Course Description
This course is designed to help artists of all disciplines establish a public online presence. It is a workshop studio in which students, in class, will explore a variety of methods for self-promotion through the latest online tools and venues to create a personal online presence. This course is taught by a practicing design professional experienced in online publishing, exhibition design and the promotion of artists. Each student’s outcome will be tailored to that individual’s art practice. We will also explore online tools for producing printed portfolios and promotional material. There will be moderate expenses associated with web and print production.
Course Objectives
As a result of this course, students will be able to:
• learn about online best practices for file management, digital color, typography, image editing, basic css and html
• produce and edit a portfolio of work suitable for online presentation
• create basic elements of a visual identity
• have an increased awareness of opportunities for online promotion
• explore and develop online promotional opportunities through online communities and social network sites
• secure a domain name and hosting package, email and portfolio site
Course Structure
• set up blogger page
• content prep (text content, file formats, portfolio of work)
• design projects/exercises, header and style guide for site
• creating a header (type, color, image - very basic)
• writing exercises, including bio/artist statement/about, site goals, portfolio descriptions - posted to blogger page
• classroom presentations and critiques on projects
• lectures and technical demonstrations as needed for each project
• securing personal domain & hosting
• utilizing templates (digital color, very basic html, very basic SEO)
• set up a Wordpress or Behance portfolio site
• create a leave behind for promotion of site (business or post card size)
If anyone has suggestions/resources for topics such as typography do’s and dont’s, photography, video formatting, etc. that you think I should be aware of - bring it on. This course is representing the design dept as well, so I want to be sure to walk the fine line of not implying that “anyone” can design, but at the same time stressing the importance of good design.
Course Policies
Use of studio space and time
Rapid progress is a benefit of the frequent interactions occurring in a community environment. Therefore, students are encouraged to work in the studio, utilizing the space provided for them. Students are expected to plan and manage their time properly, and are required to be actively working in the class area during studio time, with the following allowances (with instructor’s permission): library research, computer lab, or any area within the classroom building. Leaving to get supplies, food, etc is not acceptable, and should be done before or after class.This course is designed to help artists of all disciplines establish a public online presence. It is a workshop studio in which students, in class, will explore a variety of methods for self-promotion through the latest online tools and venues to create a personal online presence. This course is taught by a practicing design professional experienced in online publishing, exhibition design and the promotion of artists. Each student’s outcome will be tailored to that individual’s art practice. We will also explore online tools for producing printed portfolios and promotional material. There will be moderate expenses associated with web and print production.
Course Objectives
As a result of this course, students will be able to:
• learn about online best practices for file management, digital color, typography, image editing, basic css and html
• produce and edit a portfolio of work suitable for online presentation
• create basic elements of a visual identity
• have an increased awareness of opportunities for online promotion
• explore and develop online promotional opportunities through online communities and social network sites
• secure a domain name and hosting package, email and portfolio site
Course Structure
• set up blogger page
• content prep (text content, file formats, portfolio of work)
• design projects/exercises, header and style guide for site
• creating a header (type, color, image - very basic)
• writing exercises, including bio/artist statement/about, site goals, portfolio descriptions - posted to blogger page
• classroom presentations and critiques on projects
• lectures and technical demonstrations as needed for each project
• securing personal domain & hosting
• utilizing templates (digital color, very basic html, very basic SEO)
• set up a Wordpress or Behance portfolio site
• create a leave behind for promotion of site (business or post card size)
If anyone has suggestions/resources for topics such as typography do’s and dont’s, photography, video formatting, etc. that you think I should be aware of - bring it on. This course is representing the design dept as well, so I want to be sure to walk the fine line of not implying that “anyone” can design, but at the same time stressing the importance of good design.
Course Policies
Use of studio space and time
Student conduct
Students are expected to conduct themselves in a manner appropriate to a professional and educational setting and demonstrate collegial support of their peers. Students are required to observe the student code of conduct, which includes an anti-discrimination statement and no harassment policy. Please refer to your student handbook for more information.Attendance policy
Attendance details for this course
Please take note of the following:Any absence (excused by the arc or unexcused) negatively affects your grade.
“late” = out of the classroom during roll call at the beginning of class.
“absent” = late by 30 minutes or more, asleep, disengaged or lack of participation.
three lates = one absence.
3 unexcused absences = one letter grade reduction.
5 unexcused absences = two letter grade reduction.
6 unexcused absences = course failure.
Attendance procedures
If a student has been marked absent (could include tardies counted as an absence) for 15% or more of the class, the instructor, if it is before mid-term, will give them a down grade if the mid-term earned grade lowered by one full letter grade is a C– or less. At any point in time during the semester, if a student is marked absent for 15% or more of the class, the instructor will inform their department chair and the associate vice president for student achievement. The associate vice president for student achievement will send notification to the student warning them they have missed 15% of the class(es), telling them this will have a negative impact on their grade, and requiring them to meet with the department chair who will reinforce where they stand and explain to them what will happen if they are marked absent for 20% of the class.If a student has been marked absent (could include tardies counted as an absence) for 20% or more of the class, the instructor will inform their department chair, the associate vice president for student achievement and the registrar’s office. The associate vice president for student achievement will send notification to the student informing them they will receive a failing grade ( f ) for the class. The notification will let them know that, if the absences are excused absences as outlined in the policy, they may request the failing grade be changed to a withdrawal (w). The academic standards committee will review these requests to verify if the absences were excused and warrant a withdrawal from the class.
Disabilities accommodations
KCAI will provide services and accommodations as mandated by the Americans with disabilities act and section 504 of the rehabilitation act.
Students requesting accommodations based on disability status should provide KCAI appropriate documentation. The documentation must be in written form from a licensed health care professional or educational professional who is qualified to diagnose the disability and recommend specific accommodations. Documentation must be within 3 years of being current. KCAI has the right to require a student to supplement the documentation if it is determined that the information in the initial documentation is incomplete, inadequate, or the qualifications of the health care provider or professional are in question. The documentation should state the specific disability and include recommended accommodations with a rationale if needed. All documentation will be kept confidential.
Students with documented disabilities are encouraged to provide documentation whether or not they opt to have accommodations in place so that if a specific need arises, an accommodation can be put in place in a timely manner. Accommodations are not made on a post facto basis. Accommodations are not put in place unless requested by the student. All requests are confidential.
Send documentation to: Katherine Keller, Disabilities Coordinator, kkeller@kcai.edu, 816.802.3485
Academic dishonesty policy
Academic dishonesty is defined as follows:
a) The copying of another student’s, work or the use of unauthorized notes and materials during examinations,
b) Plagiarism, or the presentation of either the written or visual work of others (including that of other students), as one’s own plagiarism is a serious offense in the academy, as well as illegal in the context of our nation’s copyright law. As such, it is important to know what plagiarism is in both one’s studio and liberal arts work. According to the modern language association, plagiarism is “the wrongful act of taking the product of another person’s mind, and presenting it as one’s own.” In other words, plagiarism is the use of not just words but ideas borrowed from someone else without crediting the source. Students are required to learn the arts-standard, Chicago manual of style guidelines for citing sources referenced in their own work, and must follow them carefully in their research and writing projects. For proper citation method, following the Chicago manual of style, refer to Maria Buszek’s website at http://www.mariabuszek.com/kcai/citation_style.htm
Students are also expected to be honest in their studio practices, particularly since the practice of appropriation is such an important strategy in art history. Though they might appear to be similar, plagiarism and appropriation are actually two very different practices. While it is true that appropriation involves taking possession of something often without permission – which for the visual artist usually means taking an image – it is also true that an appropriated image isn’t passed off as the original production of the appropriating artist. Indeed, the appropriation artist wants the viewer to recognize that an image has been utilized and referenced. (An artist who appropriates an image inevitably wishes to comment upon the original source in some way, usually as a critique, parody, or homage – all of which happen to fall under the realm of “fair use” in copyright law.) As such, appropriation is actually more like citing a source than plagiarizing it. All academic dishonesty is taken as an offense against the institute and may result in penalties assessed by the faculty member teaching the course in which the offense has occurred and the judicial board, up to and including expulsion.
When a faculty member has reason to believe that an act of academic dishonesty has occurred, s/he will inform the student/s involved, the head of the department (or director/dean, if applicable) in which the course is offered, and the head of the department (or director/dean, if applicable) in which the student is majoring. The faculty member will forward a report in writing to the dean of student life for presentation before the KCAI judicial board. The judicial board will interview and/or receive written statements from the student accused of academic dishonesty prior to making any determination.
Once a determination has been made that an offense did occur, faculty members maintain the right to assign a failing grade to the student. Additional penalties, up to and including expulsion, will be determined by the judicial board working in tandem with the faculty member who reported the offense.
Course plagiarism policy
Any project/paper discovered to have its origins anywhere other than the student’s mind will result in an f for the project/paper. Research or opinion papers utilizing any ideas directly from a source must cite the source properly, utilizing the Chicago manual of style.Cheating/unauthorized assistance
It is inappropriate for students to provide or receive unauthorized assistance during an examination or for other assignments. For example, the use of cheat sheets, copying from another individual’s paper/examination is in violation of the kcai student code of conduct.
Late/incomplete/missed projects
Projects submitted for any final critique that are obviously not completed will be graded as-is. Any project not submitted at the beginning of its final critique will result in a failing grade for the project, unless the absence or tardy can be excused with proper documentation. Students that miss classes will be expected to make up all studio work in addition to homework assignments and will not be granted extensions to project deadlines.
Project revisions
Any project is subject to improvements based on instructor and student feedback. After a final project critique, revisions may be necessary and are encouraged for your portfolio development. Students are encouraged to make necessary revisions in a timely manner (approx 2 weeks) after the initial critique date but are not required for re-submittal until the last day of class. Project revisions and improvements will be reflected in your end-of-term grade .
Use of communication technologies
Regarding the myriad ways we may digitally communicate with one another – please practice the utmost respect for classmates, instructors, and your own intellectual development during designated course times. Laptops are to be closed during lectures, discussions, and critiques, unless being used to take notes or otherwise noted. Cell phone rings, texting, and other unproductive digital activity will result in dismissal from class and an unexcused absence. Course and process documentation
Students are required to maintain a web-based archive of interim process and final project documentation (set up the blogger page we will develop in class). Post any process and writing assignments throughout the semester to the Blogger page. Further, some project critiques will occur online. This archive will figure into the “process” and “presentation” portions of your grade.
Grading
Each major project will be graded against four criteria, for a score totaling 100.Objectives [40%]– ability to meet stated project objectives (listed at the start of each project you receive) that clearly exhibits learning through risk-taking, failure, and pushing one’s limitations.
Presentation [20%]– attention to detail and sense of craft. Level of quality and refinement achieved in final presentation design, and clarity of project presentation in final critiques and reviews.
Participation [10%]– ability to articulate thoughts and ideas verbally and in written form in a group setting and with the instructor, in a professional and respectful manner, daily and in final critique. Absences will negatively affect your average in
this area.
Process [30%]– consistent level of effort, and ability to follow a logical and thorough path from concept through refinement to completion. Absences will negatively affect your average in this area. Shorter exercises and papers will be graded on various criteria more appropriate to their purposes, described at the outset of each project. Extra credit will be offered at the instructor’s discretion. Projects are weighted based on duration through the semester. For example, a project taking half a semester is worth 50% of the final course grade and a project taking a fourth of the semester (about 3 to 4 weeks) is worth 25% of the final course grade.
The grading scale is as follows:
a 95–100 superior
a- 90–94
b+ 86–89
b 83–85 above average
b- 80–82
c+ 76–79
c 73–75 average
c- 70–72
d+ 66–69
d 60–65 below average
f 0–59 failure
Determination of how a student’s work ranks is in relation to developmental norms for design students at your course level pursuing a BFA degree, as well as expectation for entrance into professional practice. If your work stands out as highly effective, innovative, and memorable in how it satisfies all grading criteria, you will earn a project score of superior. If your work satisfies the
grading criteria in a basic way but is not memorable or demonstrate significant learning, you will earn a score of average or below.
The course grade allocation is as follows:
Blogger page and Blog posts 25%
Projects leading up to final site including printed material 25%
Final Site 50%
A laptop with Adobe Photoshop (any version) is required.
There will be moderate expenses associated with web and print production.
Texts
Online text/resources will be provided throughout the class.
Recommended:
“Thinking With Type” is an excellent beginner resource for typography, and very clearly written with a great companion website: www.thinkingwithtype.com
amazon.com $15.00
“Don’t Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability” by Steve Krug
amazon.com $22.00
