arth 4901 | history of graphic designTuesday + Thursday, ST 116 9:45–11:00 am

Course Description This course provides a comprehensive history of the field of graphic design from it’s inception in Mesopotamia 4,000 years ago.Students explore the evolution of graphic and typographic communicationthrough investigating early writing systems in the mideastand Asia,medieval manuscript design,the Renaissance,the Industrial Revolution,pre-modernistand twentieth century modernism,American editorial design,identity systems,and schools associated with the DigitalAge.Special emphasis is given to correlations between the development of fine art and graphic design. Lectures, readings, and discussion will explore the sociological and economic implications of communications innovations, while striving to understand the direct relationship between culture, society, business and design.

Course ObjectivesUpon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

Recall a broad historical outline of landmarks in the evolution of graphic design from pre-modern times to the present day.Identify the principle forms in which graphic design has been practiced in different periods and cultures.Recognize influences and relationships between diverse cultures and time periods.Draw conclusions about how cultural context and technological innovation have shaped the appearance, practice, and social relevance of graphic design.Delineate important developments in the history of graphic communications.

Punctuality PolicyThere will be no allowance for late assignments. A written explanation is required if a due date is missed due to illness or other issues. The instructor will accept late individual assignments, but the grades will be reduced by one letter grade for each class day they are late. Discuss concerns with the instructor in advance so the instructor can anticipate problems and act accordingly.

Attendance PolicyStudents are expected to attend all class meetings as scheduled. You are excused for two absences per semester; each absence that exceeds this number will result in the lowering of your final grade one letter (A to B, etc). Arriving to class late or leaving early on lab days will be considered as 1/3 absence. If you have a personal problem of any type that requires you miss class more than two times, you must discuss this with the instructor. Written explanations via email are encouraged.

Communication PolicyThere are times when the instructor will need to reach the class for special announcements, due date changes, etc. You are required to maintain a Universityof Minnesota Duluth (UMD) email account, and check it daily, or as close to daily as is reasonable.If you prefer using a non-UMD email address, then set up your “U” account so that it forwards to the other one.

AccommodationsIt is University policy to provide, on a flexible and individualized basis, reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities that may affect their ability to participate in course activities or to meet course requirements. Please let me know as soon as possible if you have a disability for which accommodations will be requested.

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Textbook: History of Graphic Design, 4th edition by Phillip Meggs

Assignments: Weekly readings and assignments will be given. Study guides area available on WebCT and will be due by the following class section

Exams: There will be exams the end of each section. There will be weekly quizzes due through WebCT.

Project: In lieu of a paper, there will be one design project.

Online: Course supplemental and review materials are available online on WebCT

Instructor: Miranda Edel, MFA Assistant Professor phone: 280-2836 email: medel@d.umn.edu office: CF 225 hours: Wednesday 11–12:00pm (and by appointment)

arth 4901 | history of graphic designTuesday + Thursday, ST 116 9:45–11:00 am

Course EvaluationThe evaluation of the course will be considered as follows:

20% attendance and homework assignments30% weekly quizzes50% midterm and final exams

GradingThe evaluation of this course will be based on the five-letter system, which is based on the + or – system adopted by the umd. Each letter grade represents the following:

A ExcellentThis is usually work done by a highly motivated student meeting all or most of the performance criteria as set forth by the problem. In order to earn an “A” for the course students must earn “excellent” marks on every assignment and have superior craftsmanship.

B GoodWork done by students who meet requirements above average. The students who develop this kind of work demonstrate a desirable attitude in their attendance and participation in the individual and group activities.

C SatisfactoryWork done by students who meet the minimum requirements. The students developing this kind of work demonstrate an expected but not desirable attitude in their attendance to classes and engagement in the individual and group activities assigned.

D PoorWork done by students who meet some of the minimum requirements. The students developing this kind of work demonstrate no interests and responsibility in their attendance and participation in the individual and group activities.

F UnacceptableWork done by students who do not meet any of the minimum requirements. The students developing this kind of work are unconcerned with their attendance and participation in the different class activities.

I IncompleteReceiving an I (incomplete) grade in this course The temporary grade I will be assigned to you only in the case that you are unable to complete the course requirements outlined in this syllabi during the Spring semester of 2006 because of any situation, that you are unable to control or manage, that affect the time/energy/level of commitment needed to follow and complete the course. In the case of receiving an I, you will have to make, prior to the submission of final grades, an agreement with me (the instructor) to complete the course requirements.

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96 - 100 = A90 - 95 = A-87 - 89 = B+84 - 86 = B80 - 83 = B-77 - 79 = C+74 - 76 = C70 - 73 = C-67 - 69 = D+64 - 66 = D60 - 63 = D-below 60 = f

arth 4901 | history of graphic designTuesday + Thursday, ST 116 9:45–11:00 am

WEEK 1 [January 15 – 19]Tuesday, January 16

IntroductionReading: Chapters 1-2 (The Invention of Writing and Alpha-bets) (due online)

Thursday, January 18Lecture: Chapters 1–2 (Invention of Writing and Alphabets)WebCT Quiz (this chapter quiz will be available until the beginning of the next class)Reading: Chapter 3 (The Asian Contribution)Study Guide

WEEK 2 [January 22 – 26]Tuesday, January 23

Lecture: Chapter 3 (The Asian Contribution)WebCT Quiz (this chapter quiz will be available until the beginning of the next class)Reading: Chapter 4 (Illuminated Manuscripts)Study Guide

Thursday, January 25Lecture: Chapter 4 (Illuminated Manuscripts)WebCT Quiz (this chapter quiz will be available until the beginning of the next class)Study for Test 1 (The Prologue to Graphic Design)

WEEK 3 [January 29 – February 2]Tuesday, January 28

Test 1: Part 1 (The Prologue to Graphic Design)Reading: Chapter 5 (Printing Comes to Europe)Study Guide

Thursday, february 1Lecture: Chapter 5 (Printing Comes to Europe)WebCT Quiz (this chapter quiz will be available until the beginning of the next class)Reading: Chapter 6 (German Illustrated Book)Study Guide

WEEK 4 [February 5-9]Tuesday, february 6

Lecture: Chapter 6 (The German Illustrated Book)WebCT Quiz (this chapter quiz will be available until the beginning of the next class)Reading: Chapter 7 (Renaissance Graphic Design)Study Guide

Thursday, february 8Lecture: Chapter 7 (Renaissance Graphic Design)WebCT Quiz (this chapter quiz will be available until the beginning of the next class)Reading: Chapter 8 (An Epoch of Typographic Genius)Study Guide

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WEEK 5 [February 12–16]Tuesday, february 13

Lecture: Chapter 8 (An Epoch of Typographic Genius)WebCT Quiz (this chapter quiz will be available until the beginning of the next class)Study for Test 2 (A Graphic Renaissance)

Thursday, february 15Test 2: Part 2 (A Graphic Renaissance) Reading: Chapter 9 (Graphic Design and the Industrial Revolution)Study Guide

WEEK 6 [February 19–23]No Class

WEEK 7 [February 26–March 2]Tuesday, february 27

Lecture: Chapter 9 (Graphic Design and the Industrial Revolution)WebCT Quiz (this chapter quiz will be available until the beginning of the next class)Reading: Chapter 10 (The Arts and Crafts Movement and its Heritage)Study Guide

March 1Lecture: Chapter 10 (The Arts and Crafts Movement and its Heritage)WebCT Quiz (this chapter quiz will be available until the beginning of the next class)Reading: Chapter 11 (Art Nouveau)Study Guide

WEEK 8 [March 5–9]Tuesday, March 6

Lecture: Chapter 11 (Art Nouveau)WebCT Quiz (this chapter quiz will be available until the beginning of the next class)Reading: Chapter 12 (The Genesis of Twentieth Century Graphic Design)Study Guide

Thursday, March 8 Lecture: Chapter 12 (The Genesis of Twentieth Century Graphic Design)WebCT Quiz (this chapter quiz will be available until the beginning of the next class)Study for Test 3 (The Bridge to the Twentieth Century)

[March 12–16]spring break

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schedule is subject to change

arth 4901 | history of graphic designTuesday + Thursday, ST 116 9:45–11:00 am

WEEK 9 [March 19–23]Tuesday, March 20

Test 3: Part 3 (The Bridge to the Twentieth Century); Reading: Chapter 13 (The Influence of Modern Art)Study Guide

Thursday, March 22 Lecture: Chapter 13 (The Influence of Modern Art)WebCT Quiz (this chapter quiz will be available until the beginning of the next class)Reading: Chapter 14 (Pictorial Modernism)Study Guide

WEEK 10 [March 26–30]Tuesday, March 27

Lecture: Chapter 14 (Pictorial Modernism)WebCT Quiz (this chapter quiz will be available until the beginning of the next class)Reading: Chapter 15 (A New Language of form)Study Guide

Thursday, March 29 Lecture: Chapter 15 (A New Language of form)WebCT Quiz (this chapter quiz will be available until the beginning of the next class)Reading: Chapter 16 (Bauhaus and the New Typography)Study Guide

WEEK 11 [April 2–April 6]Tuesday, April 3

Lecture: Chapter 16 (Bauhaus and the New Typography)WebCT Quiz (this chapter quiz will be available until the beginning of the next class)Reading: Chapter 17 (The Modern Movement in America)Study Guide

Thursday, April 5Lecture: Chapter 17 (The Modern Movement in America)WebCT Quiz (this chapter quiz will be available until the beginning of the next class)Study for Test 4 (The Modernist Era)

WEEK 12 [April 9–13]Tuesday, April 10

Test 4: Part 4 (The Modernist Era)Reading: Chapter 18 (The International Typographic Style)Study Guide

Thursday, April 12Lecture: Chapter 18 (The International Typographic Style)WebCT Quiz (this chapter quiz will be available until the beginning of the next class)Reading: Chapter 19 (The New York School)Study Guide

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WEEK 13 [April 16–20]Tuesday, April 17

Lecture: Chapter 19 (The New York School)WebCT Quiz (this chapter quiz will be available until the beginning of the next class)Reading: Chapter 20 (Corporate Identity and Visual Systems)Study Guide

Thursday, April 19 Research Project dueLecture: Chapter 20 (Corporate Identity and Visual Systems)WebCT Quiz (this chapter quiz will be available until the beginning of the next class)Reading: Chapter 21 (The Conceptual Image) Study Guide

WEEK 14 [April 23–27]Tuesday, April 24

Lecture: Chapter 21 (The Conceptual Image)WebCT Quiz (this chapter quiz will be available until the beginning of the next class)Reading: Chapter 22 (National Visions within a Global Dialog)Study Guide

Thursday, April 26Lecture: Chapter 22 (National Visions within a Global Dialog)WebCT Quiz (this chapter quiz will be available until the beginning of the next class)Reading: Chapter 23 (Postmodernism) Study Guide

WEEK 15 [April 30–May 4]Tuesday, May 1

Lecture: Chapter 23 (Postmodernism)WebCT Quiz (this chapter quiz will be available until the beginning of the next class)Reading: Chapter 24 (The Digital Revolution and Beyond)Study Guide

Thursday, May 3Lecture: Chapter 24 (The Digital Revolution and Beyond)WebCT Quiz (this chapter quiz will be available until the beginning of the next class)Study for Test 5 (The Age of Information)

FINALS WEEK [May 7–11]Tuesday, May 8

Test 5: Part 5 (The Age of Information)

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