Week 1
Tuesday, Jan 20
+ Course Introduction: Review syllabus and class website
+ Class Introductions
+ Introduce Project 1 — Family Crest
+ Review inspiration posts

Homework
+ Interview your family / gather source material / gather notes
& Post it all on google drive
+ Watch: Pictorial Influences of Graphic Design by Steven Heller : https://vimeo.com/134659291
+ Read: GrDesignSolutions | SECTION 9 : PDF HERE
+ Consider the following question:
What brand(ing) examples exhibited, provide you with a new perspective on contemporary brand identity?

Thursday, Jan 22 –
– Phase 1 / content development 
+ Discuss examples from Steven Heller video
~ what is the point of his presentation?
~ what examples/references did you find interesting?
~ what examples had you seen before (same or similar)?
+ Visual Metaphors & GD2 presentation 

—

Homework
Think of the container as a visual element that also captures/carries meaning 
Gather visual references
Start initial sketch ideas

Research online: Illustrator Overview/Tutorial:
Pathfinder, Image Trace, Step & Repeat (patterns),
Alignment Tools, Outline Strokes, Clipping Path and more.
+ Chapters 1 & 2 of Visible Signs

Week 2
Tuesday, Jan 27
– Phase 2 / design 
+ Individual check-in and sketch review
+ Share inspiration, resources, and tutorials
+ Small Group discussions — review sketches for symbols
+ In-class working session
+ Add a family motto, saying or axiom (in advertising known as catchphrase or tag line) 
+ Start building a composition of all elements in 4×4 structures – 3 hand or digital sketches for Thursday
REVIEW: Illustrator Overview/Tutorial:
Pathfinder, Image Trace, Step & Repeat (patterns), Alignment Tools, Outline Strokes, Clipping Path and more.
Homework
+ Read: GrDesignSolutions | SECTION 10 : PDF HERE
+ Matrix with center image and 4 starting images.

Thursday, Jan 29
+ Individual check-in and sketch review
+ In-class working session; Narrow down to 3 options
+ Share inspiration, resources, and tutorials
Homework
+ Complete the Finalization of your 3 selected sketches on paper
+ Select 3 Taglines
+ Add final 3 Sketches to the Student Drive
+ Begin basic design of 1 Family Crest in Adobe Illustrator 
   (you can work on all 3 Crest for Tuesday if feasible)

Week 3
Tuesday, Feb 3
– Phase 3 / Finalization 
+ In-class working session
REVIEW: Illustrator Overview/Tutorial:
Pathfinder, Image Trace, Step & Repeat (patterns), Alignment Tools, Outline Strokes, Clipping Path and more.
Homework
+ Complete the Final selected Family Crest with Tagline in Adobe Illustrator

Thursday, Feb 5
REVIEW: Illustrator Overview/Tutorial:
Pathfinder, Image Trace, Step & Repeat (patterns), Alignment Tools, Outline Strokes, Clipping Path and more.
+ Final Deliverable: 8 x 8 pdf Complex symbol created in Illustrator

Homework
READ: Chapter 6, Graphic Design Solutions by Robin Landa
Visualization & Color_Graphic Design Solution_by Robin Landa

Week 4
Tuesday, Feb 10
+ Review inspiration posts
+ In-class working session

Homework
READ: Chapter 1 & Chapter 2, Visible Signs by David Crow
127181708-Crow-Visible-Signs-Semiotics-in-the-Visual-Arts

Gestalt
“The motivation behind this publication is to help students
of art and design to find credibility in their practice through
a deeper understanding of many of the intuitive decisions
they make.”

Thursday, Feb 12
– Phase 1 / content development 
+ Discuss the READINGS
+ Introduce Project 2 — Image Matrix
+ Discuss examples
+ In-class working session

From David Crow’s Visible Signs
A word is a signifier and the object it represents is the signified. A sign is produced when these two elements are brought together.
Today’s audience has become highly sophisticated readers of signs and symbols. We decode meaning from compositions with subconscious ease. That is why it is important for designers to understand how meaning is formed.
Communication has a hierarchy that is deeply imbedded in our societies. our sense of identities are moulded and manipulated by the signs which surround us. What is acceptable to some, might be completely unacceptable to others.

Graphic design signifies. It represents. It communicates.

Homework
+ Gather more visual references
+ Matrix with center image and 12 starting images.
+ Review inspiration, resources, and tutorials
+ Begin basic design

Week 6
Tuesday, Feb 17
– Phase 2 / design 
+ Discuss the READING
+ Individual check-in and design review
+ Share inspiration, resources, and tutorials
+ Small Group discussions — review matrix of symbols
+ In-class working session

Homework

Thursday, Feb 19
+ Individual check-in and design review
+ In-class working session
+ Share inspiration, resources, and tutorials

Homework
WATCH:
BANKSY – Exit Through The Gift Shop
DOCUMENTARY.

Week 7
Tuesday, Feb 24
+ Discuss examples
+ In-class working session
+ Complete your Final Image Matrix

Thursday, Feb 26
+ Discuss the Film
+ Final Presentation
+ Print & Mount Image Matrix

Homework
WATCH:
Abstract: The Art of Design | Christoph Niemann: Illustration
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_k8fVNzbGU&list=PLuctemCzX-m4svPpBctWUp0oG__Lhglq9

Week 8
Tuesday, Mar 3
+ Course Introduction: Review syllabus and class website
+ Class Introductions
+ Introduce Project 3 — Book Cover
+ Review inspiration posts

Homework
WATCH: The Design Chutney
https://www.instagram.com/p/DS4xlU_ksBc/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

From Imperfect-by-Design to AI-with-Human-Taste, these are the graphic design trends 2026 that will define how brands look, feel, communicate, and build emotional connection across digital, social media, and real-world touchpoints.

Libby Life: Our favorite book covers from 2025 so far
https://www.libbylife.com/blog/2025-05-22-judging-books-by-their-covers-our-favorite-book-covers-from-2025-so-far

Think of the visual elements that captures/carries meaning 
Gather visual references

Thursday, Mar 5
+ Develop 3 permutations
+ Sketches for Book Covers
+ In-class working session
+ Share inspiration, resources, and tutorials

Homework
72 GRAPHIC DESIGN WEBSITES TO TRY
https://www.instagram.com/p/DRCTT65DWOy/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Try these insane set of 72 graphic design websites for various designs assets and inspiration. These set of websites contains icons, pngs, stock images, inspiration, 3d packs and many more…

Week 9
Tuesday, Mar 10
+ Develop 3 permutations
+ Sketches for Cover 1
+ In-class working session
+ Individual check-in and design review

Homework
+ Review Guest Lecturer (Jive Poetic)
+ Develop sketches for Book Covers

Thursday, Mar 12
+ Individual check-in and design review
+ Develop 3 permutations
+ Sketches for Cover 2 + 3
+ In-class Visiting Lecturer (Jive Poetic)
+ Group Review

Homework
STAGE 1: Digital Sketches in Black/White (minimum 9 permutations) 
Version 1: composition using an icon for 3 book covers.
Version 2: composition using an index for 3 book covers.
Version 3: composition using an symbol for 3 book covers.

WATCH:
Beautiful Losers (2008) (Graffiti Movie)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldAIy81l1Cw

Week 10 – Spring Break – Monday March 16 – Friday March 20 
Tuesday, Mar 17 (St. Patrick’s Day)
– Spring Break

Thursday, Mar 19
– Spring Break

Week 11
Tuesday, Mar 24
+ Develop 3 permutations (review)
+ In-class working session
+ Individual check-in and design review

Thursday, Mar 26
+ Presentation – 3 permutations (revisions)
+ In-class working session

Homework
+ Develop 3 permutations
+ Add all Sketches and working files to Student Drive

Week 12
Tuesday, Mar 31
+ Develop Selected Direction
+ In-class working session
+ Individual check-in and design review

Thursday, Apr 2
+ Develop 3 Front Cover
+ In-class working session

Homework
WATCH:
Top 10 Graphic Design Trends

READ:
Revolutionary Artist: Emory Douglas

EXPLORE:
Stephen Mickle – Graphic Designer
Digital Artist https://mickle.design/

Week 13
Tuesday, Apr 7
+ Develop Front Cover and Spine
+ In-class working session

Thursday, Apr 9
+ Develop Front Cover and Spine
+ In-class working session

Week 14
Tuesday, Apr 14
+ Front and Spine Presentation
+ Develop Back Cover
+ In-class working session
+ Individual check-in and design review

Thursday, Apr 16
+ Front and Spine Presentation
+ In-class working session
+ Share inspiration, resources, and tutorials
+ Group Review

Homework
READ/REVIEW:
JoAnne McFarland | Author | Interdisciplinary Artist
READ

Week 15
Tuesday, Apr 21
+ Discuss the Reading and PDF Design
+ Share inspiration, resources, and tutorials
+ In-class working session

Thursday, Apr 23
+ Individual check-in and design review
+ Digital Animation (pending)

Week 16
Tuesday, Apr 28
+ Print & Create Digital Mock Ups
+ Final EXAM – Book Cover & Digital Animation Presentation

Thursday, Apr 30
+ Print & Create Digital Mock Ups
+ Final EXAM – Book Cover & Digital Animation Presentation

Week 17 –
Reading days (no classes) – Tuesday, May 5 and Wednesday, May 6 
Tuesday, May 5
+

Thursday, May 7 FINAL EXAM
+ Final Presentations

Week 18 –
Final Exams – Thursday, May 7 – Wednesday, May 13 
Tuesday, May 12 (No Class)

+ Read: Brand New Worlds 
https://walkerart.org/magazine/brand-new-worlds-corporate-makeovers-and-dead >