Syllabus

Course Description

This is an advanced graphic design course involving complex interactive projects for the web and other technologies using dynamic and media-rich interactive media. Projects may include animation, typography in motion, data visualization, interactive exhibits and narratives, and other time-based experiences.

Prerequisites: ART 3102 and ART 3202 or permission of the instructor. Lecture and studio four hours.

Required Materials

You will need an external drive (thumb drive or a portable external drive) with at least 1 GB of space for this course. Be careful with your data! Data disasters are not an acceptable excuse for late or missing work. Backup your work on a regular basis and do so in at least one place other than your primary portable drive.

Course Policies

The Short Version
» come to class . . . prepared . . . on-time
» do your own work
» or else

The Long Version . . .

Attendance

You are expected to attend all classes and be in class for its entire scheduled time. Your grade will be affected by repeated absences and/or tardiness. You are allowed two unexcused absences. Examples of unexcused absences include (but are not limited to): car trouble, parking trouble, computer trouble, trouble waking up, trouble with the law, and any trouble that makes you leave early for vacation.

Absences will only be excused for medical or family emergency reasons, a university-sanctioned field trip or the observance of a religious holiday. If you must miss a class, please notify me in advance. You must present documentation either prior to or immediately following an absence:
» Illness/Injury. Letter on official stationery from attending physician including dates you were absent.
» Death of Immediate Family Member. Obituary, letter from attending clergy or notifcation to Appalachian’s Dean of Students by a family member.
» Professional/School Related Activity. Letter from appropriate department/faculty on official stationary.

Arrivals later than five minutes after the start of class will be considered one-third of an absence. If you arrive late, it is your responsibility to ensure that your attendance is noted. Arrivals later than twenty minutes after the start of class will be considered an absence. Early departures from class without permission will also be considered an absence.

Your final letter grade will be lowered by one-third of a letter grade for every unexcused absence beyond the two allowed.

You are responsible for any instructions, handouts or assignments missed because of late arrival, early departure or absence.

Unpreparedness counts as an absence. Have your work ready by the start of class. On review and critique days, have your work prepared as outlined in the assignment and ready for discussion at the start of class. On workdays, have your work with you. If you are unprepared for class, you will receive an absence for the day.

Attendance for all critiques is mandatory. Dates will be announced ahead of time. Failure to present work will reduce your grade for a project. If you have not completed a project, you still must attend its critique and present your work in progress for discussion. Failure to attend a critique will result in an F for that project.

Deadlines / critiques

Deadlines of various types (exercises, research, sketches, critiques, etc.) will be assigned throughout the term. Work is due at the beginning of class unless otherwise noted. If you are presenting work, it should be prepared as specified on the assignment handout by the time class begins.

Work not prepared before a critique starts will be considered late. All late work will be graded down one full letter grade for each class period late. If you miss a critique, you will not receive credit for that project. If you have an excused absence for a critique, you must hand in your work at the next class meeting with a written excuse.

Resubmitting work

You have the opportunity to improve your grade on a project if the initial deadline was met and the project was presented in critique. You have one week to resubmit a project after it has been returned to you with a grade. You must submit both the original work and the revised work.

Participation

Your contribution to class discussions and critiques is an important part of this class. Interaction with your fellow classmates and dialogue with each other will help all of us learn. Your participation is highly encouraged and expected. You are urged to ask questions, challenge each other, have opinions and express them with respect. It is important for you to be engaged in class discussions about your work and the work of your classmates.

Safety

As an Appalachian State University student, you have access to the University’s Student Health Services in the event of illness or injury. However, you should be aware that the University does not provide students health care insurance to cover the costs of medical treatment or other expenses related to the treatment of injuries or illnesses. Consequently, if you were to be injured or contract an illness while participating in this course, including working in a studio, you or your parents or guardians would be financially responsible for the costs of any medical care not provided by Student Health Services, and for obtaining appropriate insurance to protect you and/or them against the risks identified above.

Academic Integrity

Your work is expected to be made by you. Simple as that. If you need assistance with technical issues you may get help, but whoever helps you should not do your work for you. This course will follow the provisions of the Academic Integrity Code.

As a community of learners at Appalachian State University, we must create an atmosphere of honesty, fairness, and responsibility, without which we cannot earn the trust and respect of each other. Furthermore, we recognize that academic dishonesty detracts from the value of an Appalachian degree. Therefore, we shall not tolerate lying, cheating, or stealing in any form and will oppose any instance of academic dishonesty.

Special Needs

Appalachian State University is committed to making reasonable accommodations for individuals with documented qualifying disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Those seeking accommodations based on a substantially limiting disability must contact and register with The Office of Disability Services (ODS) at www.ods.appstate.edu or 828.262.3056. Once registration is complete, individuals will meet with ODS staff to discuss eligibility and appropriate accommodations.

E-mail

I will use your Appstate e-mail address to communicate with you outside of class so please check it regularly.

Electronic Distractions

While in class, please give your full attention to our work and refrain from using electronic devices that divert your attention away. Excessive goofing off will result in you being asked to leave class for the day with your attendance marked as absent.

Food and beverages

If you are using a school computer, water is permitted as long as it is kept in a capped bottle and stored on the floor. You may eat and drink at the table in 214, but please be neat and clean up after yourself.

Computers

Computer issues are not be a valid excuse for missing a deadline. Make regular daily backups of your work to something (cd/external drive) other than a jump drive or your computer’s hard drive. If you use your own laptop computer for this class feel free to bring it to class, but be prepared to use lab computers if your computer fails you.