Project: Final

Diving over the finish line
Due: Tue Dec 16, 11:59 pm
Detail: Create a suitable final project for this class that is print and/or web based.
Submit via: In class + Learning Suite
File type: Self-assessment: Word doc
Self-evaluation template: Course Box

Brief

What you create for your final project is up to you, but it must fall within the purview and Learning Outcomes of this class—i.e., be primarily web- or print-based work.

  • You can create a book, zine(s), poster(s), net art, website, or whatever fits.
  • Before you begin work on your project, you must get it cleared by the instructor. It is recommended that you do this prior to week 13 so you have plenty of time to work on your project.
  • Your project should be ambitious enough to reflect what you have learned and the amount of time you have to execute it.
  • Keep in mind that you will be expected to have worked exclusively on this for three weeks plus a bit of time before that. That means it is expected that you spend a minimum of 27 hours on this project. You cannot put this off to the last minute. Budget your time so that you are regularly working on this leading up to the deadline.
  • Give yourself 15% slush time to account for technical glitches.
  • Prototype! Do not just assume it will work out just as you assume. It rarely does. Printing and assembling cheaper copies with materials as close to the finished product will save you headaches and always result in a better project. If there are issues in your final project that could have been resolved with a prototype you did not make, it will impact your grade.
  • If you are having something printed, check with your printer to see how much lead time they need and add that to your time budget.

What to Do

  • Choose something that you are excited to work on.

Grading

Assignment grades will be based on the following:

Conceptual Concerns (40%)

Student demonstrates evidence that they understand and inventively integrate conceptual concerns and implications of print and web design.

  • Excellent: Student demonstrates conversational familiarity with the material—making interesting connections between ideas, readings, and presentations.
  • Average: Student is able to recall and recite material, but not do anything interesting with it.
  • Below Average: Student struggles to demonstrate a grasp of the material and shows no facility in connecting ideas or new thinking.
Execution (40%)

When executing a project, the student demonstrates a firm grasp of the materials, techniques, hardware, and software. The student’s skills and approach are appropriate to their concept. In written/oral assignments, this includes proper spelling, punctuation, sentence structure, grammar and formatting for written assignments; and annunciation, confidence and focused arguments for oral assignments.

  • Excellent: Student displays skills and sensitivity when creating projects. The level of craft and approach to making is appropriate to the concept. In written/oral assignments, student understands writing and presentation modes including style guides and oral confidence and is able to nimbly employ these tools in their art projects, writing, and speaking.
  • Average: Student work shows some flaws in their understanding of materials and skills. Stylistic and formatting mistakes are present.
  • Below Average: The execution is unconsidered and hasty. Student repeatedly makes the same mistakes and ignores instructor input and suggestions.
Assessment/Critique (10%)

The student will produce a self-evaluation for each art project including the strengths and weaknesses of a given work and plans for future improvement. This will also include an accounting of time taken. The student will also be present for and participate in group critiques of projects.

  • Excellent: The student thoughtfully and honestly engages in the self-reflective process of critiquing their own work and efforts. The student enthusiastically engages with group critiques, seeking ways to offer constructive feedback to other students.
  • Average: The student performs a cursory and surface-level assessment of their work and efforts. They make neutral comments during the group critiques and do not fully engage.
  • Below Average: The student demonstrates an inability to honestly engage with their work as it exists in the world, and does not adequately participate in group critiques, or is absent/tardy.
Following Instructions (10%)

The student adheres to the guidelines provided for the course and the assignment. If the paper has a particular framework, the student adheres to that framework. If an assignment is to be submitted as a Word doc on Learning Suite, the student does not email the instructor a PDF.

  • Excellent: A detail-oriented student who takes instruction and fastidiously executes it within their work.
  • Average: A student who misses some details because they didn’t read instructions thoroughly or take proper notes when instructions were given.
  • Below Average: Student ignores basic instructions and guidance given for assignments.
On-time Submission

Projects lose 5 points (our of 100) per 24-hour period they are late. If an assignment is submitted 5 minutes late, that is within the first 24-hour period, so it loses 5 points. If it is 27 hours late, that puts it in the second 24-hour perdiod, so it loses 10 points.

Learning Outcomes Addressed

Design Fundamentals and Processes

Students will be able to implement the steps that guide a designer to effective solutions, apply compositional skills to design problems, and employ fundamentals of 2D design such as grid systems and the basics of typography.

Technical Proficiency

Students will be able to employ the technical fundamentals of print and web design and production.

Professional Practices

Students will be able to employ professional practices in supporting their art through a portfolio website and awareness of professional opportunities for studio artstis to deploy their art skills in commercial contexts.