YOUR THESIS SYLLABUS (revised versioni) - LOOK AT ALL DATES!!!!!

INTENSIVE PORTFOLIO/YEARBOOK THESIS
genevieve williams
summer 2009
egenevievewilliams@gmail.com
production editor: ramon tejeda
ramonnews@yahoo.com

graphic design thesis:
the purpose of a graphic design thesis is to define the complex intersection between personal voice, conceptual thinking, and the ability to conduct and use research effectively in the service of creating a compelling, finely crafted design portfolio.

this is an opportunity to identify an area of interest you feel passionate about, research it, and create a visual language that identifies it for the audience, takes the audience through your thought process as you researched and uncovered the topic, and creates a dialog with the audience.

your thesis may take form in any medium(s), including motion, type design, installation, print, packaging, etc. along with other mediums, you will be creating a final thesis book.

the visual language you develop for your thesis book should be derived from and appropriate to your subject/content.

in researching and producing a thesis book, you are creating a narrative. you are engaged in the process of making an argument. what is the core message?

make sure you have a point. what stance are you taking? what is your argument? the idea is to elucidate an original observation and to make us, your audience, reconsider the topic or see it in a new light.

what is the one thought/feeling/smile you want your audience to walk away with after experiencing the piece? consider the tone of your narrative. is it authoritative, reverential, tongue in cheek?

process: PROJECT: create a blog to track your research and thesis pieces. email your blog link to ramonnews@yahoo.com

1) your links will be posted on the course blog. the course blog address is: http://svayearbook2010.blogspot.com. the purpose of the blog is to create a forum for ongoing discussion and commentary among team members (meaning all of us!).

2) blog activity: both posting and commenting, is REQUIRED in this course.

i. new work must be posted on the blog every week no later than sunday midnite before class meeting on tuesday at 10pm

ii. comments (required from everyone on all course members’ work) must be posted on the blog no later than monday midnite before class meeting on tuesday at 10pm


3) proposal: PROJECT: write a three to four sentence proposal. the proposal should:

i. STATE THE TOPIC OF YOUR THESIS. keep it concise.

ii. STATE YOUR INTENTION. keep it concise.

iii. STATE YOUR PURPOSE. keep it concise.

iv. STATE YOUR PROPOSED PROCESS. this can be general since you won’t know it until you’re in it. again, keep it concise.

v. POST AND COMMENT.


4) inspiration: PROJECT: post notes related to your topic.

i. what drew you to your topic?

ii. is it personal or do you see it relating to a broader audience?

iii. are there artists, writers, poets, scientists, issues, concerns that inspire you to work hard to unveil your topic? post examples.

iv. who do you look at or read for inspiration? post examples.

v. does your inspiration come from outside yourself, inside, or a combination?

vi. do you see your topic as documentation of a personal event or events or as a general human existential dilemma?

vii. create a list of three specific areas under your topic that you’d like to explore. narrow it down to the one that interests you most as your core/primary access point for the viewer.

viii. POST AND COMMENT.


5) planning: PROJECT: create an outline of your topic. your outline should map your thesis topic. state your core concern and subtopics.

i. your outline will serve as a guide to help you develop your thesis project.

ii. include notes on how you generated your thesis topic, your research, your concepting process, and your proposed finished pieces.

iii. your outline should present your narrative, argument, and process ideas.

iv. POST AND COMMENT.


6) field research: PROJECT: create an online survey, due 6.9.
(http://www.surveymonkey.com/) for your classmates, family, friends, etc about your topic. (you may include the me in your survey if you wish.) the survey should be anonymous, but you may want to include basic factual information like gender, country of origin, age, etc. the survey should expand your frame of research from yourself to others. in other words, you, your topic, in relation to your classmates.

i. discuss your topic with your peers, your instructors, your elders, your target audience.


7) develop a color palette for your thesis project, due 6.16:

i. http://kuler.adobe.com/

ii. POST AND COMMENT.


8) charting your field research: PROJECT: information graphic: once you’ve gathered the all the information from your survey, due 6.16:

i. redo your outline, which will serve as you table of contents for your thesis book.

ii. create a hierarchy of information.

iii. digitize your symbols and drawings.

iv. set all the typography. the information graphic must be accessible to users who know nothing about your topic and also interesting to readers who are well informed about your topic.

v. POST AND COMMENT.

links:
http://www.bantjes.com/index.php?id=165
pentagram: http://pentagram.com/blog/2007/06/new-work-global-cities.php
http://www.edwardtufte.com/tufte/posters
http://www.grundini.com/
http://www.visualcomplexity.com/vc/
http://feltron.com/


9) visual language/symbol: PROJECT: create a symbol (shield) for your thesis topic, due 6.16. your symbol (shield) should have meaning to you and also be accessible as branding for your thesis.


10) presentation of research: PROJECT: create a type specimen book (16 pages, 1 signature) of just typography that details all your textual research, due 6.16. the book should be well researched, well written, be set perfectly (see berlow type specimen book:
http://www.fontbureau.com/books/dbspecimens) and soft bound. you may use any paper stock you like. newsprint is acceptable and may be printed larger if interesting. use only typography and a few digital graphics. you may include an icon on the cover and drop caps throughout. include subheads and bylines when quoting a large block of text or when using a large block of text to break up the monotony. generally a flat hand, fingers spread, placed on a piece of text type is too much type without a pull quote or some such typographic element to break it up.
see the Chicago manual of style (http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/home.html) for footnoting and styling of typographic elements. make sure your typography is flawless, ie. no widows, no strange word spacing, no tracking out or in, etc. use all means of distinguishing between bits of information from bold, roman, italic to small caps, all caps, bold caps, etc. use no more than three typefaces and use them all well!


11) large graphic advertising: PROJECT: create a set of four posters that seduce your audience into being interested in your topic, due 6.23.

formal parameters:

four posters

black & white only, no grayscale

dimensions: 48” x 52”

think op art (for example bridget riley), all great logos, wanted dead or alive posters.

your posters can be typographic and/or symbolic.

make a series of four posters that engage the viewer, grab attention, and create a dialogue between the poster and passer-by.

formal constraints such as a big, huge black & white poster offer an opportunity to observe your process in a new, exciting way.

the black and white helps you simplify the message into a tight concept and the scale puts your successes (and failures) in your face.


12) photo shoots: PROJECT: concept and art direct at least four photo shoots related to your thesis theme, due 6.30. collaborate with a photographer, professional or student.


13) thesis book: PROJECT: create a thesis process book (64 pages, 32 spreads, 2 signatures) showing how you developed your concept and pieces to support your concept, due 7.7. meaning state your thesis topic, show your research, include sketches and notes, and design in your type specimen book, your posters, your visual language, and your photo shoot. simply showing an end product leaves out ninety percent of what design is about; design is about process.. this is the culmination of the thesis work you’ve done. make it count!

i. invention: what formal qualities are unique to you?

ii. what conceptual aspects are unique to you?

FINAL BOOK DUE BY AUGUST 11TH.
NO EXCEPTIONS.
NO COMPLAINTS.
WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN!