Syllabus

Course Details

Catalog Description

This course is taught in modules designed to explore various media languages relevant to visual problem solving: HTML 5, CSS, JavaScript, Processing, or others could be covered in short workshops. Students will be exposed to a broad range of programming languages that are used in professional design practice.

Prerequisite: GD 220, or Graduate Graphic Design student standing
Format: 3 credit studio

Learning Outcomes

As part of this course, you will:

  • Develop proficiency with computer programming languages.
  • Develop a design process using computation.
  • Create rules and systems for visual problem solving.
  • Apply coding skills in creative projects.

Format

This class will have both synchronous and asynchronous components, and it is expected that students participate in both components. If a student cannot make it to a sync meeting due to internet connectivity, the student needs to notify the instructor by the end of the class on the same day to explain the situation.

Prerequisites

Please read this section carefully as it details many essential technical requirements. If some of the technologies are not available to you, please let me know asap, so that we can talk about the alternatives.

Skills & Experience

Students are expected to have practical experience with Adobe Photoshop & Illustrator, html/css coding (GD2 prerequisite or equivalent should be met), web browsing, online research, and computer operational skills as I cannot provide technical support.

Software

  • Adobe Illustrator & Photoshop (free access as MICA students)
  • Zoom (all remote meetings will use Zoom; sign up for a free account.)
  • Screen recording (Quicktime Player or similar)
  • Cloud backup (required to have a backup of your files. Google drive recommended.)

Websites

Hardware

As this course will be held primarily online, you are required to have your own computer and accessories that you can use all throughout the semester. Other than that, I do not expect any additional cost. With that said, there are a few recommendations below:

  • Computer (required)
  • Internet connection (wired connections are much faster than wifi; if not available, use wifi and find a spot in your home that gets stronger signal.)
  • Office supplies such as pen and paper.
  • External monitor (not required but recommended. $90+. Good for productivity and your health/posture)
  • Mouse (recommended. $10+. Pen tablets are great too.)
  • Headphone with mic (highly recommended for Zoom meetings. $20+)
  • External hard drive 500GB+ (highly recommended. $60+; SSD/USB-C is much faster but more expensive)
  • MICA GD has some resources: https://sites.google.com/mica.edu/gd-resources/work-from-home

Other things to consider

  • If possible, try to work out a schedule with people you live with so that you don’t get distracted during class meetings. (ie. family members watching TV, making phone calls, or having a party right next to you.)
  • Plan for the worst: if your equipment breaks down, is there someone you can ask to borrow a computer?

Expectations

Grading Policy

The final grade will be based on all your progress/attendance/participation throughout the semester. The weekly progress has the same weight as the finals. The whole process will be graded throughout the semester. The assignments and projects are subject to change.

Warm-up exercises for the first 3 weeks (will not count towards final grading)
Attendance & participation (10%)
Improvement of work across the semester (6%; will be evaluated at the end of the semester) Weekly grading (7% per week x 12 weeks = 84%)
Projects and assignments are graded weekly for progress.

A (95-100%), A- (90-95%)” is given to a student who has gone beyond expectations.
B+ (87-90%), B (83-87%), B- (80-83%)” to a student with above-average work.
C+ (77-80%), C (73-77%), C- (70-73%)” to a student meets the requirements.
D+ (67-70%), D (63-67%), D- (60-63%)” shows that a student has not met the expectations.
F (below 60%)” to a student who failed to submit or has shown very little effort.

Graduate students will get Pass/Fail grades. To pass, the final grade of B (83%) and above is required. You will need to invest substantial amounts of time and effort in this course.

The deadlines for each assignment will be posted on Canvas. Grades for late projects will be lowered a whole letter (10%). After a full week, a project may not be handed in late and it will be awarded a failing grade. No work will be accepted after the final class. There is no late work submission for the final project.

Student Assessment

Your work in this class will be assessed based on the following criteria: Product, Process and Professionalism. Following is a breakdown of the grading criteria.

Product

  • Appropriateness of the solution as a response to the problem
  • Understanding of the user/audience for the problem
  • Inventiveness of the solution as a response to the problem
  • Craftsmanship and quality of work

Process

  • Research (quality & quantity)
  • Development of ideas across time (project & semester)
  • Translation of problem into unique solution
  • Ability to convert research into idea generation
  • Ability to communicate ideas and research in visual form
  • Improvement of work across the semester

Professionalism

  • Attendance
  • Verbal and written presentation skills
  • Deadlines
  • Participation in class critiques
  • Preparation and use of time in class

Attendance

Students are expected to attend all meetings of each class in which they are enrolled and engage in the work of the course in its entirety. Students are expected to be ready to start work at the opening of class and to remain for the entire class session. Students who miss 3 or more class meetings will fail the course. International students are required to attend class consistently as part of visa compliance.

Tardiness is also not tolerated. If you arrive 10 minutes past the scheduled class start time or after returning from break, this is considered tardy. 3 tardies will be counted as an absence. Arriving more than 30 minutes late will be marked as an absence.

If there is an unexpected issue with the internet connection that makes it impossible to join the class, you need to notify the instructor via email by the end of the class on the same day, and you are responsible for catching up with that week’s materials. If there is a lecture component, I will record and post the video on Canvas.

Any student who is absent for a significant portion of class time will fail the course. Excessive absence is defined as missing more than 20% of class meetings. After missing 20% of a class, a student will be required to meet with their academic advisor to discuss continuing in the course. Students who have missed an excessive number of classes for health-related reasons should contact the Student Development Specialist in Student Affairs about the possibility of medically withdrawing from the course.

Professor Contact Info

Please default to contacting me via Slack. I generally check the course Slack at least once a day and am far more likely to see your question or request there than in my email inbox.

Email

cswinehart@mica.edu (but, really, use Slack 😬)

Office Hours

During the semester I can occasionally meet for 30 minute sessions to discuss your projects or code. DM me on Slack and we can figure out a mututally agreeable time to chat.

MICA Academic Policies

💡 You may also view this information on the MICA web site

Academic Disability Accommodations

MICA makes reasonable academic accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. All academic accommodations must be approved through the Learning Resource Center (LRC). Students requesting accommodation should schedule an appointment at the LRC (410-225-2416 or e-mail LRC@mica.edu), located in Bunting 110. It is the student’s responsibility to make an accommodation request in a timely manner. Academic accommodations are not retroactive.

Environmental Health and Safety (EHS)

Students are responsible to follow health and safety guidelines relevant to their individual activities, processes, and to review MICA’s Emergency Operations Plan and attend EHS training. Students are required to purchase personal protection equipment appropriate for their major or class. Those students who do not have the proper personal protection equipment will not be permitted to attend class until safe measures and personal protection are in place. Fall 2021: Students are expected to abide by the MICA Social Contract for Students to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Plagiarism

Each discipline within the arts has specific and appropriate means for students to cite or acknowledge sources and the ideas and material of others used in their own work. Students have the responsibility to become familiar with such processes and to carefully follow their use in developing original work.

Policy

MICA will not tolerate plagiarism, which is defined as claiming authorship of, or using someone else’s ideas or work without proper acknowledgement. Without proper attribution, a student may NOT replicate another’s work, paraphrase another’s ideas, or appropriate images in a manner that violates the specific rules against plagiarism in the student’s department. In addition, students may not submit the same work for credit in more than one course without the explicit approval of all of the instructors of the courses involved.

Consequences

When an instructor has evidence that a student has plagiarized work submitted for course credit, the instructor will confront the student and impose penalties that may include failing the course. In the case of a serious violation or repeated infractions from the same student, the instructor will report the infractions to the department chair or program director. Depending on the circumstances of the case, the department chair or program director may then report the student to the appropriate dean or provost, who may choose to impose further penalties, including expulsion.

Appeal Process

Students who are penalized by an instructor or department for committing plagiarism have the right to appeal the charge and penalties that ensue. Within three weeks of institutional action, the student must submit a letter of appeal to the department chairperson or program director, or relevant dean or provost related to the course for which actions were taken. The academic officer will assign three members of the relevant department/division to serve on a review panel. The panel will meet with the student and the instructor of record and will review all relevant and available materials. The panel will determine whether or not to confirm the charge and penalties. The findings of the panel are final. The panel will notify the instructor, the chairperson, division, the student, and the Office of Academic Affairs of their findings and any recommendations for change in penalties.

Title IX Notification

Maryland Institute College of Art seeks to provide an educational environment based on mutual respect that is free from discrimination and harassment. There are multiple ways to report sexual harassment/misconduct/assault and reports are encouraged. Students requiring academic adjustments due to an incident involving sexual harassment or discrimination should contact Student Affairs at 410.225.2422 or Human Resources at 410.225.2363. Keeping with institutional commitments to equity and to comply with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and guidance from the Office for Civil Rights, faculty and staff members are required to report disclosures of gender based discrimination made to them by students. However, nothing in this policy shall abridge academic freedom or MICA’s educational mission. Prohibitions against discrimination and discriminatory harassment do not extend to actions, statements, or written materials that are relevant and appropriately related to course subject matter or academic discussion.

Students with Extended Illness or Absence

In the case of extended illness or other absences that may keep the student from attending a class for more than three meetings, undergraduate students must contact the Student Development Specialist in the Division of Student Affairs or have an official disability accommodation letter issued by the Learning Resource Center that specifically addresses class absences. For students who have not been approved for academic disability accommodations, the Student Development Specialist will work with the student to determine the cause and appropriateness of the absences and subsequently notify instructors as necessary. Graduate students must contact the instructor, director, and Associate Dean of Graduate Studies. Students in professional studies programs must contact the Associate Dean for Open Studies. The appropriate administrator will facilitate a conversation with relevant faculty to determine whether the student can achieve satisfactory academic progress, which is ultimately at the sole discretion of the faculty member.