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 your thoughts

Wednesday, Sept. 23

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

Homework:
+ Explore multiple medium ideas for your project by creating distinctly different concept/pencil sketches for your story (4-5).
+ Be ready to explain why you chose each medium based on target audience(s), project goals, and medium affordances.
*See example Concept Sketches via link at left.
+ Upload your Narrative Project medium concept Presentation to our Google Drive before class: Concept Sketches Presentations Folder

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

Class Presentation/Critique: Narrative Project medium concept sketches
+ Present 4-5 different Concept/pencil sketches for your mediums
+ Upload to Concept Sketches Presentations Folder

Homework:
+ Develop a minimum of 4 distinctly different visual language concept directions for your Narrative project. See examples of Visual Language Studies here. Upload your presentation to the Visual Language Presentations Folder before class.

Wednesday, Sept. 30

Class Presentation/Critique: Narrative Project visual language studies
+ Present 4 distinctly different visual language concepts
+ Upload to Visual Language Presentations

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 examples of Mid-term Narrative Project Presentations here

Monday, Oct. 5

One-On-Ones & Working Session

Homework:
+ Refine visual concepts for Medium 1 and Medium 2 based on feedback
+ Begin to create your assets (typography, color, visual elements)
+ Define grid structure for both media (as applicable)
+ Refine and organize content (text, interviews, data, and other planned elements)
Homework:
+ 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

Wednesday, Oct. 7 *Special Event*

Class will be going to the Opening at Express Newark, 5-10 pm

Homework:
+ Continue to develop your Narrative project interpretations focusing on the two selected mediums and refinements of your visual language concepts.
+ Everyone is working toward the Mid-Term Presentations that will take place on Monday, Oct. 19 & Wednesday, Oct. 21. See below for what to work towards in your designs.
Using your real content, begin to design your medium interpretations using the following guidelines, as appropriate:
+ Motion: storyboard & 3–4 key frame digital comps
+ Interactive: site map & 2–3 screen digital comps
+ Publications: 2–3 spreads (print 1 at 100% and trim)
+ Poster Series: 2 digital comps (print 1 at 100% and trim)
+ Object/packaging/installation, etc.: digital design / prototype and mockups (as appropriate)
+ See examples of Mid-term Narrative Project Presentations here.

Monday, Oct. 12

Small Group Critiques & Working Session

Homework:
+ Based on the feedback you received during class, continue to develop your medium interpretations. Be prepared to show advancement at our next class session on Wednesday.

Wednesday, Oct. 14

Small Group Critiques & Working Session

Homework:
+ Further develop and refine your medium interpretations for the Mid-Term Critique next week.
+ Be prepared to present the following in your Mid-Term Presentation, as appropriate:
+ Motion: storyboard & 3–4 key frame digital comps
+ Interactive: site map & 2–3 screen digital comps
+ Publications: 2–3 spreads (print 1 at 100% and trim)
+ Poster Series: 2 digital comps (print 1 at 100% and trim)
+ Object/packaging/installation, etc.: digital design / prototype and mockups (as appropriate)
+ Prepare your Presentation to show your design concepts using the guideliens below.
+ See examples of Mid-term Narrative Project Presentations here.

Monday, Oct. 19
Narrative Project Phase V: Implementation

Mid-Term Critique – Part 1

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

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 in our next class session.
+ Note: There are only two major class critiques for the Narrative Project — the next one is 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