Class is Over but the Learning and the Work are not!

Okay class is over.  In general the presentations were very good and very much to the point, good job.

Here are the numbers of entries in your Visual Diaries

Rainbow Cheng 13
Wendy Cho 7
Iga Fung 18
Hugo Ghiglia 6
Veronica Jin 17
Katy Liu 13
Casper Mardahl 12
Lucie Neubergova 0 - found no link
Henry Ng 0 - found no link
Arne Stokholm 14
Bonnie Tam 13
Simon Tran 0 - found no link
Terence Tsang 0 - no subscription
Sara Wong 16
Windy Wong 4
Graham Wong 5
Careen Wong 43
Zoyo Zhao 28
Christy Chan 15
Ding Ding Chan 0 - found no link
Chan Fly Chan 15
Sandy Cheng 14
Kevin Cheung 0 - found no link
Eddie Choi 15
Candy Chow 0 - no subscription
Sharon Keung16
Calvin Ho 18
KaHei Kwok 19
Janet Kwok 16
Tim Lai 15
Chak Chak Lam 18
Celesty Lee 19
Helena Li 12
Cindy Lo 15
Kitty Ng 10
Cuttle Ng 15
Bryan Tsui 21
Ester Wong 16
Laura Xue 13

I will look more closely at your posts and their spread across the semester to determine a grade.

If you have a question, send me a link or send me an email or comment to this post.  I am glad to clear up any confusion.

See you next year,

Dr. Williams

Period Posters - link to syllabus

Period Posters are due on 5 December and Your Visual Diaries will be complete on 25 November.

Here is an example of a Period Poster from Last Year:

Your choice of themes are Breast Milk 100% Safe or Second Hand Smoke is No Joke

Go to the online syllabus to get the exact requirements for the assignment: Period Poster

Good Luck on your Presentations this week and next week.  Be sure to come a little Early to get set up.

Design Ancestor Example

Here are two very simple examples of Design Ancestors:

This is the design for which I am seeking ancestors.

Here is Ancestor 1:

This one is directly related as it provides the visual and the concept for the later work.  This is a poster for the original movie "Endless Summer" that was made in 1964 or thereabouts (you need to be more accurate).  The movie is about a group of guys traveling the world in search of the perfect wave.  Thus we have a great deal of the content in the modern design shown above.  

But the new design shows some changes and here is a possible ancestor:

This is the sign on the southern edge of Las Vegas that has become a trademark of the city.  It demonstrates strong use of the diamond shape which is the added element in the modern work above.  It also has strong associations with the 1960s which connects its use in the final poster as well, "Searching since '64."

Here is a second example of design ancestors:

I am hoping that at least one of the ancestors for this piece is obvious to you already so here it is:

Andy Warhol did a number of these silk screen repetitive pieces of famous people.  This is a clear predecessor to the work above with added notion that Photoshop made the modern piece a lot easier to do.

Now here is a second possible ancestor to the modern work above:

It might have been possible to choose any portrait as an ancestor of the modern work but this photograph is particularly relevant because it has the feeling of a self-shot self portrait of a photographer and it includes the camera in the shot.  So there is a logical connection between this photo which pre-dates the work shown above.

In your presentation you will need to give specific information about each image, the modern and the historical.  

Your images and their ancestors do not have to come from anything shown in class.

You will not have a lot time so you need to show us the modern work, then show us two works that you believe have the possibility of being ancestors to that work.  They may have provided some ideas or inspiration.  You need to make a few logical arguments for their connection even though the relationship may be obvious.

Be sure to post your questions as comments to this post and know the schedule below.  Attendance will be taken on both days so you are expected to come to class and support your fellow students.

Design Ancestor Presentation Schedule

Design Ancestor Presentations

18 November 2009

9: 35 Laura Xue

9: 42 Bonnie Tam

9: 49 Chak Chak Lam

9: 56 Cindy Lo

10: 03 Veronica Jin

10: 10 Candy Chow

10: 17 Casper Mardahl

10: 24 Zoyo Zhao

10: 31 Katy Liu

10: 38 Hugo Ghiglia

10: 45 Bryan Tsui

10: 52 Celesty Lee

10: 59 Lucie Neubergova

11: 06 Henry Ng

11: 13 Iga Fung

11: 20 Helena Li

11: 27 KaHei Kwok

11: 34 Kitty Ng

25 November 2009

9: 35 Wendy Cho

9: 42 Christy Chan

9: 49 Careen Wong

9: 56 Sharon Keung

10: 03 Eddie Choi

10: 10 Sandy Cheng

10: 17 ChanFly Chan

10: 24 DingDing Chan

10: 31 Calvin Ho

10: 38 Rainbow Cheng

10: 45 Windy Wong

10: 52 Graham Wong

10: 59 Simon Tran

11: 06 Ester Wong

11: 13 Arnbjorn Stokholm

11: 20 Tim Lai

11: 27 Janet Kwok

11: 34 Terence Tsang

11: 41 Kevin Cheung

11: 48 Cuttle Ng

11: 55 Sara Wong

Make your presentations no more than 6 minutes

1 minute to introduce your chosen modern design

2 minutes to introduce an ancestor and say why it is an ancestor

2 minutes to introduce another ancestor and say why it is an ancestor

1 minute of buffer time in case you run into a problem

Time will be short so please arrive early to upload your presentation on the classroom computer and check to make sure everything is okay.

You need to remember that powerpoint does not carry fonts with it so any font you use must be available in the classroom computer or it will not appear correctly.  If you use Flash this will not be an issue.

4 November 2009

All of the lectures are complete.

Today I wanted you to see that there is more to the communication design history of the PRC than just Cultural Revolution woodcuts.  There is a variety of work which has been done in a variety of media and since the 80s there has been a great deal more freedom in design practice which has led to some very interesting work.  All of these designers have a stake in the propaganda which was created under a great deal more political stress than is felt right now.  As you look at the various pieces of design it is interesting that you can get a real sense of the mood in China from the types of works that were created.  Whether this is a matter of actual mood or strategic public relations planning is beyond my knowledge, but it has appeared to become a more planned activity in the years since the Cultural Revolution.

You must always remember to be a good example to you juniors just as Lei Feng was a good example to you and the nation!

We will come back to the Universal Principles as you work your way through DGC or take future DGC courses.

Always remember Harry Beck and the London Subway Map.  It is the communication design model for the world.  So, it is also not bad to have some British influence in your historical heritage.   They did start a great subway system and modeled the information design on the example set by Beck in London.


More than 20 minutes late to class:
Rainbow
Wendy
Iga
Bonnie
Terence
Sara
Graham
Zoyo
Christy
Cindy
Ester

Absent:
Kevin
Calvin

Notes for the Final EXAM

DGC 1180 Final EXAM – Study Guide

11 November 2009

The exam will have two parts.  Part 1 is worth 70 points and Part 2 is worth 30 points. 

You will be able to bring to the exam one sheet of A4 paper filled with notes. 

You will need to be able to recall the following:

            The basic elements of the AIM model for communication

            The precepts and laws of Gestalt perception

            The impact of culture on various aspects of communication design

            The six basic categories of type described in class

            The methods for handling color using digital tools

            Five technological developments that changed and/or expanded communication design

You will need to be able to do the following:

            Define communication design according to the AIM model

            Describe the difference between type categories

            Identify your favorite designer from those in the class materials and justify your choice

            Identify your favorite design period, style or movement and justify your choice

            Explain why Harry Beck is important to communication design

            Explain why Sergei Eisenstein is important in the history of film

            Identify classic films and the subsequent films they inspired

            Discuss the impact of technological changes in communication design

You will need to choose 3 designs from those presented in class for analysis on the test:

All three must have been made since the year 1890. 

One must have been made since the year 1960. 

One must be of Chinese origin.

One must be of Western origin (Europe, U.S., Cuba, Australia).

One can be from anywhere (Japan, Europe, U.S., Cuba, Australia, China).

For EACH you will need to:

Give the year, designer and associated school, period or movement of the design

Write a detailed description of the design. 

Analyze the design according to a range of factors discussed in class

            Please bring a black and white copy of each design with you for the test.

            I will supply you with a booklet for writing your answers for the exam.

            Please post any question you have on this blog!