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Schedule Notes

– Committee tasks are indicated within dotted lines (– – – – – – –).

– Please note that you should also be advancing your personal branding materials and portfolio website throughout the semester. There are several scheduled check-ins to review progress.

– It is essential that each student is proactive and manages their time responsibly to ensure steady advancement of this work.

Final deliverables include

– Completion of the capstone project and participation in the cumulative exhibition.

– An updated online portfolio featuring all projects, including the capstone project.

– An updated PDF portfolio featuring all projects, including the capstone project.

– Completed and printed business cards and “takeaway” materials.

Committees and Phases 

– Phase 1: Visual Identity (Jan–Feb) — 5 Students

– Phase 2a: Applications / Collateral (March)  —  5 Students
Design: Poster, Palm Card, Social Media Templates

– Phase 2b: Exhibition Design (March) —  5 Students

– Phase 3a: Social Media (March–April) —  5 Students

– Phase 3b: Website (March–April) —  5 Students

Phase I: Ideation & Research

December 2025 – February 2, 2026
This phase focuses on formulating the conceptual framework for your project, identifying a broader narrative theme or story, and developing, collecting, or creating content and other raw materials.

Wednesday, 1/21

– Introduce course framework
– Review syllabus: semester timeline, expectations, and deliverables
– Student presentations

Monday, 1/26

– Continue presentations

Wednesday, 1/28
– Introduce Exhibition Committees
– Begin content collection

What to research and collect/create:
– Imagery (photographs, drawings, diagrams, charts, maps, textures, colors, etc.)
– Verbal language/copy (audio transcripts, contextual writing, or found language such as signage, conversations, letters, menus, instructions, etc.)
– Sound/audio
– Newspaper articles
– Any additional relevant materials—be creative

Monday, 2/2

– Gallery Visit / Possible Bookbinding Workshop [TBC]
Class meets at Project for Empty Space at 4:00pm
110 Edison Place, Newark, NJ 07102

Homework:
– Continue collecting content. Based on presentation feedback, further develop capstone concepts and media directions.

– Continue research and gathering/creating content to support the next phase of project and medium development.

Phase II: Content Shaping & Design Exploration

February 4, 2026 – March 4, 2026
Once a theme is defined, students will build and shape content while exploring how narratives can be represented visually or as campaigns. This phase emphasizes sketching, testing, and rationalizing how chosen media support the story, while exploiting each medium’s unique affordances.

Wednesday, 2/4
– Visit Shine Portrait Studio & Form Design [TBC]

Phase A Committee Breakout (1 hour) & Working Session

Begin preparing for Critique 1 (2/11):
– Organize collected (found) content
– Conduct a thorough sketch process exploring multiple narrative interpretations and media ideas
Present as pencil concept sketches for different media
– Visual research, including type studies, color, texture, imagery, and grid systems
– Technology, materials, and affordance analysis

Monday, 2/9
– Working session
– Capstone one-on-one meetings

Wednesday, 2/11

– Working session
– Capstone one-on-one meetings
*Note: Branding Concept Presentation & First Capstone Design Critique being moved to Monday 2/16*

Monday, 2/16
– – – – – – –
Phase A Committee – Branding
Branding Concept Presentation
– – – – – – –
Capstone Design Presentations (Small Groups)
– Present 2 comps and visual solutions for each medium
– Working session

Wednesday, 2/18

– – – – – – –
Phase A Committee Breakout (1 hour):
Present selected direction
– – – – – – –

Capstone Design Presentations (Small Groups)
– Present 2 comps and visual solutions for each medium
– Working session

Monday, 2/23
– Working session
– Capstone one-on-one meetings

Wednesday, 2/25

– – – – – – –
Phase A Committee Breakout (1 hour):
Meet with professors
– – – – – – –

– Working session
– Capstone one-on-one meetings

Monday, 3/2
– Working session
– Capstone one-on-one meetings

Wednesday, 3/4

– – – – – – –
Final Branding Presentation
Phase B groups begin meeting (Applications + Exhibition Design)
– – – – – – –

Group Critique:
– Present significant design development of your capstone across all 2–3 mediums

Monday, 3/9

Group Critique:
– Present significant design development of your capstone across all 2–3 mediums

Wednesday, 3/11

Phase B Groups Begin to Meet (Applications + Exhibition Design)–
– Present ideas and sketches

Group Critique:–
– Present significant design development of your capstone across all 2–3 mediums

Spring Break [no class session]

Saturday, March 14, 2026 – Sunday, March 22, 2026
Continue to design and develop your work, and be prepared to present fully designed Capstone (2-3 mediums) after Spring Break for feedback.

Thursday, April 16, 2026
Opening Reception, TRACEWORK at Project For Empty Space

Monday, 4/20
Class held at Gallery: Reflections

Wednesday, 4/22
Discuss Course Final Deliverables
Ongoing Social Media
Exhibition Website

Monday, 4/27

Wednesday, 4/29: Class at Gallery – Programming

Friday, 5/1 – Exhibit De-installation, 11 am – 4 pm

Monday, 5/2

Wednesday, 5/4
Last Class Session

FINAL EXAM: Wednesday May 13, 11:45 am –2:45 pm