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Course Description:
This intensive Digital Art course introduces students to the practice and thinking of contemporary graphic design. Students will learn how to navigate the conceptual, technical, and cultural dimensions of computer-aided design through hands-on projects and critical discussion.Using Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe Dimension, students will develop skills in industry-standard workflows while exploring foundational topics such as visual principles, typography, logo design, branding systems, information hierarchy, and packaging design. The course also situates current practices within the history of computer-aided graphic design, emphasizing how digital tools shape visual culture.
Course Objectives
By the end of the course, students will:
Create original design projects using a range of digital design techniques and tools
Develop an understanding of both the theory and practice of graphic design
Learn how design decisions influence clarity, meaning, and perception
Build a professional design portfolio demonstrating contemporary design skills
Gain confidence using industry-standard software to plan, construct, refine, and present design work
Course Structure & Methods
The course combines:
lectures and demonstrations
readings and visual analysis
critiques and group discussions
in-class and out-of-class design work
Projects emphasize process, decision-making, and presentation, encouraging students to articulate not just what they designed, but why.
Students should expect to spend significant time working outside of class. Plan for an average of 8 hours per week beyond scheduled class time. Making strong design takes longer than you think — and that time is part of the work.
Critiques:
Critiques are a central part of this course and will take place at the beginning of class on each project’s due date. Students are expected to attend and participate in critiques even if their work is incomplete. Critiques function as design reviews, not final judgments. They are an essential part of professional design practice, where ideas are tested, discussed, and refined through feedback. These sessions are not primarily for the instructor. They exist so students can learn from one another by examining different approaches, decisions, and problem-solving strategies. Discussion may address conceptual intent, formal choices, clarity, effectiveness, and execution.
Active, thoughtful participation in critiques is required and contributes directly to both individual development and the collective learning of the class.
Grading:
This course includes five major projects, in addition to Project 0, which counts toward participation rather than a graded assignment.
Minimum ExpectationsTo earn a letter grade of C, at minimum, students must:
Maintain regular attendance
Complete all five major projects
Complete required in-class assignments
Actively participate in class discussions and critiques
Meeting these requirements indicates satisfactory engagement and understanding of course material.
Expectations for an A
An A in this course requires significantly exceeding the minimum expectations. Work at this level demonstrates:
Strong technical execution and attention to detail
Clear and thoughtful conceptual reasoning
An understanding of design principles, hierarchy, and audience
Willingness to take creative risks and revise work based on feedback
Consistent, meaningful participation in critiques and discussions
Design is a communicative discipline. Your ability to articulate ideas, explain decisions, and engage critically with the work of others is an essential component of high-level work in this course.
Evaluation & Feedback
At midterm, each student will meet individually with the instructor to review completed work and discuss progress toward a final grade. Students are evaluated based on their individual growth, recognizing the varied backgrounds students bring to the course.
Project Weights
Projects 1–4 are weighted equally. The final project carries greater weight to reflect its role as a comprehensive synthesis of course concepts.
Project 1 – 15%
Project 2 – 15%
Project 3 – 15%
Project 4 – 15%
Project 5 (Final Project) – 30%
Participation (including Project 0) – 10%
Grade Scale
A = 93–100
A- = 90–92.99
B+ = 87–89.99
B = 83–86.99
B- = 80–82.99
C+ = 77–79.99
C = 73–76.99
C- = 70–72.99
D = 60–66.99
F = 0–59.99
Participation Note
Class participation, in-class exercises, and assigned readings are not individually graded. However, failure to consistently engage in these activities can negatively affect your final grade, particularly in cases where overall performance is borderline.
Attendance policy:
Regular attendance is essential in a studio-lab course built around shared equipment, collaboration, and critique. You are expected to come to class on time, ready to work and with all necessary supplies and materials. Excused absences are: family emergencies, established religious holiday, illness or injury. To be excused, you must email me before class time or within 24 hours after the absence. If you have COVID or other contagious illness, please let me know as soon as possible as I may be able to accommodate your participation via zoom if circumstances allow and you feel well enough to do so. Otherwise, you are responsible to find out what you missed and complete any missed work.
Please note: three unexcused absences will result in a full letter grade reduction of your final grade
Honor code:
Union College has instituted an Academic Honor Code, available at honorcode.union.edu. It is each student's responsibility to read and be familiar with it, and to ensure that submitted work is his or her own and does not involve any form of academic misconduct.
Materials & Equipment
Most core software and digital resources for this course will be provided through the college, including access to Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe Dimension. Additional digital resources and facilities will be available through existing campus labs and studios.
Students are strongly encouraged to bring a personal laptop to class. While campus computers are available, having consistent access to your own device will allow for more flexibility, continuity, and productive in-class work. A smartphone is also recommended for documentation, reference gathering, and process capture.
Prior experience with graphic design software is helpful but not required. Instruction and demonstrations will be provided throughout the course.
Student-Supplied Materials
Each student is responsible for supplying the following:
A notebook or sketchbook for planning, sketching, note-taking, and reflection
Pens and pencils for drawing and annotation
A bag or backpack for transporting personal materials
Students may choose to bring additional personal tools or materials relevant to their project work, subject to instructor approval.
Reading and writing
In addition to the suggested book, I will be giving you readings relating to design and ideas that you will be expected to discuss in class.
Learning Differences
It is the policy of Union College to make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. If you are a person with a disability and wish to request accommodations to complete your course requirements, please contact the Office of Student Support Services at (518) 388-8785. Once you have received documentation from that office, please contact me as soon as possible to discuss your needs. Please be aware that no accommodations will be provided without documentation from the Office of Student Support Services.
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