MAT 170: Syllabus
INSTRUCTOR
Gregg Kelley, MA
Phone: 760.795.6841
Office Location: OCT 430
Office Hours: By Appointment
Email: gkelley@miracosta.edu
Website: http://www.miracosta.edu/home/gkelley/
DESCRIPTION
This is a three unit class in which students will study the design and composition of vector artwork for print publishing and multimedia graphics using Adobe Illustrator. Students will learn to create vector graphic designs such as logos, product promotion, and packaging for commercial use. Students will learn effective typography, create unique brushes and shapes, transform raster images into vector graphics, and manipulate perspective.
OBJECTIVES
Upon successful completion of the course the student will be able to use Adobe Illustrator’s digital imaging tools and techniques for vector graphic creation, object transformation, type manipulation, 3D extrusion, and special effects; design a personal logo and incorporate it into a stylized art piece using appropriate vector drawing and painting tools; create commercially-viable product packaging using proper typographic techniques, color blends, custom patterns, unique brushes, and live paint groups; create a set of design elements with a common theme using multiple artboards, color harmony rules, swatch libraries, symbolism, and appropriate typography; convert a raster image into a vector graphic and edit with the appropriate vector graphic tools; apply basic layout and design principles to create stylized vector graphic output of professional quality; use Illustrator’s color harmony rules to color and recolor artwork to meet a variety of set conditions; modify the shape, style, and transparency of a typographic element and assess its visual impact and communication effectiveness; analyze contemporary commercial design styles and assess their impact on personal work; create a series of vector graphic images that convey a distinct message for commercial or personal use; construct a professional statement that interprets a graphic image’s message and explains the technical devices used in its creation; analyze and critique selected images for message, quality of design, and proper use of type, color, and composition; discuss copyright infringement, legal aspects of ownership, and ethical considerations of image manipulation; analyze and assess personal and royalty-free vector image resources and evaluate appropriateness for web distribution and/or print production; use appropriate terminology to describe the relationship between digital imaging software and different hardware input and output devices; experiment with file formats, importing and tracing options, and exporting features to generate a successful design for either print or web output.
OUTCOMES
After taking this course, students will be able to apply vector graphic tools and design techniques to generate output that can be utilized for personal and commercial media arts use; assemble multiple images into stylized digital representations that illustrate color and design principles; and plan, prepare, and design vector graphic artwork that incorporates message in conjunction with artistic and technical elements of professional quality.
METHODS
In this class, project based assignments are used so that students learn to search for information, make decisions, and solve problems, which gives them an opportunity to explore real-world situations and challenges. This method allows for a variety of learning styles and helps students develop confidence and self-direction as they learn the skills of organization, research, and time management. As a result, students are more likely to retain information and come to value the learning process as well as the learning project.
MATERIALS
This class requires Adobe Illustrator CC software, one textbook, and an Internet connection with a browser such as Firefox, Chrome or IMicrosoft Edge.
REQUIRED READING
Wood, Brian Adobe Illustrator CC Classroom in a Book, Berkeley, CA: Peachpit Press, 2019
RECOMMENDED READING
Evans, Poppy Exploring the Elements of Design, Boston, MA: Delmar Learning, 2012
Glitschka, Von Vector Basic Training, Berkeley, CA: New Riders Press, 2011
Johnson, Steve Brilliant Illustrator CC, Indianapolis, IN: Que Corporation, 2013
Steuer, Sharon The Adobe Illustrator CS6 WOW! Book, Berkeley, CA: Peachpit Press, 2012
Weinmann, Elaine Illustrator CC Visual Quickstart Guide, Berkeley, CA: Peachpit Press, 2013
Withrow, Steven Vector Graphics and Illustration, Brighton, UK: RotoVision, 2008
GRADES
The student’s grade is based on assignments consisting of Discussion Board posts (12 @ 10 points; 3 @ 20 points; 1 @ 30 points), and Skill Builders (8 @ 23.75 points). In addition, there will be four Design Projects (@ 150 points). The total semester value is 1000 points. Assignments will be posted each Monday and are due on Sunday of that week. Assignments not completed on time will get a 50% reduction of points.
A = 1000 – 900 • B = 899 – 800 • C = 799 – 700 • D = 699 – 600 • F = below 599
Projects = 60% • Discussion Board = 21% • Skill Builders = 19%
ATTENDANCE
The flexibility of online courses allows students to complete assignments and participate in collaborative work from wherever there is a reliable Internet connection. In an online environment, attendance is measured by the quality and frequency of the posts in the discussion forums, and by participating in an academic activity within the online classroom, which includes posting in a graded discussion forum, submitting assignments, completing quizzes, and posting projects. Absence from these discussion forums for more than a few days may prevent you from maintaining the level of interaction that is required for success in this course. Students who do not attend class at least once in any seven consecutive day period will be issued an attendance warning. Students who do not attend at least once in any fourteen consecutive day period will be dropped from the course. Sometimes students may have legitimate reasons for missing class. If you know that you will be offline for a week or more, please contact me to discuss possible options for completing required work. My goal is to ensure the success of every student in this class. I am here to help you learn in a variety of ways, as well as to keep you on task and on schedule. Together, we can create a highly effective learning environment.
STUDENT SERVICES
The Americans with Disabilities Act is a federal antidiscrimination statute that provides comprehensive protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities, any student with a disability who needs academic adjustments or accommodations should speak with me and the Disabled Students Program and Services in Building 3000 or call 760.795.6658. All discussions will remain confidential.
In this piece, the digital artist has used gradients to imitate the look of traditional watercolor painting. 
This digital artist first used Photoshop to distort facial features, then placed it into Illustrator, using the Pen Tool to trace the image. The final result shows an influence of German Expressionism in its depth of human emotion.
In this piece, the digital artist captures the city at rush hour, where people meld into a crowd and become one big, flowing mass. The artist uses transparent bodies as a metaphor for the paradox of closeness and isolation within a crowd of people. 
Here, architecture is combined with organic material to create synthetic life. The artist captures the moment of fusion that might happen between organic and non-organic material. The use of overlapping perspective and color is inspired by 20th century Futurism.