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Dominican University
ART 208_1
Introduction to Design Applications
Spring 2006
Tuesdays & Thursdays 11:30am-1:20pm
Digital Media Center (DMC), Lewis 406
Instructor: Bill Kerr
Office: Lewis 315
Office phone: (708) 524-6476
Email: bkerr@dom.edu
Course Description and Objectives
This fast-paced class will introduce you to
the fundamentals of image editing,
illustration and page layout through projectbased
assignments. You will learn the
fundamentals of three industry-standard
applications: Photoshop, Illustrator and
InDesign, while developing an
understanding of basic design principles.
In addition you should become more adept
at articulating and presenting your designs
and design decisions.
This course satisfies the Literature and Fine
Arts course Requirement.
Course Structure
Classes will begin with discussions of design
concepts or critiques of projects. These will
be followed by hands-on learning of the
software. The remainder of the class will be
used as workshop time with the instructor
providing individual feedback and
assistance. There will be no final exam.
Never hesitate to ask for help. If you ever
have suggestions on how to improve the
class, feel free to let me know.
Lab Hours
Lab hours will be posted on the classroom
door. There are also Macs available in the
Technology Center in the basement.
Grading
It is important that students realize that
studio art instructors teach through critique.
When work due on a certain day is not
completed students are not only cheating
themselves but their classmates as well.
All homework and class work must be
turned in to the drop box at the specified
time. If you take this class on a pass/fail
basis you must still complete all of the
assignments and hand them all in on time.
No letter or numerical grades will be given
for individual works. I will gladly meet with
any student anytime during the semester to
discuss their current grade.
The following criteria are taken into
consideration:
• Regular and prompt attendance
• Preparedness with all homework
• Enthusiastic participation in all class
discussions and critiques
• Understanding and synthesis of
concepts, technical skills and
vocabulary presented
• Measurable development over the
semester
• Overall quality and rigor of work
produced
Your grade will be broken down into two
main categories:
Class Participation 25%
(This includes participation in critiques and
discussions, project presentations and
preparedness.)
Quality of Projects 75%
(Includes mastery of skills, quality of
design and execution of concepts.)
For each class date that a project is late, it
will be marked down a full letter grade. Late
projects will not be critiqued.
Attendance
Attendance and promptness is essential.
Come prepared to work in class with all
materials needed for the current project. The
development of your ideas in-class is as
important as the final result, so I need to see
your work in process. If you are sick it is
your responsibility to find out what you have
missed from a classmate and to confirm the
next assignment as this syllabus is subject
to change. I will not repeat missed lectures.
• Students who arrive to class without all
assignments fully completed will be
marked absent.
• Two late arrivals or early departures of
more than five minutes will be recorded
as (1) absence.

• Four absences will result in the lowering
of one letter grade. At this point, it is
impossible to receive a final letter grade
of (A).
• All subsequent absences will result in
the lowering of another full letter grade.
• Please note that hard work alone will not
guarantee a letter grade of (A).
Textbooks
The textbook, Sam’s all in one
is available at the bookstore. We will not
follow the book chapter by chapter but it is a
valuable reference.
Materials
Each student will have generous storage
space on the network, but you are also
required to have a USB flash drive of at
least 64 MB (though 128 MB or more is
better.) This will allow you to backup your
work or to save files if the network is down.
Both USB 1.0 and 2.0 drives will work
though the 2.0 drives are faster. You should
be able to purchase one at any computer or
office supply store for $20-$50 depending on
capacity.
Advice
• Save often and back up your work
• Use logical file names & organize your files
• Projects always take longer than you
expect and unexpected technical difficulties
happen, so plan ahead.
COURSE SCHEDULE
This schedule is subject to change. I may
alter assignments as needed to match the
needs of the class. If you miss a class,
contact me to confirm the next assignment.
Assignments
All assignments must be fully finished and
placed in the drop box in the server before
class. You will have a very limited time to
print on the color laser printer before
critiques, but you will not have time to finish
or make changes to your projects.
Drop Box
You must save copies of all your projects to
the ART208_1 drop box. In the finder go to
the main menu bar and select
Go>Connect to server. For the server name
type in Macserv then select:
Classes>ART208_1>Drop Box.
When naming your files you must always
use the following format:
FirstLastProject.filetype
Class 1
January 12: Class overview
In Class: Introduction and course overview.
This is the most tedious class of the
semester because we’ll cover lots of
technical details such as getting familiar with
the Macs: dock magnification and hiding,
save and delete to server, login/logout. We’ll
also learn basics of the scanners, the
network, the stock photo library, and the
printers.
Introduction to design critiques with an
informal post-it note critique.
Class 2
January 17: Photoshop
In class: This is where the class starts to get
interesting! Introduction to basics in
Photoshop: rulers, zoom, brush: straight
line, marquee tool, shortcuts actual size,
zoom, move, cloning tool, layers (viewing,
deleting, moving order). Work on graffiti
project in class.
Assignment: This is your first week working
as a photographer for the National Enquirer.
Unfortunately you’ve got the flu and can’t go
out on assignment. Never fear,
remembering where you work, you realize
you can just falsify an image of something
“Strange but True” in Photoshop.
Collect “Strange but True” images. You must
bring these images to the next class. The
final image will be due on January 26th.
Class 3
January 19: Photoshop
In class: Introduction to new skills in
Photoshop: scanning & resolution, Layers,
Guassian blur + unsharp mask after
scanning, cmyk/rgb. lasso, cut and paste,
selecting layers using the ctrl key and move
tool, magic wand. Adding and subtracting to
selection with shift and option keys,
Set up and work on “Strange but True”
assignment in class.
Assignment: Continue working on “Strange
but True” project.

Class 4
January 24: Photoshop
In class: Introduction to new skills in
Photoshop: naming layers, transform,
canvas size, printing, dodge, burn, creating
shadows, guidelines, filters overview.
Work on “Strange but True” assignment in
class.
Assignment: “Strange but True” image Every
time an assignment is due it MUST BE IN
THE DROP BOX at the very start of next
class. We will print at the start of class but
there will be NO time to work on the project
or put it in the drop box.
Class 5
January 26: Photoshop
In class: Critique of “Strange but True”
assignment. You will present your project as
if to the editors at National Enquirer.
More about Photoshop: adjustments and
adjustment layers, linking layers, copying
multiple layers.
Assignment: Bring in an advertisement with
a written critique to present to the class.
Class 6
January 31: Photoshop
In class: Presentation of students’
advertisement critiques.
More about Photoshop: pen tool, Bezier
curves, Paths – anchor points & converting
anchor points. History, snapshots, canvas
and image size.
Assignment: Create a “spot the differences”
image. It must be composed of no fewer
than 11 different images and must be
printed in CMYK color on 8.5” x 11” paper. It
is due next class.
Also bring in images to scan for your final
Photoshop project.
Class 7
February 2: Photoshop
In class: workshop day for final Photoshop
project. Adjustment layers, Masks if
possible.
Assignment: Prepare a presentation of your
final Photoshop project. Each student will
have two minutes to present his or her
project to the class next week.
Class 8
February 7: Photoshop
In class: critiques of final projects. Printouts
of all your Photoshop projects must be
handed in together in a folder or binder.
Class 9
February 9: Illustrator
In class: Introduction to Illustrator: Pen tool,
Arrange (send to front etc.), basic shapes,
fill & stroke, color, text – text as element,
text in box, page tool (hidden under hand
tool in palette – show use in printing though
this may be possible in print dialog box in
Illustrator CS) time permitting, do in-class
project where students create a map of an
area with which they are familiar. Text –
create outlines, text types.
Individual reviews of grades and Photoshop
projects with instructor.
Assignment: Explore basic shapes, fill and
stroke, colors and text by illustrating a line
from one of your favorite songs. Due next
class.
Class 10
February 14: Illustrator
In class: Quickly review lyric illustrations.
Introduce additional tools in Illustrator.
Shortcuts: Apple key +D to duplicate, option
drag to copy, undo and redo (layers of
undo), Apple key +Y for outline view. Work
with pen tool and Bezier curves. Gradients.
Continue individual reviews.
Assignment: Think about patterns.
Class 11
February 16: Illustrator
In class: Introduce additional skills in
Illustrator: creating swatches, pattern
making. alignment tools, Pathfinder tools,
grid, snap to.
Assignment: Create a pattern that you could
imagine being used as wrapping paper,
wallpaper, or for fabric. You must use at
least 5 colors. Print out on 11x17 paper. Due
next class with formal presentation.

Class 12
February 21: Illustrator
In class: Pattern Critiques. Quick
introduction to animal/plant project.
Assignment: Create a realistic illustration of
an animal using a photograph as a guide.
Additional details will be provided in class.
Choose and scan photos by next class.
Class 13
February 23: Illustrator
In class: Placing photos in Illustrator.
Gradient mesh, blending, smart guides,
Bezier curve review (anchor points etc.)
Work on illustrations in class.
Assignment: Finish illustrations for next
Tuesday
Class 14
February 28: Illustrator
In class: Critique of illustrations
Assignment: Final Project
Class 15
March 2: Illustrator
In class: Critique of final projects. Individual
reviews of grades.
Assignment: Bring in an example of a layout
that you find successful and be prepared to
explain why you think it works.
March 7 & 9 No class. Spring Break
Class 16
March 14: InDesign
In class: Student-led critique of examples of
layouts.
Introduction to InDesign and printing from
InDesign. Introduction to grids, negative
space, and typography.
Class 17
March 16: InDesign
In class: In class exercise – travel poster.
Assignment: Create a second travel poster
for a town you have visited or would like to
visit. Details will be provided on in-class
handout. Due next class.
Class 18
March 21: InDesign
In class: Small-group critiques of travel
posters. Revise posters in class.
Assignment: Create a promotional postcard.
The card must be CMYK color on one side
and black and white on the reverse. Details
will be provided in class. Each student must
bring 3 well thought out ideas for the
postcard project next class. The further
developed your ideas are at this point the
more feedback you will get. These will be
due March 30th.
Class 19
March 23: InDesign
In class: Individual critiques of rough ideas
for postcards. Work on postcards in class..
Class 20
March 28: InDesign
In Class: work on postcards in class. Interim
critiques in class
Assignment: Mock client review of postcards
next class.
Class 21
March 30: InDesign
In class: Mock client review. You will present
your projects as if to an actual client. The
goal of this is to help you articulate and
communicate the value of your design.
Assignment: Design and layout a 2-page
newsletter. Rough sketches of 3 ideas due
next class.
Class 22
April 4: InDesign
In class: work on layouts in class.
Assignment: Critique of layouts next class.
Class 23
April 6: InDesign
Critique of layouts
Introduction to final projects. Individual
reviews of projects and grades with
instructor.
Class 24
April 11: Final Project
Class will be used to work on final project.

April 13: Easter vacation, no class.
Class 25
April 18: Final Project
Class will be used to work on final project.
Class 26
April 20: Final Project
Class will be used to work on final project.
Class 27
April 25: Final Project
Critique of final projects. Sign up for final
individual reviews.
Class 28
April 27: Final Reviews
Final individual reviews and in-class time to
make revisions to earlier projects and print
and submit complete portfolio of projects.
Complete portfolio is due today.
Finals Week
No final. Have a great summer.