” and “export as” to create a JPG file; check the box at the bottom to “Use Artboards” as the source area for your export; export at best/highest quality and 300 resolution.
Use the same file name, but the JPG format. (LASTNAME_anytitlehere.jpg)

step four: additional documentation

You may need photographic or video documentation for your work in addition to the files listed above. Document any work that is mixed-media, physical rather than digital, or that is not finalized in Adobe Photoshop and/or Illustrator.

NOTE: Digital work like our prior projects that can be fully documented with digital files (as listed in the steps above) does not need additional documentation.

step five: submission

Put all your files (TIFF/PDF, JPG, documentation images as needed) in a folder and “zip” the folder into a single .ZIP file using this guide: How to “zip” files on a mac or PC. Then load your .ZIP file in the appropriate D2L submission folder

NOTE: I will use these files to grade. As long as the print is finished on time for critique, your work may be posted on D2L any time within 24 hours after the start of the critique and will be considered on time. PLEASE DO NOT POST FILES DURING OUR LIVE CLASS CRITIQUE.

NOTE: Partial submissions that do not include the original working files (non-flattened, non-rasterized layers) will result in a significantly lower grade.

NOTE: If you have a works cited/images cited page, please add it to your folder before zipping it.

NOTE: If your ZIP file won’t load for some reason, you may load all your files independently in the submission folder rather than zipped.

step six: critique

Be prepared to present your physical work in class.

tips + resources:

• Proposal ideation and writing resources:
  Proposal writing topic suggestions guide
  Guide to Developing Ideas
  Planning for effective design
• Check out production services: DePaul’s IRL lab or Edgewater Workbench or Latitude Digital Lab or Moo or Blurb or issuu or Fastsigns etc.
• Stephan Sagmeister, research project The Happy Show (official site), at MOCA, in Chicago, and his description of the research (video).
• Paul Pfeiffer describing his work, ART21 (video, especially 17:40 onward including “long count” at 21:30)
• Daniel Gordon mixes the physical and digital, ART21 interview (video)