Syllabus
VC 272A Design Studio
Chemeketa Community College
Tuesdays 1:30 PM – 3:20 PM (CRN #36415)
Fall 2024 • Two credits
In-Person Class • 4/225
Course Website: hoelter.chemeketa.vc/vc272a/
Instructor: Peter Hoelter
Contact Information
E-mail:
Phone/Voicemail: 503.399.6475
Office Location: Building 4/221C
Office Hours: Mondays 1:30 PM–3:30 PM; Tuesdays 11:30 AM–1:30 PM; Wednesdays 8:30 AM–9:30 AM
Course Description
Provides the opportunity to work with an instructor on the design and production of graphic design projects for real clients. Any combination of the courses may be repeated for a maximum of six credits.
Prerequisites
ART225 and VC224, each with a grade of C or better; or consent of instructor.
Course Content
Class will consist of at least two classroom hours per week. This can include project progress updates, critiques of all ongoing work, client meetings, and project collaboration time. All students are expected to be in class each week, although their work may occur over a shorter period of time. Lab hours and individual critiques are scheduled separately. Additional time will be required to complete your projects. Expect to spend 6-8 hours per week outside of class working on projects.
Performance Based Learner Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to:
- Work with clients to design and produce graphic projects.
- Participate as a team member in the design and production process.
- Develop production schedules and participate in client meetings.
Student Evaluation
Your grade is determined by a contract between yourself and the instructor. Due to the nature of working on live jobs, schedules may change, jobs may be canceled and some projects may overlap terms. We will work with you on alternative projects if a planned project fails to materialize. Satisfactory but minimum completion of the contract will result in a C grade. To earn an A or B, you must both have fulfilled the required time and have excelled in your work.
Required Texts
None. Specific trade reference books and research materials as requested.
Required Materials
- Internet access to connect with your Chemeketa Google account to use Drive, Docs, and other Google services.
- Notebook and pen
Notes on Studio Classes
Design Studio requires a level of competence that is achieved through hard work and success in earlier classes. Some assignments will be given to those who have been successful in the past. You may be assigned work on “practice jobs” until you are ready to work with clients. This will vary depending on the complexity of the project, client, schedule and individual student.
All Design Studio work is by permission only and is to be regarded as a serious commitment to working with real clients in a live job atmosphere, even if the schedule demands more time than you were planning to commit. You are expected to work independently and to seek help often. You will have work to show at the weekly critique as well as in-between sessions as demanded by each project. I am here to help you, but much of the responsibility will be yours.
Meeting each deadline is required to pass this course. Live job production will include working in teams on the design and production of live jobs; schedules, production meetings, and time sheets. Working with clients will include meetings to plan projects, approvals and proofing, revisions and alterations and client satisfaction. Group discussions will include comparing experiences with other students, working with other students on a team for enhanced results and critiques of final work.
Live jobs must be stored on the shared VC Google Drive and should be backed up regularly. Digital files may be retained and used as student examples for class demonstrations or on the VC website.
Grading :: Points
100 points are available in this class.
| Course Component | Points | % |
|---|---|---|
| Individual contribution to class projects (4 points per class period; 6 points for major deliverable days) |
50 points | 50% |
| In-class participation and professional conduct (4 points per class period) |
40 points | 40% |
| Finals Week Assessment & Process Journal Review | 10 points | 10% |
Grading :: Scale
| Grade | Level | Point Range | Standard | Grade Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 90-100% | 90 – 100 | Excellent | 4.0 |
| B | 80-89% | 80 – 89 | Very Capable | 3.0 |
| C | 70-79% | 70 – 79 | Competent | 2.0 |
| D | 60-69% | 60 – 69 | Limited Success | 1.0 |
| F | 0-59% | 59 and lower | Failure | 0.0 |
| I | Incomplete – granted only under extenuating circumstances and must be discussed before the last week of class. |
0.0 | ||
Late Work
Being a studio course, late work is not accepted. An extension due to extenuating circumstances such as health or other personal problems can be obtained by receiving permission from the instructor, either prior to or after the fact, by submitting appropriate written documentation to the college or by contacting the instructor directly.
Attendance and Participation
Class attendance is an important part of the course experience. Much of the course content is only available by attending class. You are responsible for obtaining any notes that you missed during an absence, either from a classmate or from the class website. Participation in class discussions, labs, and student professionalism are all factored into your classroom grade. If you must miss a class, please notify me, either by e-mail or in person, prior to class so arrangements can be made.
Lab Policies
Cell phones must be turned to silent mode during class. If a call must be answered, take the call outside of the classroom and student work spaces. Lab workstations should only be used for class work—Web browsing, e-mail, game play, video-watching, messaging and other non-class related computer activities should be reserved for other computers on campus. Expect the lab computers to be turned off during certain lectures throughout the quarter. No food or drink is allowed in the computer labs. Refer to the Visual Communications Student Handbook document for a complete list of lab guidelines.
Use of AI
AI is here, today, in our graphic design world. Photoshop 2024 has generative AI built right in as a tool alongside Curves and masking. As a student training to enter the creative services workforce, you must learn how to appropriately incorporate AI elements with original content, both graphical and text-based. While AI is unlikely to play a major role in this course, be sure to follow any instructions given on a project or exercise handout regarding the expectations around the use of AI. If not specified, assume that the use of AI is not allowed in a given assignment. However, if you see a potential, positive application of it, reach out to the instructor for clarification before using one of these tools, and always give credit to the engine that generates content for you.
Academic Honesty
Learning is built on the fundamental qualities of honesty, fairness, respect and trust. At Chemeketa Community College, academic integrity is a shared endeavor characterized by academic honesty, personal responsibility and high academic standards. Any violation of academic integrity devalues the individual and the community as a whole. One important aspect of academic integrity is academic honesty. Violations of academic honesty include: Plagiarism, Collusion/Inappropriate Assistance, Cheating, Fabrication/Falsification/Alteration, Unauthorized Multiple Submission, Sabotage, and Tampering. A student who violates academic honesty will be subject to disciplinary action according to Students Rights and Responsibilities.
Visit the Academic Honesty website for additional information on college policies, and violation penalties.
Diversity
We are a college community enriched by the diversity of our students, staff, and community members. Each individual and group has the potential to contribute in our learning environment. Each has dignity. To diminish the dignity of one is to diminish the dignity of us all.
Student Accessibility Services
Accommodations are collaborative efforts between students, faculty, and Student Accessibility Services. If you have already been approved for accommodations and requested them for this term, both you and I receive a Letter of Accommodation by e-mail. It is important that we discuss the accommodations as early in the term as possible. Students who believe they are eligible for accommodations but who have not yet obtained approval through Student Accessibility Services should phone 503.399.5192, visit the office in Building 2/174, or visit the Student Accessibility Services website.
Affirmative Action
It is the policy of Chemeketa Community College and its Board that there will be no discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, citizenship status, pregnancy and related conditions, family relationship, veteran’s status, disabilities and tobacco usage in any educational programs, activities or employment.
Persons having questions about equal opportunity/affirmative action should contact the Affirmative Action Officer at 4000 Lancaster Dr. NE, Salem, Oregon 97309-7070, or call 503.399.4784. To request this publication in an alternative format, please call 503.399.5192.
Advising and Counseling
Academic advising is available for any Chemeketa student and is required for all first year, degree or certificate seeking students. Meeting with an advisor can help clarify your academic and life goals, choose classes that prepared you for a career, and/or identify transfer options. Instructors are also available to discuss class, degree, and career options.
Salem Student Services & Resources
- Library & Student Computer Center: Bldg. 9, Rm. 200, 503.399.5043
- Study Skills Center: Bldg. 2, Rm. 212, 503.399.5162
- Tutoring Services (includes online tutoring): Bldg. 2, Rm. 210, 503.399.5190
- Writing Center (includes online help): Bldg. 9, Library, 503.399.7179
- Veteran’s Services: Bldg. 2/200, 503.399.5004