Content Creation for Media
Last class I mentioned there are applications that allow you to record video/audio from Skype calls. You may find these programs useful for gathering interview footage for your audio/video projects. There are other methods and products available for recording screencasts, so you are certainly not limited to these suggestions. These apps are not free, but they do come with free trial periods:
Windows
Mac OS X
Call Recorder
IMCapture for Skype
As a reminder, your second round of group feedback should be posted before our next class meeting. Please leave constructive feedback about your group members’ draft logo designs.
COM499: Content Creation for Media
Draft Logo (50 pts)
Due Date: 9/29, 5pm
Purpose
The purpose of this project is to develop a logo that illustrates and brands your topic. This logo should be accompanied by a written description of how your design communicates your topic.
Think about your topic and how it can be summed up in a simple illustration. You might find it useful to sketch out your logo ideas before you start working in your design software.
Using the Illustrator tools you learned in the tutorials, create a new logo that is at least 400 x 400 pixels. You can choose your aspect ratio.
Write a 250 to 500word abstract about your your design choices and story. Post it in your blog along with your draft logo. I recommend writing and saving this description in Word then copying and pasting the text into the blog post when you are ready to post.
Reading
There are several online resources that will help you in thinking about logo design.
Required Reading:
30 Brilliant Vector Logo Designs, Deconstructed: http://vector.tutsplus.com/articles/web-roundups/30-brilliant-vector-logo-designs-deconstructed/
Logo Design Tips: http://www.thelogofactory.com/logo-design-tips/
5 Branding Basics Every Logo Designer Should Know: http://sixrevisions.com/graphics-design/5-branding-basics-every-logo-designer-should-know/
What Makes a Great Logo: http://www.code-interactive.com/thinker/a112.html
Step-by-Step Logo: http://www.ideabook.com/tutorials/logo_design/stepbystep_logo.html
Additional Resources:
Logo Design History: http://www.logoorange.com/logodesign-A.php
70 Excellent Logo Design Tutorials: http://sixrevisions.com/graphics-design/70-excellent-logo-design-tutorials-and-resources/
Grading
Your grade for the draft logo will be determined using the following criteria:
The draft graphic logo should be posted to your blog accompanied with the written description by Thursday, September 29 at 5pm.
COM499: Content Creation for Media
Illustrator Tutorials
Due Date: Sep. 26, 5pm
Overview & Background
You will be using Adobe Illustrator to create your Logo. These tutorials will help you get familiar with the basic tools in Illustrator. Ultimately, the skills you learn here will help you realize your creative vision for your logo.
Instructions
You will be following several tutorials. We will go through the first tutorial in class together. Once you have completed all the tutorials, please create a blog post with all of your final assets (finished versions of the images). You can export images for the web by clicking:
File->Export. Select “JPEG” as the “file type” in bottom center, then click save
Please also save your original Illustrator (.ai) files on the network drive under “Z:\COM499\[YOUR LAST NAME]\Illustrator Tutorials\”
Tutorials
(In class):
(On your own):
(Bonus):
Note: You may replace either “on your own” tutorials 1 or 2 with the more advanced bonus 4-6 tutorials, but you must complete tutorial 3.
Grading Rubric
Tutorials will be graded for completion. Tutorials 1 and 2 (or replacement bonus tutorials) are worth 5 points each. Tutorial 3 is worth 10 points. Bonus tutorials are worth 2 points extra credit each.
As you know, we are piloting this course in content creation. Please take a few moments to take this very short 4-question survey:
COM499
Final Graphic Collage (100pts)
Due Date: Friday, September 16, 5pm
Purpose
The purpose of this project is to develop a graphic collage that describes your topic. This collage should be accompanied by a written description of your topic (you can use a revised version of your first blog post) and a description of how your collage illustrates your topic.
Think about your topic and what you want to say about it. Next, think about how you can use photos and effects to illustrate these ideas.
Using the Photoshop tools you learned in the tutorials, create a new image that is at least 580 x 400 pixels. Within this space create your graphic collage. Your final graphic collage should be an update of your draft collage. Based on the feedback you received from your peers and your own critique of your design, how can you more clearly communicate your visual story to your viewers?
Write a 300 to 500 word abstract about your topic and your collage choices and post it in your blog along with your draft collage. Your post should be creative and engaging and supplement your visual design. In your write-up, include a description of your revision process, including why you decided to make design changes. Also, please include some language describing your design choices (e.g., repetition, continuity).
I recommend writing and saving this description in Word then copying and pasting the text into the blog post when you are ready to post.
Any graphics that you did not personally create must be credited and linked as a reference in your post.
Grading
Your grade for the final draft collage will be determined using the following criteria:
Design
Creativity in Visual Composition ______ / 30
Clear Visual Depiction of Your Topic ______ / 10
Follows Design Principles ______ / 5
Demonstrates proficiency of design tools ______ / 10
SubTotal ______ / 55
Write-Up
Creativity in writing ______ / 20
Relates image to topic ______ / 5
Reasoning/Meaning (why you made the design that way) ______ / 5
Design choices ______ / 5
Technical Details ______ / 5
Grammar ______ / 5
SubTotal ______ / 45
Total: ______ / 100
The draft graphic collage should be posted to your blog accompanied with the written description by Friday, September 16 at 5pm.
COM499: Content Creation for Media
Group Feedback (20 pts each)
Due Dates: 9/7, 10/3, 10/24, 11/28
Overview & Background
You will be working on strengthening each other’s designs throughout the semester in groups of 3 or 4 by providing feedback on each others’ designs. As we discussed, good critiques will describe, analyze, and interpret your group partners’ designs.
After you have received feedback from your group members, you should reconsider your design. Think of ways to improve the visual story you are telling and revise your design.
Instructions
Groups
1. Calvin Grover, Kelsie Duncan, Eric Francavilla
2. Josh Moran, Brian Grove, Liz Nugent
3. Nero Threet, Jeff Fairbanks, Kelleen Curtis
4. Sierra Haight, Ryan Myers, Tyler Brazas, Patrick Winter
COM499
Draft Graphic Collage
Purpose
The purpose of this project is to develop a graphic collage that describes your topic. This collage should be accompanied by a written description of your topic (you can use a revised version of your first blog post) and a description of how your collage illustrates your topic.
Think about your topic and what you want to say about it. Next, think about how you can use photos and effects to illustrate these ideas. Before you create your collage, you will post the individual photos/graphics you will use in your collage, 3 elements at a minimum. You might find it useful to sketch out how you want your collage to look before you start working in your design software.
Using the Photoshop tools you learned in the tutorials, create a new image that is at least 580 x 400 pixels. Within this space create your graphic collage.
Write a 300 to 500 word abstract about your topic and your collage choices and post it in your blog along with your draft collage. I recommend writing and saving this description in Word then copying and pasting the text into the blog post when you are ready to post.
Grading
Your grade for the draft collage will be determined using the following criteria:
The photo collection elements should be posted by Friday, September 2 at 5pm. These elements can be posted without any written description and will be graded for completion, 20 points.
The draft graphic collage should be posted to your blog accompanied with the written description by Thursday, September 8 at 5pm. The draft collage is worth 50 points.
NOTE: All photos that were not taken by you must be attributed and linked to the original location.
Resources
Digital Photography Tips:
Chapter 8 of Journalism 2.0: How to Survive and Thrive
Free image collections:
Lab Hours
The Murrow Collage has the following open computer lab hours this semester:
CADD123: 1-5pm Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays
MURE 243: 12-2pm Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays (our classroom)
Class Notes
Any slides that are not posted in this blog, will be posted under “Lessons” on the course’s Angel site.
Class Blogs
Links to your class blogs have been posted on the right sidebar.
COM499: Content Creation for Media
Photoshop Tutorials
Due Date: Sep. 2, 5pm
Overview & Background
You will be using Adobe Photoshop to create your “Graphic Collage.” These tutorials will help you get familiar with the basic tools in Photoshop. Ultimately, the skills you learn here will help you realize your creative vision for your collage.
Instructions
You will be following several tutorials. Links to the original asset files can be taken from the tutorial links, or from the link posted in Angel. We will go through the first two tutorials in class together. Once you have completed all the tutorials, please create a blog post with all of your final assets (finished versions of the images). You can export images for the web by going to:
File->Save for Web & Devices. Select “JPEG” as the file type” in the top right, then click save
Please also put all of your final PSD files in a single folder called “Tutorials.” Then, zip that folder:
Right click the folder and select “Sent To”->Compressed (zipped folder). You will now see a file called “Tutorials.zip.”
Please also attach this file to your blog post.
Tutorials
(In class):
(On your own):
(Bonus):
Grading Rubric
Tutorials will be graded for completion. Each tutorial is worth 4 points. Bonus tutorials are worth 2 points extra credit each.