Included in this section of the AAD 584 Advanced Information Design and Presentation curriculum section are descriptions, specifications, and target dates for producing/completing all assignments during the course. Recommended software applications, helpful tips, examples and links to additional example and resources are found here as well.
Brand/Collateral Awareness – This exercise is meant to create an awareness of organization branding and features that succeed in brand/log design.
Logo Design – Students create an original logo representing an organization or agency. This can be for a real or fictitious organization, and include a makeover of the organization brand. This piece will be used to create collateral materials which become the basis for the Graphics Standards assignment.
Photoshop Photoplay – As a means to introduce basic image manipulation and artwork creation using a bitmap program, students will makeover an image provided to them.
Display Ads – Students will create a display ad using their brand to promote an event, activity, services, or recognition of their organization. Students are introduced to common advertising campaigns, venues, and specifications.
Collateral Drafts – Students will apply their logo in common collateral materials that will be included in their Graphic Standards assignment. Along with lecture, handouts and resource links describing and modeling organization graphic standards are provided. Past cohort examples are made available for reference to clarify both collateral material development, specifications and production, as well as specific criteria for producing the graphic standards assignment.
Event Posters – Students are introduced to poster history, and the utility and design of posters in the arts, politics, social agenda, and other genres. Students will create an event poster for their midterm. One of the primary challenges in Event Poster design is working with applying content in a larger space/format. The expectation is to work with a common poster design size of 11×17. Issues of working with images, artwork, typography, and other design elements will be addressed. Use the Diigo and blog resources to look at samples, case studies to attend to these design considerations. Past cohort samples are HERE!
Recommendation/Tips: Use Illustrator, rules and guides. Images need to be 300DPI, .TIF files and “place” in working” Illustrator files. Use a CMYK color space. Save work as both native .AI files and .PDF format. PDF files go to the printer. Proof work prior to printing. Printing can be done in Lawrence Hall, Kinkos, and other local shops. Some may allow for paper stock choice. – check. Price to print should be only a few dollars per print.
Powerpoint and Flow Chart – Students will use Microsoft Word SmartArt Graphics option too create a flow chart of their Powerpoint presentation. The purpose is to introduce and work with Information Architecture and create a hierarchy of flow of content to be contained in the Powerpoint presentation. It is recommended that the Powerpoint presentation topic be the Prototype shell of the students’ Winter term professional ePortfolio website they will produce. Students have the option to choose a different presentation topic. Examples and specifications of both are shown. The Powerpoint piece is one of three presented at Finals.
Note: Students choosing to do the Showcase/Professional ePortfolio website prototype must include the following PRIMARY navigation links/categories. Please reference the following flow chart PDF for the sample. Secondary navigation links/categories may vary depending on individual experience. Please reference the second year cohort’s showcase ePortfolios linked to their AAD ePortfolio sites. Also reference additional examples from past cohorts linked on my instructional blog. Categories and navigational structure will be different from your AAD ePortfolios you are currently using.
Showcase ePortfolio Prototype Chart/Webmap (using MS Word)
Showcase ePortfolio Prototype Chart/Webmap (using Gliffy – Web 2.0 tool)
Past Cohort Showcase ePortfolios
Brochure – Students will produce a brochure using the brand and represented organization as the basis for the piece. Resource links and samples from past cohorts are provided. The brochure is presented at Finals.
Graphic Standards – The Graphic Standards represents a culmination of students’ organization identification, logo design, collateral pieces and other media with specifications centric to their organizations brand, and its treatment and application. Specifications and examples of past cohort standards will be reviewed in depth in class, with examples available on the AADInfodesign blog. The standards are presented at Finals. Components included in this assignment will include:
Organization background; brand ID/Logo justification; rules for treatment and application of the brand/logo, typography, colors, etc; specific guidelines for producing collateral and other media for the organization.
