CT200 101/15A/103 (S24)
Content Design and Research
Date & Time:
Section 101: Tuesday 2:10 – 5:00 pm, Spring 2024
Section 15A: Tuesday 6:30 – 9:20 pm, Spring 2024
Section 103: Thursday 2:10 – 5:00 pm, Spring 2024
Semester: Spring 2024
Professor: Christie Shin
Design Studio: Cynda Media Lab
Program Portfolio: @newcreatives.info (Instagram), Behance
Email: christie_shin@fitnyc.edu
Classroom: Section 101 – C304, Section 15A – C511, Section 103 – C315
Office at FIT: D317 (email to schedule a remote meeting)
Office Hours: Monday 1 to 2, Tuesday 5 to 6, Wednesday 4 to 6
Prerequisite(s): None | 2 credits, one lecture hour, two studio hours (1 session per week)
Slack: Please join the class Slack channel. This is the main communication hub.
FIT Help Desk: TechHelp
Course Description
This course introduces the fundamentals of design research methods, content design principles, and skills necessary to communicate the findings. The primary goal of the course is to enable students to develop meaningful content and an effective presentation through visual communication. The creative outcomes include both print and digital designs.
* Design tool: We will use Figma as the main design tool, a leading industry-standard design tool, and a real-time collaboration tool.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of the content design research methods
2. Demonstrate the ability to create visual and textual content to communicate findings
3. Apply fundamental image editing and create digital visual assets
4. Apply fundamental typography and layout principles
5. Create and prepare digital files for print and all screen-based media
Projects
Project 1: Deck of cards
Design cards with visual and textual content. Students start the project by developing textual and visual content through research. Each student designs three cards based on their research topic.
[Specification]
– Subject: Recipes, fitness, yoga, artist, musician, how-to, knowledge-based information, etc. any topic consists of visual and textual content.
– Format: Card
– Dimension: 6” x 9”
– Duration: 4 weeks
– Deliverable: 3 cards per each student (group/solo)
Project 2: Magazine spread
Design a magazine spread with artist information, artwork, and description. Students start with selecting an artist/designer, then research and collect information about the artist/designer. Each student designs a featured artist with their own words and content from the research as the magazine spreads.
[Specification]
– Subject: Featured artist/musician/designer
– Format: a spread (2 pages)
– Dimension: 8” x 10” (single page)
– Duration: 4 weeks
– Deliverable: A spread with artist information, artwork, and description
Project 3: Portfolio (presentation deck)
Create a portfolio presentation deck including biography, artist statement, CV, artwork, and description. Students start with writing the required components and selecting portfolio pieces. Each student builds the presentation with their own visual and textual content.
[Specification]
– Subject: Personal portfolio
– Format: Presentation deck
– Dimension: 1920 x 1024 Pixel
– Duration: 6 weeks
– Deliverable: Introduction/biography, artist statement, CV(exhibitions), contact info, minimum 10 pieces of artwork, and description.
Evaluation
1. Project 1: 25 points
2. Project 2: 25 points
3. Project 3: 30 points
4. Professionalism (attendance, participation, presentation, etc.): 20 points
A/A-: 90% or above (A 95 points above, A- 90-94 points)
B+/B/B-: 89% – 75% (B+ 89-85 points, B 84-80 points, B- 79-75 points)
C+/C/C-: 74% – 60% (C+ 74-70 points, C 69-65 points, C- 64-60 points)
D: 59% – 51%
F: 50% or below
Weekly Outline
Weekly outline is subject to change according to the pedagogical needs.
Week 1: 1/30, 2/1 TUE/THU
1. Introduction – syllabus
2. Lecture
– Project 1 workflow
– Textual content – Google doc
– Imagery folder (hi-rez)
– Sketch (photo -> Figma)
3. In-class workshop
– Slack group channels set up
– Google Drive folder set up
– Figma project set up
– Personal bio card
4. Homework
– Quick presentation: Subject & Sketches
– Content development (text & image – Google Drive)
– Sketches – Figma file
Week 2: 2/6, 2/8 TUE/THU
1. Presentation
– Project 1 brief
2. Lecture
– Figma basics
– Document setup
– Type choices (Google Fonts)
3. In-class workshop
– Content review
– Sketches
4. Homework
– Card design round 1
– Type choices (Type specimen)
Week 3: 2/13, 2/15 TUE/THU
1. Lecture
– Typography
– Type specimen
– Typescale
2. In-class workshop
– Card design review
– Typescale
3. Homework
– Card design round 2
– Typescale
—— 2/19 Presidents Day – College closed ——
Week 4: 2/20, 2/22 TUE/THU
1. Lecture
– Imagery
2. In-class workshop
– Card design review
3. Homework
– Card design – final
Week 5: 2/27, 2/29 TUE/THU
Presentation: Project 1: Deck of cards
1. Lecture
Project 2 Introduction
2. Homework
– Select an artist and content research
– Layout sketch
Week 6: 3/5, 3/7 TUE/THU
Presentation: Project 2 brief
1. Lecture
– File setup
2. In-class workshop
– Project 2 content review
3. Homework
– Design round 1
Week 7: 3/12, 3/14 TUE/THU
1. Lecture
– Layout, grid, spacing
– Layout design – hierarchy & balance
2. In-class workshop
– Design review
3. Homework
– Design round 2
Week 8: 3/19, 3/21 TUE/THU
1. Lecture
– Styles
2. In-class workshop
– Design review
3. Homework
– Design – final
—— 3/25-3/31Spring Recess – College closed——
Week 9: 4/2, 4/4 TUE/THU
Presentation: Project 2: Magazine spread
1. Lecture
– Project 3 Introduction
2. Homework
– Project 3 content preparation: introduction/biography, artist statement, CV(exhibitions), contact info, at least 10 pieces of artwork, and description.
Week 10: 4/9, 4/11 TUE/THU
1. In-class workshop
– Project 3 brief: One-on-one
2. Homework
– Content development
– Layout sketch
Week 11: 4/16, 4/18 TUE/THU
1. In-class workshop
– Content and sketch review
2. Homework
– Content design round 1
Week 12: 4/16, 4/18 TUE/THU
1. In-class workshop
– Design review
2. Homework
– Content design round 2
Week 13: 4/16, 4/18 TUE/THU
1. Lecture
– Styles
2. In-class workshop
– Design review
3. Homework
– Content design round 3
Week 14: 4/16, 4/18 TUE/THU
1. Lecture
– Styles
2. In-class workshop
– Design review
3. Homework
– Content design round – Final
Week 15: 5/14, 5/16 TUE/THU
Presentation: Project 3
Keep and backup all the projects that you have done throughout the semester! You must submit all your projects for the final grade no later than the last day of class (Week 15)
Creative Technology & Design (CT&D) Attendance Policy
Attendance is not optional. If you are going to miss a class, you must contact me via email ASAP. Due to the quantity of material covered in the course, I will not be able to spend class time explaining missed assignments or redo lectures. If a class is missed, it is your responsibility to get information regarding missed assignments and lectures from one of your classmates.
- Students are required to attend all classes, be on time, and remain for the entire class.
- Students who miss three classes for classes meeting once a week or four classes for classes meeting twice a week will receive a grade of “F.”
- The student who arrives 10 minutes after the start of the class will be considered late.
- Two late occurrences = one absence
- A student who arrives over 30 minutes late or not returning from the break will be considered absent from the class.
- Working on projects for another class or using digital devices for socializing (texting, social media…etc.) or gaming during class time will be recorded as an absence.
- An excused absence is still recorded as an absence. The difference is an excused absence won’t impact your grade for professionalism and class participation.
Department Policy on Plagiarism
Plagiarism and other forms of academic deception are unacceptable. Each instance of plagiarism is distinct. A plagiarism violation is an automatic justification for an “F” on that assignment and/or an “F” for the course. A student found in violation of FIT’s Code of Conduct and deemed to receive an “F” for a course may not withdraw from the course prior to final grade assignments.
Use of AI tools
It is permissible to utilize AI tools in your creative process. However, you must identify which AI tool is being used at each stage of the process. You are required to fact-check AI output and avoid stereotyping and bias in your work. Finally, you are responsible for ensuring that the final creation is unique, ownable, and without any copyright issues.
Fact-checking AI output
AI tools are not infallible. They often generate incorrect or misleading information. It is your responsibility to fact-check any AI output before using it in your work. This includes checking the source of the information, evaluating the quality of the information, and considering the context in which the information was generated.
Avoiding stereotyping and bias
AI tools can be trained on data that contains stereotypes and biases. This can lead to AI output that is also biased. It is your responsibility to avoid the potential for bias in AI output. You should also be mindful of your own biases when using AI tools and take steps to mitigate them.
Ensuring the uniqueness and ownership of your work
You are responsible for ensuring that the final creation of your work is unique and ownable. This means that you must not plagiarize the work of others, including submitting works done solely by AI tools without meaningful improvement and input from you.
Penalty for violation
Violation of this policy may result in a grade reduction or suspension from the class.
FIT Student Code of Conduct
Student Disability Services
Academic Honesty and Integrity Policy
FIT’s Course Withdrawal Policy
Children on campus policy
FIT-ABLE
Academic Advisement Center
FIT Writing & Speaking Studio
FIT Counseling Services
Academic Skills Tutoring Center
Dean of Students Office
Technical Support for Blackboard with Open SUNY Help Desk
Additional Course Information:
Credits/Hours: 2/3
Grade appeal process: http://www.fitnyc.edu/registrar/grades/appeal.php for more information.
Library Resources: FIT Library Databases
Academic Advisement Center: http://www.fitnyc.edu/academic-advisement/index.php
Technical Requirements: High-speed internet and Adobe CC
Textbooks and Required Materials: Lecture slides will be provided every week after class,