The Graphic Design for Websites Workshop Resource

GRAPHIC DESIGN FOR WEBSITES (AND BEYOND)

“Graphic Design for Websites” is a workshop placing an emphasis on the basic elements and principles of graphic design in relationship to front end web design aesthetics. Students will be exposed to various examples and applications for wordpress based websites (on the CUNY academic commons and beyond). The workshop will also introduce and apply a myriad of Open Education Resources on design, techniques and software. Hands on exercises will be explored. Bring your lap top.

This week I had the honor of creating and presenting a workshop for the CUNY Graduate Center Students in the Digital Initiatives program. As per the workshops description above, we had a blast and covered quite a bit of information! This workshop was designed for students who have limited or no access to Adobe products and software. Have a look!

Please view the presentation as a whole by following this link 

Feel free to share this link! https://netart.commons.gc.cuny.edu/2019/03/19/the-graphic-design-for-websites-workshop/

ANIMATION TECH TALK on 3/20 – @7pm – Mark your Calendars

The BMCC MEA department will host an Animation Tech Talk on Wednesday, March 20th at 7 PM. Four animation professionals will participate and share their experience with students.
ANIMATION TECH TALK
 
Wednesday, March 20th at 7 PM 
Room N451, 199 Chambers St.
Come hear professionals discuss their experience in animation and motion graphics. Speakers include:

Moderator: Jamal Sullivan

*Food and drinks will be served*

MMA100 on the BMCC OpenLab

Dear BMCC MMA 100 Students – Please extend your learning receptors and join us as we pilot the BMCC OpenLab platform for our course on this URL below: – https://openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu/mma100-seslow-spring-2019/

Here you will find the Spring 2019 semester’s course content and information repository. Feel free to contribute and participate! The course website has been made open and public. As alumnus from the previous semesters your experience, insight and various skill sets would be greatly appreciated.

Would you like to share what you are working on this semester? Would you like to share and submit works/projects from a previous semester along with a brief description of the project? Send me an e-mail – rseslow (at) bmcc.cuny.edu

MMA100 on the CUNY Academic Commons will continue to publish resources simultaneously with the BMCC OpenLab version of the course.

Wishing you all a great semester and much good energy!

MMA100 Final Critique on 12/19 & Final Project Submissions

Dear MMA 100 Students,

As you know, our Final class Critique will be this Wednesday 12/19 @5:30pm.

We will be presenting our final Logo Project.

I will not be arriving on campus to open our classroom until 5:00pm  due to a meeting before the class. Please plan your arrival accordingly.

See you all on Wednesday night at 5:30 pm!

 

Weeks #12 – #14 – Fall 2018 – Logos- Final Project

                            

Week #12 -14 – FINAL PROJECT – Logos and Visual Identity

Our final project will cover quite a bit of information.    

Typography in LogosSymbols, Icons & Pictograms, creating a logo design brief, process & final production.

What is Visual Identity? Brands and Branding, research, discovery and process?

What is a logo? – Great Definition here – https://logogeek.uk/logo-design/why-logos-matter/

What is branding? – Great Definition here –  http://blog.creativelive.com/personal-branding-debbie-millman/

This is a multiple part assignment, please make that each step is followed.

Assignment specifications – 

Part 1 – Students will create a fictional company. The company can produce any kind of product or service that you wish. Students will generate a one paragraph written description about the company, its products and services. The company will need a new logo and visual identity created from scratch to help bring its presence to life.

Part 2 – Creating a design brief and doing the research – Now that you have decided on the type of company, its products and services, who is the competition out there that already exists? What do those logos look like and are they effective? Who are your companies customers? What is the age range of your customer? Where will they find your business? Online or offline? Describe why. The more you know about your business, its products and services (and the believe in them) the more you can offer a solution to your client. A logo is usually the first thing that they will see. How will you grab their attention with your companies visual identity?

Part 3 – Sketch and development. Watch Draplin’s video below. He has a great style and technique for the process. Create a series of sketches in pencil. I suggest making small thumbnail sketches as we have discussed in our class.

Part 4 – Iterations, variety and development, using art boards and making decisions on type, colors schemes and scale.

Part 5 – Production and application. Formatting business cards, letter heads and related usage for both print and the web.

**We will be using Adobe Illustrator for this project from start to finish.

Below are a series of helpful resources to explore the world of logos, branding and identity. The videos and podcasts below are super helpful and applicable.

Aaron Draplin, the logo Master – Draplin’s official website – http://www.draplin.com/

Some history, the video below has context – >

(This is a great informative Video on Logo Design by definition and application!)

Adobe makes great tutorials  – This is a great beginner video using illustrator – https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/how-to/logo-design.html

Tutorial to follow along with.

Tutorial to follow along with.

Logo Inspiration Galore, Resources:

https://www.logolounge.com/

http://logooftheday.com/

https://logogeek.uk/

https://www.logodesignlove.com/

https://identitydesigned.com/

Great resources from Logo Geek – https://logogeek.uk/logo-design/resources/

 

Podcasts –

Debbie MillmanDesign Matters – https://www.designmattersmedia.com/designmatters

Logo Geek – https://logogeek.uk/ – podcast website – https://logogeek.uk/podcast/

 

**Student Resources & Examples – What are some of your favorite logos and brand identities? Share a few examples in the comments section below by using a URL.

 

Week #11 – Fall 2018

Moving forward –>

Typography Assignment – PART 2 (as discussed in class on 11/21 and will continue on 11/28)

We will have a class critique on Wednesday 11/28 – a printed version of this assignment will be presented by each student. You will select two of your designs from Part 1 and print them as a single tabloid page.

Students will create a new 11″X17″ tabloid layout set for print in Adobe Illustrator. (You may use use multiple art boards to create iterations) Students will apply a series of their designs from part 1 into a collaborative magazine for print and the web.

*Student submissions of the completed project:

Student will submit both Part 1 & Part 2 of the project to me via e-mail saved as a .PDF file. Please send to – rseslow@bmcc.cuny.edu no later than Friday 11/30/18

FINAL PROJECT Discussion – Its time to discuss our final project! A class discussion about our final project will take place at the end of our class critique tonight.

BMCC MMA100 – Makerspace Physical Computing​ Workshop – 11/28

Makerspace Physical Computing​ Workshop

Wed, November 28, 2018
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
 
BMCC, 199 Chambers Street
Room S608
 
Learn the basics of physical computing – the building of physical interfaces to control technology. You will learn how to build a circuit and how to program the Arduino microcontroller which is a small computer used with inputs like switches and sensors, and outputs like LEDs, speakers or motors.

 

Open to all BMCC Students. No prior experience necessary.
 
Refreshments will be served.

Week #10 – Fall 2018

Project #5 – Class Discussion & Assignment – Applying type to Images, fonts, typefaces, composition, formatting and output for print & the web..

Typefaces and Fonts are built out of shapes and forms. Integrated with color and interesting compositions they become a powerful tool for creative output and the ability to solve design problems through visual communication.

 

PART 1 –

Assignment – Poster Design with Type & the Alphabet. Create 3 (YES – three variations)  a new poster design series using and applying balanced typography in adobe illustrator. Students will generate and demonstrate both a balanced and unconventional composition using each individual letter of the alphabet. (A-Z) The examples above are just a few potential ways to display style, simplicity, order and efficiency. A demonstration will be given in class.

Size requirements – 8.5 inches X 11 inches (or larger – 11″ x 14″)

Typefaces – Limit yourself to no more than 2-3 different fonts and 4 color values.

Step 1Find and discover your own inspiration and share the URLs in the comments section below. Each student will add 2-3 URLS of their inspiration in the comment section before starting this assignment.

Things to consider – Layout & balance – Using rulers, guides and grids. Free transformation & typesetting style.

*COMPOSITION and command over the picture plane and its chosen dimensions.

PART 2 – (as discussed in class on 11/21 and will continue on 11/28)

Students will create a new 11″X17″ tabloid layout set for print in Adobe Illustrator. Students will apply a series of their designs from part 1 into a collaborative magazine for print and the web.

Video Resources to explore:

 

Week # 9 – Fall 2018 – Midterm Critique, Type & Fonts

(This post card Ad is only a simulation, not an actual event)

MID-TERM CRITIQUE

I will give a demonstration on how to print your Mid-Term projects from Illustrator when you arrive to class. Mid-term projects will be saved as a .PDF file from Illustrator and e-mailed to me – rseslow@bmcc.cuny.edu – Mid-term projects will also be exported for the web and saved as a high resolution JPEG file. These files will also be e-mailed to me.

**Mid-term projects are both vertical and horizontal files sized at 11″X17″.

We will be critiquing all completed student work during this class session. All students will participate in the critique. The visual critique is NOT a work session using the computers.

************************************************************

Project #5 – Class Discussion & Assignment – Applying type to Images, fonts, typefaces, composition, formatting and output for print & the web..

Typefaces and Fonts are built out of shapes and forms. Integrated with color and interesting compositions they become a powerful tool for creative output and the ability to solve design problems through visual communication.

Assignment – Poster Design with Type & the Alphabet. Create 2 new poster designs using typography in adobe illustrator. Students will generate both a balanced and unconventional composition using each individual letter of the alphabet. The examples above are just a few potential examples of style, simplicity and efficiency. A demonstration will be given in class.

Size requirements – 8.5 inches X 11 inches

Typefaces – Limit yourself to no more than 2-3 different fonts and 4 color values.

Step 1 – Find and discover your own inspiration and share the URLs in the comments section below. Each student will add 2-3 URLS of their inspiration in the comment section before starting this assignment.

Things to consider – Layout & balance – Using rulers and grids. Free transformation & typesetting style.