Updated: Jan 10, 2024 SI 320 W24 Syllabus.

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SI 320 // Graphic Design & Visual Communications

Estimated reading time: 20 min

Term: Winter 2024

Contact weeks: 14 weeks ( Jan 10, 2024 - Apr 23, 2024 )
Contact time: 4 hours | @Home time: 8 hours

Lecture: Tuesdays, 10.00 am –12.00 pm | 1570 NUB

Lab: Thursdays, 10.00 am –12.00 pm | 1570 NUB

Teaching Team

Vadim Besprozvany | vbesproz@umich.edu

Elena Godin | yelena@umich.edu | 734.945.1940 (emergency only)
David Parker | parked@umich.edu
Cecilia Huynh | cchuynh@umich.edu
Sky Lu , Yihao Shi - graders

Office Hours and Remote Support

● Google Space for quick Q&As
● Google Calendar with classes/office hours listed: goo.gl/yhJFB
● Please use the Office Hours Sign-up to book your spot.

We strongly encourage in-person attendance during the in-person office hours (Tuesday).
Remote attendance is during specially reserved times (Monday, Wednesday). Email Elena or
Vadim if you need individual time to discuss personal/sensitive issues.

Important Deadlines
● Homework is always due on Tuesdays at 10 AM.
● Activities and lecture hands-on - by midnight on the day of the class meeting
● You can resubmit all the homework revisions except for the Ideations (Part I) until the
last day of our class meeting Apr 23, 2024 11:45 PM
● Lab work is due on Fridays at 11:59 PM—one round of corrections before the closing
date, which varies (usually three weeks after the due date ).
● We will not accept late submissions of any kind after Apr 23, 2024 11:45 PM
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Schedule

Week 1 - Jan 11, 2024

Intro. What are Graphic Design and Visual Communication? About the course.
@Home: Intro slide - use the software of their choice to complete the work.

Week 2 - Jan 16, 2024

Graphic Design Core Concepts: Text & Images. Hands-on, Lab.

Homework 01 - Tell a story in a series of photos. Explore crops, shots, and angles - Photoshop,
CC Library, and Figma for layout.

Week 3 - Jan 23, 2024

Graphic Design Core Concepts: Color Models, Properties, Harmonies, Antorpologic and
Cultural aspects.

Hands-on, Lab. Homework 02 - shape the message and work with complex colour solutions for
a graphic series. Photoshop, CC Library, and Figma for layout

Sketchpad Check 1

Week 4 - Jan 30, 2024

Graphic Design Core Concepts: Composition. Contrast. Emphasis. Free (White) Space.
Movement.
Hands-on, Lab. Homework 03 - Composition, Depth, Masking.

Week 5 - Feb 6, 2024

Graphic Design Core Concepts: Gestalt.

Design cure/challenge: Proximity, Common Region, Similarity - Use the software of your choice
to complete the work. Homework 04 - gestalts
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Week 6 - Feb 13, 2024

Graphic Design Core Concepts: Typography.

Homework 05 - Illustrator or Figma for layout. CC Library.

Week 7 - Feb 20, 2024

Graphic Design Core Concepts: Semantics. Hierarchy. Grids Systems.

Homework 05 (cont) - Master the multi-grid layout. Illustrator or Figma for layout. CC Library.

Sketchpad Check 2

Spring Break - Feb 27, 2024 - no classes

Week 8 - Mar 5, 2024

Branding & Identity. Logo. Logotype. Logomark. Hands-on, Lab.

Homework 06 - Design a Logotype - Part I (research, ideate, sketch)

Week 9 - Mar 12, 2024

Branding and Identity Guidelines. The Identity Guide (Brand Book)

Hands-on, Lab. Homework 06 - Part II Identity Guidelines (Illustrator, CC Library)

Week 10 - Mar 19, 2024

Branding & Identity. Design for Digital Environment and User Interface (UI)
Identity Guidelines and User Interface (UI).

Week 11 - Mar 26, 2024

Branding & Identity. Design for Digital Environment and User Interface (UI)
Atomic Design. Design Language and System.
Homework 07. Hig-fidelity Mockups. Photoshop for image editing, Illustrator for vector work, CC
Library, Figma for layout
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Week 12 - Apr 2, 2024

iOS and MD.

Week 13 - Apr 9, 2024

Data Viz.

Week 14 - Apr 16, 2024

Guest speaker or a field trip (TBA)

Week 15 - Apr 16, 2024 Portfolio. Quiz.

The quiz will consist of 20-25 essay-type (short answers) and multiple-choice questions that
address your knowledge of graphic design key terms and concepts or ask you to describe what
principles are used in a given layout. These questions will include visual material. A hands-on
component might be included to test your understanding of the software use and design
principles (TBA).

The missed quiz cannot be retaken and will result in a "0" grade unless an alternative date is
arranged with the instructors before the quiz scheduled time (this applies to religious holidays,
documented illness, or conflicting exam time).

The quiz is not subject to revision/resubmission.

Final Project?
Not this term

About the course

Our course supports students' professional development by exploring principles and practices of
visual communication. The conceptual part covers the graphic design theory discourse.
Students will reinforce the practical application of critical thinking and analysis and master
conceptualising and making. They will learn to "read" designs and apply them to broader
cultural, technological, and social contexts. In the hands-on part of the course, students will gain
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software skills necessary for practical application, learn how to follow or establish brand/identity
guidelines, prepare work for production, and select the right tool for their projects. Students will
improve their aesthetic sensibility and design skills by mastering visual language vocabulary,
understanding ways of establishing effective visual communication, solving multifaceted
problems, and developing analytical thinking and promoting, thus responding professionally to
the modern world's rapidly changing needs. Students will learn how to organise or enhance their
portfolios while studying the elements and principles of layout, typography, illustration, colour,
and UI design. Many students incorporate the best projects they work on for the class into their
portfolios.

Goals and Learning Objectives

In this course, you will:

● Investigate and define visual design concepts and practices

● gain graphic design skills to visualise effectively and present design solutions and ideas
clearly and concisely, elevate high-fidelity prototyping skills
● learn how cultural and social factors play a vital role in shaping visual design solutions
● study the graphic design process and components
● understand branding
● Understand the concept of design language and design system

Ethical Considerations
Inclusion and Justice
We work together to cultivate a learning community that is respectful and inclusive. We will not
tolerate any demonstration of hate speech or humiliation of others because of their race, origin
(xenophobia), sexual identity, gender, age, socioeconomic status, or religious beliefs.

We acknowledge our students' different identities and experiences. In this course, students will
have a range of background preparation; this is normal and expected. We have high
expectations, yet we believe all students can succeed in this course.

We draw our course examples from various social or cultural domains that may not align with
our students' past experiences. We are happy to share our cultural background with our
students and are eager to learn about theirs. We aim to develop students' sense of connection
to our course and a broader community of designers.

We value critical thinking, self-reflection, open-mindedness, and imagination.

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Creativity
As Wikipedia defined it, creativity is a phenomenon whereby something new and somehow
valuable is formed. The created item may be intangible (such as an idea, a scientific theory, a
musical composition, or a joke) or a physical object (such as an invention, a literary work, or a
painting). We share and support this idea; thus, before creating something new and valuable,
students first should learn what concepts and principles form creativity in Graphic Design.
Graphic designers create, but it doesn't necessarily mean they're creative. The role of creativity
is vital, especially for designers, whom most people consider creative simply by virtue of their
work. While creativity is subject to multiple definitions, it must work in tandem with other
concepts before it can be taken advantage of (—Johnny Kilhefner, Role of Creativity in Graphic
Design.)

Subjectivity
Subjectivity refers to how personal opinions and feelings shape someone's judgement instead of
outside influences. Since a subject is a person, subjectivity refers to how a person's uniqueness
influences their perceptions. Example: Our perception of loudness is subjective, but the sound
has an intensity, independent of our hearing, that is measured in decibels (dB). —Jennifer
Barone, Discover, 2009 (from www.merriam-webster.com)

In our class, our judgments are based on principles of Graphic Design, not on personal
opinions. We rely on our professional background and expertise.

An opinion is different from a grounded understanding (e.g., knowledge).

Course Organization and Requirements:

Your class performance is based on the successful completion of all projects, adequate group
work, and active participation. Attendance and participation grades include your synchronous
presence, discussion involvement, group work, and peer feedback.

Assessments
● Attendance and Participation - 25%
● Labs - 15%
● Homework - 50%
● Quiz - 5%
● Sketchpad - 5%
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Course Grading Scale

("=" - "equal", no rounding, 93.95 is A-, not A)

99 –100 = A +
94 – 98 = A
90 – 93 = A –90
87 – 89 = B +
86 – 84 = B
80 – 83 = B –
77 – 79 = C +
74 – 76 = C
70 – 73 = C –

Attendance
● We expect you to attend this class in person. In-class group activities and your class
participation grade both rely on attendance.
● Fill in the attendance form for every lecture within the first 15 minutes of class. We will
also monitor your lab attendance. You are responsible for signing up for your
attendance at the beginning of the class via the Google form link provided in the
corresponding Attendance assignment.
● Valid reasons for not attending the class are illness, quarantine, conference participation,
job interview, religious holiday/observation, or family emergency. Have supportive
documentation ready.
● Notify us about your planned or unplanned absence in advance: email or go to the
Attendance assignment and use the Comments text area to explain your situation and
attach supporting documentation.
● We excuse one absence for everyone and two absences for student-caregivers (parents
or others with similar responsibilities); the rest will result in a 0 grade for a given class
unless supportive documentation is provided and arrangements are made with the
instructors (make-up quiz).
● To get your absence excused, attend office hours and complete the make-up quiz
covering the lecture's content (week 1). You are responsible for finding out what you
have missed in a class by referring to the syllabus, learning material on Canvas, and
your peers.
● Arriving/registering after 15 minutes after class start time is considered late (-10 pts of
the grade for a scheduled class). You may be regarded as absent if you do not attend at
least 70% of any scheduled class.
● Do not submit the attendance form without being present in the classroom - this is
misconduct. We will take action: 1st occurrence - 0% for the given class and discussion.
Second occurrence: report to OSA and the course grade reduction.
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Participation
Participation is an essential part of a class. We expect you to participate in class actively. We
will do individual and group activities in class each week.

● Participation credit may include reading the assigned texts, meaningful contributions to
in-class discussions, and active participation in group work or other in-class activities.
● Participation is based on your discussion involvement, in-class activities, and Canvas
Analytics log.
● Based on a student's participation merit, instructors reserve the right to upgrade or
downgrade the course's final grade up to a notch.

Small group discussions - 3-4 participants per group. Discussion time: 15-20 min. During the
discussion, the presenter of the work will keep notes and use the feedback received to improve
their work. Discussion notes count toward your homework assignment grades.

Disruptive Behaviour in the Classroom

Disruptive behaviour [1] negatively affects the classroom environment and students' educational
experience in the course. Examples of disruptive behaviours include, but are not limited to:

● Failing to respect the rights of other students to express their viewpoints. Classroom
discussion should be civilised and respectful to everyone, and relevant to the topic
discussed.
● Entering the class late or leaving early. Packing up your belongings before the end of
class disrupts others around you and the instructor.
● Constant interruptions which interfere with the instructor's presentation
● Creating excessive noise. Talking when the instructor or others are speaking
● Overt inattentiveness: use of cell phones in the classroom, text messaging, listening to
music, gaming, checking emails, Facebooking, browsing the web (excluding instances
when it is a part of the instructor's assignment), sleeping
● Inordinate or inappropriate demands for time or attention. Repeated requests for special
arrangements, such as an extension of the deadline, with the request(s) filled with
emotion
● Students exhibiting these behaviours can expect a warning from the instructor and/or a 0
grade for attendance/participation in a given class. We will report the failure to correct
such behaviours to OSA.
● More extreme examples of disruptive behaviour include, but are not limited to, the use of
profanity or derogatory language; intoxication, verbal abuse of instructors or other
students, harassment of instructors or other students, and physical violence.
● Students exhibiting these more extreme examples of disruptive behaviour may be
dismissed from the lesson or the entire course.

[1] The description of disruptive behaviour and listings of examples of disruptive behaviour are taken from the Web
sites of James Madison University, the University of Delaware, the University of West Florida, and Virginia Tech.
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Lab Works
Labs are generally short and easy assignments that help you better understand the methods
and rules of design and software techniques. Most of these works are intended to be completed
within an hour or less. To be successful with your lab, review the tools, panels, and other
materials provided before lab time. Labs are graded on the following criteria:

● applying graphic design concepts learned in class

● following instructions
● technical accuracy, and craftsmanship
● fulfilment of the assignment objectives
● one round of lab corrections are allowed and will be open until three weeks after the due
date
● late labs are accepted while the assignment is still open; however, late submission will
result in a reduced score (-10%).
● The due time for labs is 11.59 pm on Fridays

Homework Assignments
Homework is due at the beginning of the class. The due date is listed on Canvas >
Assignments.

Each homework assignment will have a corresponding checklist you must upload together with
the submission. No checklist = no full grade. A partial grade (usually 50%) to acknowledge the
timely submission + markup to help you fix the obvious mistakes will be provided.

Late homework is accepted; however, late submission will result in a lower score (-10%).

A submitted project that contains inappropriate images or language will receive no credit.

Homework graded on the following criteria:

● applying graphic design concepts learned in class

● technical accuracy, and craftsmanship
● effective use of skills developed in labs
● following instructions
● fulfilment of the assignment objectives

Time Estimates for the Homework:

easy: 1.5 - 4 hrs
medium: 5 - 7 hrs
hard: 8 - 9 hrs

HW 01 - Text & Images - Easy

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HW 02 - Promo Banners - medium

HW 03 - Typographic Collage (isolations + mask) – medium/hard
HW 04 Part I - Grid-Based Layout Ideation - easy
HW 04 Part II - Grid-Based Layout (Alphabet poster) - medium/hard
HW 05 Part I - Logo Ideation - medium
HW 05 Part II - Logo Guide - medium (may be assigned as a printed submission)
HW 06 - High-Fi Mockups - hard (may be assigned as a printed submission)

We encourage you to make corrections/revisions to your work (refer to the Revisions /

Corrections section below).

In-Class Hands-on & Activities

In-class activities will be outlined in the Participation assignments. Their completion is part of
your grade for this rubric. Submit these at the end of the class.

Revisions & Corrections

In this class, we cultivate a growth mindset: risk, struggle, and failure are essential parts of the
learning process. Thus, revisions are a necessary part of your learning and creative process.
There are optional and mandatory revisions (which will be indicated on the checklist/grade book
notes). Revising your homework allows you to improve your grade, polish your design skills, and
enhance your portfolio.

It happens! As you iterate your work, we may spot new mistakes. Your work will not receive a
lower than the original score; however, we may ask you to address the newly discovered errors.

Note that the final Project and the quiz are not subject to revision/resubmission due to the
nature of the course timeline.

Revisions for the Homework:

● You can resubmit all the homework revisions except for the Ideations until the last day of
the classes Apr 23, 2024 11:45 PM
● Post the updated file to Canvas. Printed works may require printed resubmission.
● Fill and attach the corrections checklist (Canvas > Files > _corrections_checklist.pdf)
with the notes from in-class discussions and your own observations.
● Apply your newly gained skills to revised works.
● Revised work without a completed corrections checklist is not accepted / may be
returned ungraded.
● Two rounds of resubmissions are allowed (3 attempts total)

Lab and Hands-on Revisions

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● These assignments can be revised; upload the revised file to Canvas and comment on
your completed revisions—no need to provide the corrections checklist.
● Works must have comments to be re-graded.
● The due date for these resubmissions is three weeks after the due date or while the
assignment is still open.
● One round of revisions for the labs (2 attempts total)

Missed Assessments
Missed assessments can be submitted as late work until the last day of the classes,
Apr 23, 2024 11:45 PM unless there are other arrangements with the instructor. They are
marked as "late."

Assignment Grades Posting

● Grades are posted via the Canvas grade book.
● We try our best to grade your labs before your homework is due.
● Homework is graded within a week after the due date.
● Resubmissions of any kind are graded once a week. Each Grader will have a specific
time during the week to review your revisions.

Academic Integrity
Unless otherwise specified in an assignment, all submitted work must be your original work. Any
excerpts, statements, or phrases from the work of others must be identified as a quotation, and
a proper citation must be provided.* Any violation of the School's policy on Academic and
Professional Integrity (stated in the Master's and Doctoral Student Handbooks) will result in
serious penalties, which might range from failing an assignment to failing a course to being
expelled from the program. Violations of academic and professional integrity will be reported to
UMSI Student Affairs. The faculty instructor determines consequences impacting assignments
or course grades; the assistant dean for academic and student affairs may impose additional
sanctions.

The same applies to the visual material used in your works.

AI and Generative Art

Our take on AI and generative art is that you may use it for inspiration and as an illustrative tool
- how you would use a stock photo or vector art. You should not produce complete graphic
design pieces using these tools.
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The Learning Environment

Course materials, grading, assignment submission: Canvas. The corresponding section on
Canvas describes all homework, lab, and activity/participation assignments. Course materials
are shared via Canvas > Files. You will get weekly Canvas announcements with the to-do list.

Google Forms, calendar, and docs for collaborative work

We use Zoom to record class lectures, group work, and labs for those in quarantine, sick, or
absent from class for other respectable reasons. We also may use Zoom chat to monitor
in-class Q&As. Please configure your U-M Zoom account to be able to join our Zoom meetings.
These meetings are listed on your Canvas calendar.

Please note: Lecture Capture technology is used in the UMSI classrooms; the recording begins
a few minutes before class and ends a few minutes after. Be careful if you have conversations
that are not intended to be recorded.

Textbook? There is no textbook required for this class. You may use Visual Quickstart Guides
(available via ProQuest) or other resources (like Adobe Help Center) for your reference while
mastering the software. Required reading materials (articles, manuals, etc.) will be available
online (Canvas, Safari Books) if assigned.

Sketches & Process Notepad

Sketches are required in concept development, discussion, and brainstorming sessions. Please
use them for all projects. You will attach your sketches to the homework submission package.
You will need a pencil or a pen and an eraser.

Working on the sketches during the lecture is also part of your participation grade. Your
sketchpads will be checked several times during the term for a meaningful and complete set of
sketches.

Hardware
Laptop or desktop (learn more about Adobe requirements here) + An external mouse or stylus is
a plus if you use your laptop.

Software
Adobe Creative Cloud is automatically available to all active students. Download Creative
Cloud from Adobe. Once you download the Creative Cloud app, you can select which products
to download onto your computer. Before using it for the first time, see How to Log In to Adobe
Products.
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Communication & Emails

We aim to learn and use students' names and personal pronouns and encourage them to learn
and use one another's, accurately pronounced and spelt (that also applies to the teaching
team's names).

● Please send an email to our UMICH addresses (we prefer not to use Canvas for that)
● Add your course and section number in the subject of your message ("SI 320 Section
01, Lab 02")
● Use a salutation and signature ("Hi, David" - "Hannah Gordon, MSI"). Many people have
strong feelings about what you do to their names and how you address them: including
their names in the salutation is an easy way to show that you recognise them as fellow
human beings — dehumanising hurts.
● We may not be able to help you at the last minute. We reserve the right not to respond to
emails about an assignment the day it is due; this is also true for late-night emails the
day before a project is due.
● Ask your homework-related questions in the Discussion Q&A threads (Slack)
● Be specific: A general question, like "I don't even know how to get started," is better
discussed in person: email to schedule your office hours visit.
● Grades are not discussed via email except for simple math or entry errors. Please
schedule office hours with us to review your grade questions.

Audio and Video Recordings

We will be doing audio and video recordings of all sessions to enable those who cannot attend
class in person on a given day to access the content. These recordings will not be made
available publicly. Recordings of all sessions will be available on Canvas only to students
registered for this class. As part of your participation in this course, you may be recorded. If you
wish to refrain from being recorded, please contact the teaching team during the first week of
class to discuss alternative arrangements. The camera only picks up the front of the room
(instructor and slides), but this may require you to sit in a particular place in the room outside
the camera's view.

● Students may not copy and share the lecture videos with those not in the class or upload
them to any other online environment (this violates the Federal Education Rights and
Privacy Act (FERPA)).
● Personal recordings are prohibited except with permission.
● Students are prohibited from recording/distributing any class activity without written
permission from the instructor, except as necessary as part of approved
accommodations for students with disabilities.
● Any approved recordings may only be used for the student's private use.
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We Care
We do our best to respond and adapt to students' changing and diverse circumstances; we aim
to engage empathetically with student needs, both emerging and persistent; we are ready to
provide accommodations for equitable learning. You are invited to attend our office hours if you
need to share your concerns and/or identify how to get help and support.

If you are a pregnant, parenting student, or primarily responsible for providing care for a loved
one or family member and need accommodations, please let us know at your earliest
convenience. You may also contact mcasp.org and CEW+ for resources and community
support.

Student Mental Health and Wellbeing

University Students may experience stressors that can impact both their academic experience
and their well-being. These may include academic pressures and challenges associated with
relationships, mental health, alcohol or other drugs, identities, finances, etc. If you are
experiencing concerns, seeking help is a courageous thing to do for yourself and those who
care about you. If the source of your stressors is academic, please contact us so we can find
solutions together. Ashley Evearitt, a Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
counsellor, is embedded in UMSI; schedule an appointment with her by copying and pasting the
following URL into your browser: https://bit.ly/Evearitt-CAPS-UMSI

For personal concerns, U-M offers a variety of resources, many of which are listed on the
Resources for Student Well-being webpage. You can also search for additional well-being
resources on that website.

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

The University of Michigan recognises disability as an integral part of diversity and is committed
to creating an inclusive and equitable educational environment for students with disabilities.
Students experiencing a disability-related barrier should contact Services for Students with
Disabilities https://ssd.umich.edu/; 734-763-3000 or ssdoffice@umich.edu). For students
connected with SSD, accommodation requests can be made in Accommodate. If you have any
questions or concerns, please contact your SSD Coordinator or visit SSD’s Current Student
webpage. SSD considers aspects of the course design, course learning objects and the
individual academic and course barriers experienced by the student. Further conversation with
SSD, instructors, and the student may be warranted to ensure an accessible course experience.

Religious/Cultural Observance
Those who have religious or cultural observances that coincide with this class should comment
on their planned absence within the second week from the class start. We encourage you to
honour your cultural and religious holidays. However, if we do not hear from you by the end of
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the second week, we assume you plan to attend all class meetings.

COVID-19
These guidelines are based on the latest ( Sep 1, 2023 ) recommendations of the UM Chief
Health Officer. If you test positive for COVID-19:

● Do not come to class; join Zoom.

● Report your positive test result unless you tested through UHS, which automatically
reports results to the U-M Department of Environment, Health & Safety (EHS).
● Activate your isolation plan.
● Contact your OSA advisor to discuss plans for missed classes, coursework, or other
academic concerns.
● Reach out to your healthcare provider for treatment options if needed.
● Take care and rest – even with mild symptoms, being sick can be overwhelming,
especially at the start of a school year.

Syllabus Updates
The instructional team reserves the right to modify the syllabus at any time. We will notify you
via Canvas if we update the syllabus during the term if it affects deadlines or grading.