Syllabus

Delivery and Timing

We will meet once a week in person for two hours and forty minutes in the Art and Design Building with occasional meetings at The MIX, Horizon Hall 1408. The classes are required and during our sessions we will discuss work, complete workshops, and further our design knowledge. The class is scheduled to run for 16 weeks and you can expect to work for 6 hours outside of class each week.

Prerequisites

AVT 414: Corporate Design and Branding

Course Description

This is an advanced design course that will focus on 2-d and 3-d design concepts and production. Students will learn the techniques, concepts, and processes essential to understanding how to create and execute a packaging project, from ideation to final product.

Students will participate in all aspects of the development, design, assembly and presentation of package design projects. This will include concept development, research, writing, production, and presentation.

Objectives

Refine visual design skills on 3-d containers
Build 3-d design skills from concept to physical form
Develop craft skill including cutting, folding, gluing, taping
Learn and demonstrate proficiency in 3-d prototyping tools such as 3-d printers and laser cutters
Develop a project based on exploration, process, and iteration
Exercise good time management skills
Build skills when working within a group

Required Materials

Cutting Tool (Olfa, Xacto, etc.)
Extra Blades
Cutting Mat (12x18 minimum)
Metal, cork backed ruler (18 inches minimum)
Scissors
Glue stick
Tacky Glue (Aleene’s, Sobo)
Clear Tape
Masking Tape

As Needed Materials

Cardboard
Chipboard
Paper
Wood
Acrylic

Required Software

Adobe CC
Tinkercad (free and web based)

Content

This class consists of shorter exercises, in-class demos and workshops, and longer projects. The exercises, demos, and workshops are meant to build skills and learn new concepts and the projects are a place to demonstrate your understanding and ability to combine those skills and concepts.

Projects

project 1: starter pack

Create a starter kit that has, what you considered, the three most important items for a graphic designer. You can choose any items, but they must be able to fit into a package that you can design and build. You will also create a name and a visual identity for your package.

project 2: variety pack

Design and construct a package that contains three variations of the same (or similar) item. You will create a visual identity, design for the container of the items, and the labels/packaging for the items themselves. The design of the items must work as a system, not as three individual designs.

Attendance Policy

Four absences, regardless of excuse, will be an automatic failure of the class. After the first absence, each class you miss will lower your engagement grade by 25 points unless you let me know you won’t be in class before class and make an effort to cover what you missed in class. After the first late arrival, each class you are late to will lower your engagement grade by 10 points unless you let me know you are going to be late before class. Exceptions to this policy are for people actively communicating with me prior to the fourth absence.

Engagement

Your engagement in this class will affect your final grade (and, by extension, the quality of your work) for this course. Your attendance is tied to this grade along with your ability to actively take part in this course in the following ways.

Attend class meetings
Create things and be prepared to show them on time.
Make things thoughtfully, intentionally, and with intensity.
Meet all deadlines for handing in work and process.
Actively participate in critiques both in class and out of class.
Be curious about making things and the things your classmates make.
Care about yourself & your work, your classmates & their work, and this class.

Grading

Grades will be based on engagement (25%), exercises (25%), and projects (50%).

engagement (25%)

This percentage will be based on your engagement in the class which is explained on previous page but will include attendance, discussion, critiques, and overall participation. Be engaged in this course and its content throughout the semester and this should be an easy 25%.

exercises (25%)

Exercises are meant to be quicker, skill building tasks that improve your design knowledge.

projects (50%)

Each project will generate two different grades. One grade will be based on your ability to submit the required, weekly checkpoints for the project. These weekly checkpoints use a simple rubric based on your effort, timeliness, improvement, and completion. The second grade will be based on the final project you submit and has a more extensive rubric. At the end of the semester you will have 4 total project grades that are all weighted equally for this 50%.

Late Work

Late work will be accepted for three weeks after a deadline with the exception of the final project which will be due at the end of the semester. There is a section on the rubrics showing how late work is factored into the assignment grade.

rubrics

Rubrics are used to grade exercises, projects, and checkpoints. The rubrics are available in the PDF syllabus and attached to the assignments on Canvas.

Communication

Your ability to communicate with me is of prime importance in this course. If you are going to be absent, late, or not have your work, it will be your best interest in communicating those things to me in advance. I do not need to know your reasons for being absent, late, or not having your work but I do need to know. A simple, short email will be fine.

The same goes for if you are struggling in this class or having other issues that are hindering your ability to complete work in this class. The more you keep me in the loop the more I can help you and adjust as needed.

Schedule

Most days we will meet for the entire time but some weeks we will have individual meetings or end early. Some classes will be work days so make sure to bring things to work on each class. Unless otherwise specified, all work is due at the beginning of class.

A note—Time management is an important skill to master and should be worked on all your classes. Staying up all night working is not a badge of honor, it typically means you didn’t budget your time correctly. Staying up all night isn’t healthy and making sure you are keeping yourself healthy is your first priority.

The schedule on this site is outline of what we will be covering this semester. It is subject to additions, subtractions, and shifts.

Discussion of Work

You will need to take an active role in both the presentation and discussion of your work. We will review projects in a variety of ways and you are expected to be able to talk and write about your own work and give feedback to your peers about their work. The ability to discuss your work and other student’s work is a very important part of your education at Mason. Use this class to improve on those skills.

Campus Closure Policy

In the event that campus is closed due to weather or other emergency, this class will meet on Zoom to cover the material able to be covered virtually unless otherwise notified. If class moves to a virtual session, normal attendance and late arrival policies apply.