WEEK

CLASS ACTIVITIES

HOMEWORK

Wednesday, Sep. 2

+ Course Intro & Syllabus Review + Intro to Cross-Media Design

Homework:
+ Read McLuhan, order Ellen Lupton – Design Is Storytelling book

Tuesday, Sept. 8 *Rutgers running Monday Schedule

+ Intro: “If This Were A Medium” project
+ If This Were A Medium Project Brief
+ Discuss McLuhan reading
+ Group brainstorms & object analysis

Homework:
+ Continue to work on If This Were A Medium project with your partner(s)

Wednesday, Sept. 9
Narrative Project Phase I: Research

+ Continue If This Were A Medium project
+ Intro to Narrative Project
+ Narrative Project Brief

Homework:
+ If This Were A Medium: Prepare your presentation for Monday’s class. Follow requirements and instructions on the Presentation Post. Upload Presentation to our shared Google drive here: If This Were A Medium Presentation folder *before class.
+ Narrative Project: Choose a storytelling approach and brainstorm to develop 3 different story ideas. Begin preliminary visual and content research for each idea.
+ Reading: Ellen Lupton, Design Is Storytelling, Act 1.

Monday, Sept. 14

If This Were A Medium:
Class Presentations
(duration: 6 min)

Homework:
Narrative Project:
+ Brainstorm and conduct research for your story ideas
(2-3)
+ Read Design is Storytelling,
Act 2 (Emotion, pg. 56-)

Wednesday, Sept. 16
Narrative project Phase II: Ideation

Narrative Project: Small Group Critiques
+ Present 3 story directions for feedback and input. In class will narrow down to 2.
+ Discuss project goals and target audience

Homework:
Due Monday for Narrative Project:
+ Further development of 2 Story directions.
+ See Narrative Mapping Post for what to research and prepare for Monday’s in-class work here,

Monday, Sept. 21
Narrative Project Phase III: Content Development

Narrative Mapping In Class Exercise (Room 502 & 518)
*Bring hard copies of your content & tools to work with.

Homework:
+ Complete Narrative Maps for both of your story ideas (2).
+ Photograph each map and upload to your class folder on our Shared Google Drive before Wednesday’s class.
+ Bring your completed maps to class
+ Reflect on which story has the most potential and be ready to explain why
+ Be prepared to discuss your two possible medium approaches and your reasoning based on affordances

Wednesday, Sept. 23

+ One-On-Ones & Working Session: Begin Concept Sketching
+ See Concept Sketching
Examples
+ See Example Concept Presentations

Homework:
+ Explore multiple possible medium ideas for your project by creating distinctly different concept/pencil sketches for your (4-5).
+ Be ready to explain why you chose each medium based on goals and target audience (affordances) *See Concept Sketching examples via link at left.
+ Explore 3-4 distinctly different visual language approaches for your Narrative project. *See visual language examples via link at left.
+ Prepare a short presentation of your medium concept sketches and visual language studies. *See example Concept Presentations via link at left.
+ Upload your Presentation to our Google Drive before class: Concept Sketching + Vis Lang Study Folder

Monday, Sept. 28
Narrative Project Phase IV: Concept Development

Class Presentation/Critique: Narrative Project Concept Development
+ Present multiple concept/pencil sketch explorations for both mediums plus preliminary visual language exploration.
+ Upload one PDF to our shared Google Drive before class that includes: your pencil/concept sketches, and your visual language studies.

Homework:
Form making begins!
+ Further develop your concepts as defined in your pencil sketches, and select the strongest and most appropriate based on your target audience(s), goal, and medium affordances.
+ See post about Mid-term Narrative Project Critique

Wednesday, Sept. 30

One-On-Ones & Working Session

Homework:
+ Continue to develop your design concepts for both mediums working toward the
Mid-Term Narrative Project Presentations.
+ See examples of Mid-term Narrative Project Presentations here

Monday, Oct. 5

Small Group Critiques & Working Session

Homework:
+ Continue to develop your design concepts for both mediums working toward the
Mid-Term Narrative Project Presentations.

Wednesday, Oct. 7 *Special Event*

Small Group Critiques & Working Session

Homework:
+ Refine visual concepts for Medium 1 and Medium 2 based on feedback
+ *Be ready to present significant design progress at the Mid-Term Critique on Wednesday, Oct. 15.*
+ Motion: storyboard & 3–4 key frame digital sketches
+ Interactive: site map & 2–3 screen comps
+ Print: 2–3 spreads (sketches & comps)
+ Object/packaging/installation, etc.: prototype (as appropriate)
+ Prepare for Mid-Term Critique on Wednesday.
+ See examples of Mid-term Narrative Project Presentations here

Monday, Oct. 12

Small Group Critiques & Working Session

Homework:
+ Refine visual concepts for Medium 1 and Medium 2 based on feedback
+ *Be ready to present significant design progress at the Mid-Term Critique on Wednesday, Oct. 15.*
+ Motion: storyboard & 3–4 key frame digital sketches
+ Interactive: site map & 2–3 screen comps
+ Print: 2–3 spreads (sketches & comps)
+ Object/packaging/installation, etc.: prototype (as appropriate)
+ Prepare for Mid-Term Critique on Wednesday.

Wednesday, Oct. 14

Mid-Term Critique – Part 1

Homework:
Based on the feedback you received:
+ Prepare further development of your design concepts for Medium 1 and Medium 2 based on feedback (using real content — no Lorem Ipsum)
+ Create assets (typography, color, visual elements)
+ Define grid structure for both media (as applicable)
+ Refine and organize content (text, interviews, data, and other planned elements)
+ Reading: Tim Samara, Making and Breaking the Grid (2nd Edition

Monday, Oct. 19
Narrative Project Phase V: Implementation

Mid-Term Critique – Part 2

Homework:
+ Refine visual concepts for Medium 1 and Medium 2 based on feedback.
+ Be ready to present significant design progress on Wednesday, Oct. 16.
+ Motion: storyboard & 3–4 key frame digital sketches
+ Interactive: site map & 2–3 screen comps.
+ Print: 2–3 spreads (sketches & comps).
+ Object/packaging/intallation: prototype (as appropriate).
+ Reading: Ellen Lupton, Design Is Storytelling, Act 3 “Sensation” (p. 112).

Wednesday, Oct. 21

+ One-On-Ones & Working Session: Be ready to present significant design development for both Mediums. Refer to Homework outlined on Oct. 15.

Homework:
+ Refine visual concepts for Medium 1 and Medium 2 based on feedback
+ Be ready to present significant design progress in our next class session.
+ Note: There are only two major class critiques for the Narrative Project — one in two weeks. Focus your work toward these project milestones.

Monday, Oct. 26

+ One-On-Ones & Working Session
+ Review Examples of Narrative Project Critique #2 Presentations

Homework:
+ Refine visual concepts for Medium 1 and Medium 2 based on feedback
+ Be ready to present significant design progress in our next class session.
+ Note: There are only two major class critiques for the Narrative Project — one in two weeks. Focus your work toward these project milestones.

Wednesday, Oct. 28

One-On-Ones & Working Session

Homework:
+ Next Week: Narrative Project Critique 2: See post about what to present, and how to present it

Monday, Nov. 2

+ One-On-Ones & Working Session

Homework:
+ Refine visual concepts for Medium 1 and Medium 2 based on feedback
+ Be ready to present significant design progress for Critique #2 on Wednesday

Wednesday, Nov. 4

Class Critique: Narrative Project Critique 2

Homework:
+ Refine visual concepts for Medium 1 and Medium 2 based on feedback
+ Be ready to present significant design progress in the next class session

Monday, Nov. 9
Capstone Reveal

+ Capstone Reveal
+ Working Session: Narrative Project

Homework:
+ Continue to refine/complete your Narrative Project mediums

Wednesday, Nov. 11

One-On-Ones, Peer Reviews & Working Session

Homework:
+ Continue to refine/complete your Narrative Project mediums
+ Next Week: Narrative Project Final class Critique.

Monday, Nov. 16

+ *Library Visit & Intro. to Capstone Resources

Homework:
+ Continue to refine/complete your Narrative Project mediums.
+ Begin Capstone Research & Ideation
+ Final Narrative Critique starts Wednesday. See this Post for presentation instructions and examples.

Wednesday, Nov. 18

Narrative Project: Final Class Critique

Homework:
+ Continue to refine/complete your Narrative Project mediums
+ Continue Capstone Research & Ideation

Monday, Nov. 23

Capstone: Share Preliminary Research & Ideas

Homework:
+ Homework Over Thanksgiving: See Capstone 2026 post – bottom – for guidelines.

Wednesday Nov. 25 *No Class.
Rutgers running Friday classes.

NO CLASS

Homework:
Continue Capstone Research & Ideation.

Monday, Nov. 30

Capstone Research & Ideation Presentations

Homework:
Continue Capstone Research & Ideation.

Wednesday, Dec. 2

Capstone Research & Ideation Presentations, Con’t.

Homework:
+ Continue Capstone Research & Ideation.

Monday, Dec. 7

One-on-Ones & Working Session (as needed)

Homework:
+ Narrative Project Final Production & Implementation
+ Capstone Didactic Deliverables

Wednesday, Dec. 9
*Last class.*

One-on-Ones & Working Session (as needed)

+ Narrative Project Final Production & Implementation
+ Capstone Didactic Deliverables

Cross-Media Exam:
*Mandatory*

Dec. 16, 3-6pm: Mini Exhibition

Location: Senior Studio