*Class Schedule is subject to change*

Semester At-A-Glance

Brand Identity System Project Phase I: Research, Sept. 1-10
+ Develop several story directions/themes (2-3) you would like to pursue. Include moodboards for each direction
+ Use multiple research strategies
+ Conduct field work (if necessary)

Narrative Project Phase II: Ideation, Sept. 10-15
+ From your research, narrow down several storytelling directions in greater detail and focus
+ Consider each direction’s subject, theme, point-of-view, goal, and audience
+ Analyze and define your storytelling approach
+ Consider the role of each medium you will employ (one for each visual interpretation of your story).
How will the medium itself (and its inherent affordances) be an integral part of each design solution?

Narrative Project Phase III: Content Development, Sept. 15-Sept. 22
+ Create/collect raw materials (written, visual, audio, tactile, etc.)
What to Collect?
– Still and moving image (photographs, video, editorial spreads, documentation, textures, colors, gifs, memes, etc)
– Mark-making / visual communication (maps, diagrams, charts, observational study, drawings, paintings, etc)
– Language / copy (audio transcripts, contextual copy or other language i.e. in artifacts such as signs, conversations, letters, menu’s, instructions, memes, texts, etc.)
– Sound / audio (audio transcripts, environment recordings, songs, performance 
– Taste / smell 
+ “Build” the narrative
+ Define the narrative arc
Create a diagram/map of your narrative by analyzing and visualizing its structure.

Narrative Project Phase IV: Concept Development, Sept. 22-Nov. 12
+ Develop two distinctly different visual interpretations of your story that utilize two different mediums where the medium itself (and its inherent affordances) are an integral part of your design solution. 
+ Continue to create/assemble content; narrative shaping
+ Develop a unique visual vocabulary for each visual interpretation of your story: typefaces, colors, symbols, imagery, shapes, textures, etc.
+ Explore layout and approaches to organizing content (grid)

Narrative Project Phase V: Implementation, Nov. 12-Dec. 22
+ Development & execution: both media
+ Refinement & delivery (Exam Date 12/22)

Capstone Reveal, Nov. 21  
+ Capstone Research & Ideation
+ Capstone Concept Presentation & Critique (Abstract & Visual Research, 12/5)
+ Capstone Refined Abstract, Visual Research Didactic (Exam Date 12/21)

Semester Schedule Week-by-Week

Week 1

Tuesday, Sept. 1
+ Syllabus Review & Schedule Discussion
+ Presentation: What is Cross-Media Design?
+ Reading Homework: Read McLuhan, Marshall. Understanding Media: The Extension of Man, 1964.
+ Order: Ellen Lupton, Design is Storytelling, 2017.

Thursday, Sept. 3
+ Discuss: McLuhan, Marshall. Understanding Media: The Extension of Man, 1964.
+ Overview: Media Taxonomy Exercise
Split into Groups and begin developing.
+ In class studio session

Note: By end of class, group leaders will share a single google document with progress and visual inspiration. Assign a task to each group member to further the taxonomy progress to present at the end of next class. 

Week 2

Tuesday, Sept. 8
+ No Class (RU Schedule)

Narrative Project Phase I: Research (see Process Overview above)

Thursday, Sept. 10
+ Introduction to Cross-Media Narrative Project
See Project post and Brief.
+ Media Taxonomy Exercise, continued
Present Group Taxonomy

Week 3

Narrative Project Phase II: Ideation (see Process Overview above)

Tuesday, Sept. 15
+ Develop 2-3 potential story directions, and ideate how you may communicate your narrative through different media. Do field work if necessary.
+ Homework: Continue work on potential story directions & media approaches.
Write a 100 word abstract per story. 
+ Reading: Lupton, Ellen. Design Is Storytelling, Act 1 | Action pg. 14

Thursday, Sept. 17
+ Present Concept Direction/Ideation, Possible Media(s) to Explore
+ Reading: Lupton, Ellen. Storytelling, 2018. Act 2 | Emotion pg. 56
+ Prepare for content presentation

Week 4

Narrative Project Phase III: Content Development (see Process Overview above)

Tuesday, Sept. 22
+ Content Presentations
* Minimum of 10 pieces of content that support your potential story directions.
 Include image, illustration, text, color, texture, type, audio, soundscape, found objects or ephemera, etc.

Thursday, Sept. 24
+ Content Presentations, continued
+ Reading: Lupton, Ellen. Storytelling, 2018. Act 3 | Sensation pg. 112

Week 5

Tuesday, Sept. 29
+ In class: Narrative Building Exercise

Thursday, Oct. 1
+ In Class: Narrative Building Exercise & Critique
Include media selections and rationale for each.
+ Homework: Review Tim Samara, Making and Breaking the Grid, Second Edition 

Week 6

Phase  IV: Concept Development (see Process Overview above)

Tuesday, Oct. 6
+ In Class Working Session & One-on-One Meetings/Critique
+ Form Making Begins: sketch for each media, keeping in mind to
be intentional about your exploration and presentation, for example:
Motion = Storyboard
Interactive or Screen-based = Site map or wire frame
Print-based (i.e Poster, Booklet, etc.) = Sketch 
Object or packaging = Prototype

Thursday, Oct. 8
+ In Class Working Session & One-on-One Meetings/Critique
Begin Collecting and Creating Assets: Typography, Color, Visual Elements, etc. 
Define grid structure for both medias (as applicable).
+ Homework: Lupton, Ellen. Design Is Storytelling, Act 3 | Sensation pg. 112

Week 7

Tuesday, Oct. 13
+ Small Group Critiques:
Present completed sketches with small groups for feedback.

Thursday, Oct. 15
+ Small Group Critiques Con’t:
Present completed sketches with small groups for feedback.

Week 8

Tuesday, Oct. 20
+ Class Critique 1 (Phases I – IV)
*Combined Classes*

Thursday, Oct. 22
+ Class Critique 1 (Phases I – IV) Con’t.
*Combined Classes*

Week 9

Tuesday, Oct. 27
+ Class Critique 2 (Phases I – IV)

Thursday, Oct. 29 
+ Class Critique 2 (Phases I – IV) Con’t.

Week 10

Tuesday, Nov. 3
+ In Class Working Session & One-on-One Meetings/Critique

Thursday, Nov. 5
+ In Class Working Session & One-on-One Meetings/Critique

Week 11

Narrative Project Phase V: Implementation (see Process Overview above)

Tuesday, Nov. 10
+ Final Narrative Project Critique – both medias
*Combined Classes*

Thursday, Nov. 12
+ Final Narrative Project Critique – both medias Con’t.
*Combined Classes*

Week 12

Tuesday, Nov. 17  
+ *Capstone Reveal*
+ In-Class: Working Session and One-on-One Meetings
+ Review final project format (to be turned in at the exam date).
*Students will continue to finalize/refine Narrative work for final presentation at Exam Date 12/21.

Thursday, Nov. 19 
+ Review Capstone Assignment post; discuss examples
+ Capstone Research & Ideation:
Research topic(s) of interest – list approaches and start gathering information to construct an abstract.
Abstract & Visual Research session.
+ In-Class: Working Session and One-on-One Meetings

Week 13

Tuesday, Nov. 24
+ No Class

Thursday, Nov. 26
No class

— Thanksgiving Break: November 24-28 —

Week 14

Tuesday, Dec. 1
+ Student recap presentations (tell us where you currently are)

Thursday, Dec. 3
+ In Class Working Session and One-on-Ones
Continue to research topic(s) of interest – list approaches and start gathering information to construct an abstract for each potential direction.
+ Capstone: Resource and Inspiration Presentation:
Share preliminary Ideas for feedback & discussion

Week 15

Tuesday, Dec. 8
+ Capstone Concept Presentation & Critique (Abstract & Visual Research)
Including: Revised Abstract, Visual Research, Potential Media
*Combined Classes*

Thursday, Dec. 10 – Last Class Session
+ Capstone Concept Presentation & Critique Con’t. (Abstract & Visual Research)
Including: Revised Abstract, Visual Research, Potential Media
+ Narrative Project: Continue refinement & production

Week 16

Tuesday, Dec. 15
+ In Class Working Session and One-on-Ones

Thursday, Dec. 17 – Last Class Session
+ In Class Working Session and One-on-Ones

Final Exam

Thursday, December 22
3:00pm-6:00pm
Presentation Format: 
+ Present Didactic for Capstone Project:
Includes: Revised Abstract, Visual Research, Potential Media.
+ Turn in final Narrative Project.