Exploring Digital Art Through Design Thinking
Lecturer: Laurie E. Myers, [email protected]
Course Description: An exploration of digital art as a medium for making art as well as understanding visual culture from the past, present, and ideas for the future. A multidisciplinary approach will combine digital arts and social media in a creative, respectful, responsible, and scholarly atmosphere.
Course Goal: The purpose of this course is to introduce students to available software emphasizing visual and collaborative problem solving as related to various two-dimensional imagery. Students will examine the aesthetic, technical, historical, and conceptual practices of image making using digital media. A variety of opportunities will be provided to explore digital art, expression, and how to use it to make a positive impact both personally and professionally.
Student Learning Objectives:
Upon completion of this course students will have learned or be able to:
Identify, define, and display an understanding of the Elements of Art and the Principles of Design.
Required Textbooks:
BDM’s Independent Manual Series, The Complete Photoshop Manual. Volume 3. Summer 2015. ISSN: 2058-8402
Recommended, but not required, Textbooks:
Adobe CC Classroom in a Book Series - Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, Photoshop Lightroom (4 different books to pick and choose from which may be of interest and help)
Christiane Paul, Digital Art. Third Edition. 2015. Thames & Hudson.
Williams, Robin, The Non-Designer’s Presentation Book. 2010. Peachpit Press.
Other Sources: A laptop with Google Drive set up as well as a cellular device is necessary. Tablets of any sort are welcome as well as any type of digital camera (alone or part of another device) is important. Free online editing and creative software downloads to be determined. Digital drawing tablets begin around $50 through Amazon or Walmart.com. These are suggested if students are serious about creating more digital art beyond this course.
Professional Website/Portfolio: Students will be expected to build an online portfolio of written and visual design projects which demonstrate an understanding of this course. Professional Websites/Portfolios will be developed through weebly.com (or other web-based sharing site) and shared on a variety of social media sites. Accounts should be set up with a variety of social media such as, but not limited to; Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Attendance: Consistent attendance is absolutely crucial in order to do well in this course. Promptness is also extremely important; all instruction is given at the beginning of the class period. THREE or more unexcused absences will result in the final grade being lowered one full letter grade. Consistent tardiness will also be detrimental to the final grade; with multiple tardiness counting as an absence at the instructor’s discretion. Because this is considered a blended course, approximately 30% will be conducted online. You are still expected to post your work each Wednesday by midnight.
Evaluation: Students will be evaluated based on their contribution to class discussions, critiques, collaborative work, and their aesthetic, technical and conceptual development displayed throughout the course. Students will complete collaborative projects and/or individual projects each week. A series of short response and descriptive essays will define projects and digital art appreciation. All work will be evaluated through Canvas and the student’s online portfolio. You are expected to post your work each Wednesday by midnight.
Attendance will also be a factor in evaluation. Students must notify me through email at [email protected] prior to the class missed.
Backup your data! Hard drive crashes and data loss are a well-known phenomenon. No computer disasters will be accepted for failing to submit work on time. Be sure to create a digital art folder in your Google Drive account if you have not set it up already.
S&T Rules and Regulations:
• Title IX: Missouri University of Science and Technology is committed to the safety and well-being of all members of its community. US Federal Law Title IX states that no member of the university community shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, or be denied benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity. Furthermore, in accordance with Title IX guidelines from the US Office of Civil Rights, Missouri S&T requires that all faculty and staff members report, to the Missouri S&T Title IX Coordinator, any notice of sexual harassment, abuse, and/or violence (including personal relational abuse, relational/domestic violence, and stalking) disclosed through communication including but not limited to direct conversation, email, social media, classroom papers and homework exercises. Missouri S&T’s Title IX Coordinator is Vice Chancellor Shenethia Manuel. Contact her directly ([email protected]; (573) 341-4920; 113 Centennial Hall) to report Title IX violations. To learn more about Title IX resources and reporting options (confidential and non-confidential) available to Missouri S&T students, staff, and faculty, please visit http://titleix.mst.edu.
• Student Honor Code and Academic Integrity: The Honor Code developed and endorsed by the Missouri S&T Student Council can be found at this link: http://stuco.mst.edu/honor-code/. Read and reflect upon the Honor code and its emphasis on HONESTY and RESPECT. Page 30 of the Student Academic Regulations handbook describes the student standard of conduct relative to the University of Missouri System's Collected Rules and Regulations section 200.010, and offers descriptions of academic dishonesty including cheating, plagiarism or sabotage. Other informational resources for students regarding ethics and integrity can be found online at http://ugs.mst.edu/academicintegrity/studentresources-ai .
Classroom Egress Maps: Please familiarize yourselves with the classroom egress maps posted on-line at: http://designconstruction.mst.edu/floorplan/.
• Disability Support Services: http://dss.mst.edu Any student inquiring about academic accommodations because of a disability should be referred to Disability Support Services (DSS) so that appropriate and reasonable accommodative services can be determined and recommended. DSS is located in 203 Norwood Hall. Their phone number is 341-6655 and their email is [email protected].
“It is the policy and practice of Missouri University of Science and Technology to promote inclusive learning environments. If you have a documented disability you may be eligible for reasonable accommodations in compliance with university policy, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Amendment Act (ADAAA) of 2008, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Please note, students are not encouraged to negotiate accommodations directly with professors. To request accommodations or assistance, please self-identify with Disability Support Services (DSS), 203 Norwood Hall. For more information or to register for services, contact DSS at (573) 341-6655 or by email at [email protected].”
• LEAD Learning Assistance: http://lead.mst.edu The Learning Enhancement Across Disciplines Program (LEAD) sponsors free learning assistance in a wide range of courses for students who wish to increase their understanding, improve their skills, and validate their mastery of concepts and content in order to achieve their full potential. LEAD assistance starts no later than the third week of classes. Check out the online schedule at http://lead.mst.edu/assist, using zoom buttons to enlarge the view. Look to see what courses you are taking have collaborative LEAD learning centers (bottom half of schedule) and/or Individualized LEAD tutoring (top half of the schedule). For more information, contact the LEAD office at 341-7276 or email [email protected].
• The Burns & McDonnell Student Success Center: The Student Success Center is a centralized location designed for students to visit and feel comfortable about utilizing the campus resources available. The Student Success Center was developed as a campus wide initiative to foster a sense of responsibility and self-directedness to all S&T students by providing peer mentors, caring staff, and approachable faculty and administrators who are student centered and supportive of student success. Visit the B&MSSC at 198 Toomey Hall; 573-341-7596; [email protected]; facebook: www.facebook.com/SandTssc; web: http://studentsuccess.mst.edu/ If you have any questions about the information listed above, please contact the Office of Undergraduate Studies at 573-341-7276.
Course Description: An exploration of digital art as a medium for making art as well as understanding visual culture from the past, present, and ideas for the future. A multidisciplinary approach will combine digital arts and social media in a creative, respectful, responsible, and scholarly atmosphere.
Course Goal: The purpose of this course is to introduce students to available software emphasizing visual and collaborative problem solving as related to various two-dimensional imagery. Students will examine the aesthetic, technical, historical, and conceptual practices of image making using digital media. A variety of opportunities will be provided to explore digital art, expression, and how to use it to make a positive impact both personally and professionally.
Student Learning Objectives:
Upon completion of this course students will have learned or be able to:
Identify, define, and display an understanding of the Elements of Art and the Principles of Design.
- Develop appropriate online communication and collaboration skills.
- Produce and critique digital projects through a variety of sources and programs.
- Build a professional website for professional branding for future employers.
- Share projects through a variety of social media sites in a way that makes a positive influence personally and within the student’s major area of study.
Required Textbooks:
BDM’s Independent Manual Series, The Complete Photoshop Manual. Volume 3. Summer 2015. ISSN: 2058-8402
Recommended, but not required, Textbooks:
Adobe CC Classroom in a Book Series - Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, Photoshop Lightroom (4 different books to pick and choose from which may be of interest and help)
Christiane Paul, Digital Art. Third Edition. 2015. Thames & Hudson.
Williams, Robin, The Non-Designer’s Presentation Book. 2010. Peachpit Press.
Other Sources: A laptop with Google Drive set up as well as a cellular device is necessary. Tablets of any sort are welcome as well as any type of digital camera (alone or part of another device) is important. Free online editing and creative software downloads to be determined. Digital drawing tablets begin around $50 through Amazon or Walmart.com. These are suggested if students are serious about creating more digital art beyond this course.
Professional Website/Portfolio: Students will be expected to build an online portfolio of written and visual design projects which demonstrate an understanding of this course. Professional Websites/Portfolios will be developed through weebly.com (or other web-based sharing site) and shared on a variety of social media sites. Accounts should be set up with a variety of social media such as, but not limited to; Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Attendance: Consistent attendance is absolutely crucial in order to do well in this course. Promptness is also extremely important; all instruction is given at the beginning of the class period. THREE or more unexcused absences will result in the final grade being lowered one full letter grade. Consistent tardiness will also be detrimental to the final grade; with multiple tardiness counting as an absence at the instructor’s discretion. Because this is considered a blended course, approximately 30% will be conducted online. You are still expected to post your work each Wednesday by midnight.
Evaluation: Students will be evaluated based on their contribution to class discussions, critiques, collaborative work, and their aesthetic, technical and conceptual development displayed throughout the course. Students will complete collaborative projects and/or individual projects each week. A series of short response and descriptive essays will define projects and digital art appreciation. All work will be evaluated through Canvas and the student’s online portfolio. You are expected to post your work each Wednesday by midnight.
Attendance will also be a factor in evaluation. Students must notify me through email at [email protected] prior to the class missed.
Backup your data! Hard drive crashes and data loss are a well-known phenomenon. No computer disasters will be accepted for failing to submit work on time. Be sure to create a digital art folder in your Google Drive account if you have not set it up already.
S&T Rules and Regulations:
• Title IX: Missouri University of Science and Technology is committed to the safety and well-being of all members of its community. US Federal Law Title IX states that no member of the university community shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, or be denied benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity. Furthermore, in accordance with Title IX guidelines from the US Office of Civil Rights, Missouri S&T requires that all faculty and staff members report, to the Missouri S&T Title IX Coordinator, any notice of sexual harassment, abuse, and/or violence (including personal relational abuse, relational/domestic violence, and stalking) disclosed through communication including but not limited to direct conversation, email, social media, classroom papers and homework exercises. Missouri S&T’s Title IX Coordinator is Vice Chancellor Shenethia Manuel. Contact her directly ([email protected]; (573) 341-4920; 113 Centennial Hall) to report Title IX violations. To learn more about Title IX resources and reporting options (confidential and non-confidential) available to Missouri S&T students, staff, and faculty, please visit http://titleix.mst.edu.
• Student Honor Code and Academic Integrity: The Honor Code developed and endorsed by the Missouri S&T Student Council can be found at this link: http://stuco.mst.edu/honor-code/. Read and reflect upon the Honor code and its emphasis on HONESTY and RESPECT. Page 30 of the Student Academic Regulations handbook describes the student standard of conduct relative to the University of Missouri System's Collected Rules and Regulations section 200.010, and offers descriptions of academic dishonesty including cheating, plagiarism or sabotage. Other informational resources for students regarding ethics and integrity can be found online at http://ugs.mst.edu/academicintegrity/studentresources-ai .
Classroom Egress Maps: Please familiarize yourselves with the classroom egress maps posted on-line at: http://designconstruction.mst.edu/floorplan/.
• Disability Support Services: http://dss.mst.edu Any student inquiring about academic accommodations because of a disability should be referred to Disability Support Services (DSS) so that appropriate and reasonable accommodative services can be determined and recommended. DSS is located in 203 Norwood Hall. Their phone number is 341-6655 and their email is [email protected].
“It is the policy and practice of Missouri University of Science and Technology to promote inclusive learning environments. If you have a documented disability you may be eligible for reasonable accommodations in compliance with university policy, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Amendment Act (ADAAA) of 2008, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Please note, students are not encouraged to negotiate accommodations directly with professors. To request accommodations or assistance, please self-identify with Disability Support Services (DSS), 203 Norwood Hall. For more information or to register for services, contact DSS at (573) 341-6655 or by email at [email protected].”
• LEAD Learning Assistance: http://lead.mst.edu The Learning Enhancement Across Disciplines Program (LEAD) sponsors free learning assistance in a wide range of courses for students who wish to increase their understanding, improve their skills, and validate their mastery of concepts and content in order to achieve their full potential. LEAD assistance starts no later than the third week of classes. Check out the online schedule at http://lead.mst.edu/assist, using zoom buttons to enlarge the view. Look to see what courses you are taking have collaborative LEAD learning centers (bottom half of schedule) and/or Individualized LEAD tutoring (top half of the schedule). For more information, contact the LEAD office at 341-7276 or email [email protected].
• The Burns & McDonnell Student Success Center: The Student Success Center is a centralized location designed for students to visit and feel comfortable about utilizing the campus resources available. The Student Success Center was developed as a campus wide initiative to foster a sense of responsibility and self-directedness to all S&T students by providing peer mentors, caring staff, and approachable faculty and administrators who are student centered and supportive of student success. Visit the B&MSSC at 198 Toomey Hall; 573-341-7596; [email protected]; facebook: www.facebook.com/SandTssc; web: http://studentsuccess.mst.edu/ If you have any questions about the information listed above, please contact the Office of Undergraduate Studies at 573-341-7276.