MWCC College Catalog — Computer Graphic Design
CGD101 DESIGN THEORY
3 credits
This course is an introduction to the graphic design field. Special emphasis is on understanding the fundamentals of design, including the elements and principles of design and typography as they are applied to the development of effective visual communication pieces for both print and web design. Students will create a promotional campaign consisting of the design and layout of a print and web project for the company or organization of their choice. This course also addresses audience definition; research and analysis; concept development; and the production of thumbnail sketches, rough drafts, and the preparation of final comprehensive layouts. Prerequisites: ENG100, RDG100, or placement. Co-requisite or prerequisite: CGD104. Fall for CGD/CGW students. Spring for
non-majors.
CGD102 PUBLICATION DESIGN (QUARK XPRESS)
3 credits
This course is a continuation of Design Theory and focuses on an advanced understanding of graphic design principles and electronic page layout software (QuarkXPress and InDesign). Students prepare more sophisticated, multi-faceted projects with an emphasis on publication design, while utilizing QuarkXPress, Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator. Topics include grids, typography, and complex layout techniques such as master pages and style sheets. Prerequisites: CGD101, CGD104, CGD105, and CGD235. Fall.
CGD103 PRINT PRODUCTION FOR DESIGNERS
3 credits
Students will learn how to turn their creative ideas into printed material. Knowledge of print production techniques eliminates frustration, saves time and is an invaluable and necessary skill for any print or web designer. This course addresses print capabilities, an overview of the printing process, how to obtain printing quotes, preparing files for high resolution output, and understanding pre-press techniques. Special issues, such as handling photography and artwork for premium reproduction quality, understanding the use of process and Pantone inks, and creating a PDF, will also be covered. Prerequisites: CGD101, CGD104, CGD105, and CGD235. Spring.
CGD104 DIGITAL IMAGING (PHOTOSHOP)
3 credits
This course introduces Adobe PhotoShop and its uses for both print and web design. PhotoShop is the industry standard for image editing and graphic manipulation. Students start by learning the basics of preparing electronic artwork with special emphasis on understanding the tools, palettes, and menus of this highly sophisticated program. Students will be able to transform digital images into new pieces of art through the use of file manipulation techniques using filters, blending modes, layers, masks, channels, and layer effects, as well as create, optimize, and save graphics
for the web. Emphasis is on the creation of high-quality graphics for print and the World Wide Web. Prerequisites:*Basic computer skills, ENG100, RDG100, or placement. Fall and spring.
CGD105 ELECTRONIC ILLUSTRATION (ILLUSTRATOR)
3 credits
This course introduces the features of Adobe Illustrator for print and web design. Students learn how to create complex electronic illustrations and single page layouts with special emphasis on understanding the tools, palettes, and menus. Students will learn to produce detailed illustration templates and how to use these templates to produce complex electronic illustrations. Special emphasis is on understanding the Bezier pen tool, as well as learning specialized techniques for creating line-art, color illustrations, and three-dimensional drawings via this electronic medium. Prerequisites: CGD101 or permission of instructor. Spring.
CGD106 PORTFOLIO PREPARATION (CAPSTONE COURSE)
3 credits
This practicum is the capstone for the CGD Print Design degree. This course is focused on helping students prepare for the job market with career planning, skill assessment, resume writing, interviewing, and job market analysis listed as topics, as well as compile professional-quality print and digital portfolios. No new major software programs are taught; however, skills and program knowledge, including page layout, digital imaging, and electronic illustration programs from previous courses will be used to redesign and enhance students’ previous design pieces for preparation for a final print portfolio. Students will engage in a real-world, client-based project with careful consideration of audience definition, research, concept development, time management, and the implementation of effective design and layout, while meeting strict deadlines. Special emphasis of this course will be on developing a strong print portfolio that is a culmination of all the computer graphic design courses. Prerequisites: CGD101, CGD102, CGD104, CGD105, CGD109, CGD204, CGD235, CGD240. Co-requisite: CGD103. Spring.
CGD107 DESIGNING BUSINESS GRAPHICS (PHOTOSHOP)
3 credits
This course is for CIS, Business, or any non-CGD program majors only. It will include an introduction to the industry standard for image creation and editing, Adobe PhotoShop. Students will learn to use basic tools, palettes, menu items, layers, masking, and channels. Focus will be on scanning, creating and saving graphics, separating photo subjects from the photo’s background, creating practical marketing pieces for print and internet output, as well as creating animations for use on the World Wide Web.
Not open to CGD/CGDC or CGW/CGWC majors. Prerequisite: *Basic computer skills. Fall and spring.
CGD109 INTRO TO WEB MEDIA
3 credits
Unravel the mysteries of web codes and build useful extendable web pages for modern electronic devices. Follow simple understandable steps to build informative and visually attractive websites. Ever want to sign up for an online course? Learn to use and understand online/web Blackboard courses while exploring new Internet and World Wide Web media technologies and information literacy resources. Use media tools such as email, search engines, blogs, image viewers, web games, and PDF documents. Discover new media concepts: XHTML, CSS, and web design standards, which have expanded HTML. View and test your designs using new generation web browsers: Opera, Firefox, and Safari. Topics include hand-coding techniques, basic web construction, page structure, hypertext linking, using images, web color, attributes, values, introduction to style sheets, design considerations—usability, accessibility, browser problems, and solutions. Create a multi-page website by the end of the course. No previous experience with web page creation is needed for this course. Prerequisite: *Basic computer skill and RDG100. Fall.
CGD110 INTRODUCTION TO ANIMATION AND GAME DESIGN (FLASH)
3 credits
Create presentations with impact! Animate your imagination! Learn to make images move! Tell a tale making your audience smile and take notice. No previous experience needed. Use Adobe Flash (drawing, designing, advertising, gaming, and authoring software) to build basic objects and draw simple shapes and text that can be moved in creative ways. Individuals who have never sketched before or think they cannot draw have found this course accessible. Stick figure people move, cartoons are created, stories are plotted and storyboarded. Exploration of webisodes, anime, online games and character animation takes place. Learn how the latest animated movie was made and analyze examples of dynamic animated computer art. The basics of vector-based animation will be used to create web motion graphics. Create original animations and build interactive digital games. Animation techniques such as motion guides, key frames, and shape/motion tweening are taught through a series of structured and freeform activities and projects that are fun, informative, and creative. Prerequisites: RDG100 and *Basic computer skills. Fall.
CGD112 COMMUNICATION IN DESIGN and TECHNOLOGY
3 credits
Professional multimedia communication skills are essential for success in a fast-paced, diversified work environment. Multimedia communication is a world of video tubing, image manipulation, word and game play, voice streams, sound bytes, searches, avatars, music rips, and downloads—the world of Digital/Information Literacy. Are you prepared to weave together effective media presentations? Core topics help students develop a solid understanding of visual communication coupled with an overview of current multimedia tools, concepts, terminology, and techniques. Learn to create an inspiring presentation, chart out ideas, and write effective media materials. Hands-on experience using a number of software programs (Fireworks, Acrobat, Inspiration, and InDesign) is part of a practical guide to the development of digital media projects. Students apply communications principles (analysis, prototyping, flowcharting, storyboarding, image editing) to slide presentations, business cards, brochures, and professional business correspondence. Students learn professional production techniques and the foundations of portfolio building, interviewing and career skills using digital multimedia methods. Open to all students. Prerequisites: ENG100, RDG100, or placement. Non-majors: *Basic computer skills. Required for CGW majors; recommended for CGD majors. Spring.
CGD204 ADVANCED DIGITAL IMAGING (ADVANCED PHOTOSHOP)
3 credits
This project-based course, for both Print and Web students, goes beyond the basics of Adobe Photoshop and challenges students to use the advanced techniques and features of this sophisticated digital imaging program. Use of layers, layer masks, and image compositing techniques will be extensive, and more complex digital photomontages using masks and filters will be used in multifaceted projects for print. In addition, this course will more intensely focus on creating, optimizing, and saving graphics for the web. Students will output final montages and digital images to mount for exhibit or portfolio use, and will be incorporating their Photoshop and web interfaces to web authoring program or electronic portfolio. Traditional and/or digital photography will be encouraged. Prerequisite: CGD104 or permission of instructor. Fall.
CGD205 DIGITAL PHOTO ART (PHOTOSHOP OR PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS)
3 credits
This project-based course is open to all students and begins with a component in computer literacy and continues on to teach students Photoshop, a “state-of-the-art” digital imaging program or Photoshop Elements. Students with previously acquired Photoshop skills are encouraged to enroll in the course as well. Students will choose to use either Adobe Photoshop Elements or Adobe Photoshop. Students learn artistic techniques and the ability to recognize and use light and composition as vital elements for creating abstract and photographic digital artwork. Students will explore digital collages and techniques that blend color, shape, and texture to form exciting and dynamic digital art pieces. Course projects focus on the artistic and creative uses of Adobe Photoshop Elements or Adobe Photoshop, rather than on digital manipulation for communication and graphic design pieces. Focus will also be on printing complex digital art pieces. Prerequisites: RDG100, ENG100 or placement. Spring and fall.
CGD210 ADVANCED WEBSITE PORTFOLIO (CAPSTONE COURSE)
3 credits
This practicum is the capstone for the CGD Web Design degree. Participants will need to apply skills learned in prerequisite courses to complete a professional portfolio and a publishable client website. This course is focused on helping students prepare for the job market through career planning, skill assessment, resume writing, interviewing, and job market analysis. Participants will produce a high quality marketing package, which will include a promotional website and professional portfolio. No new major software programs are taught; however, skills and program knowledge, including authoring, animation, text/image editing tools from other required courses, will be used to develop client-based websites in a real-time environment. Participants will create an advanced website for a client with careful consideration of navigational architecture and interface design. The site is to be designed, revised, tested, and delivered within very compressed deadlines. Special emphasis will be on developing a revised and enhanced multimedia portfolio that is a culmination of all the computer graphic design courses. Prerequisites: CGD101, CGD104, CGD109, CGD110, CGD112, CGD204, CGD240, CGD241, or permission of instructor. This practicum should not be taken without adequate preparation and completion of all prerequisites, since it is a very demanding and challenging course. Spring.
CGD235 TYPOGRAPHY IN VISUAL COMMUNICATION (INDESIGN)
3 credits
This course introduces students to the techniques and tools used to create, manipulate, and organize graphic images and text using the industry leading page layout programs, Adobe InDesign and QuarkXPress. Special emphasis and focus will be on an advanced understanding of typography in visual communication, and students will gain a more solid understanding of design theory, page layout, basic grids, and style sheets. Projects include a typography analysis/history poster, a visually enhanced quotation piece and/or an early letterform assignment, and a web newsletter or a brochure utilizing grids and style sheets. Prerequisites: CGD101 and CGD104, or permission of instructor. Spring.
CGD240 CREATIVE WEB DESIGN (DREAMWEAVER)
3 credits
Create engaging web pages and websites that include text, images, links, forms and tables. The focus will be on hand coding sites that are standards compliant and accessible with web page content (XHTML) separated from the page presentation (CSS). Students will apply the principles of design to several website projects and an HTML email campaign. Course work will include single and multiple web page projects with students applying the principles of web design and accessibility to each project. Learn to design structurally (the building blocks of pages) as well as aesthetically (visual look of pages) using text, images, and links. This course utilizes the concepts and skills from the CGD109 course and continues building upon a solid working knowledge of the fundamentals of building web pages using HTML, XHTML, and CSS. Creating CSS rules, selectors, classes, id’s, divs, font-families, embedded and external style sheets, site wide font sizing strategies, background images, styling forms and tables, box model, padding, borders, margins, web color techniques, document hierarchy trees, inheritance, and validation are part of the course. After mastering the fundamentals of hand coding with CSS, Adobe Dreamweaver's features will be introduced: code view, design view, FTP component and website management. For their final project, students will plan, design, build, and publish a multi-page website utilizing Dreamweaver's FTP upload capabilities to post websites to an active website server. Prerequisites: CGD109 (Grade C or better) or permission of instructor. Recommended: CGD112 (taken concurrently with CGD240). Spring.
CGD241 INTEGRATED WEBSITE DESIGN (ADVANCED AUTHORING: DREAMWEAVER)
3 credits
This project-based course will expand upon the skills learned in CGD240 and is designed for students to develop higher-level websites utilizing advanced web authoring skills and effective graphic design concepts. The focus will be on building a variety of CSS layouts, learning new techniques and using Dreamweaver's best features throughout the building process. Web design principles will be applied to several extensive website projects. Pseudo-elements, sibling selectors, advanced contextual selectors, floating and clearing, the Aslett Clearing Method, dimensioned and undimensioned elements, inner divs, the display and overflow properties, CSS rollovers, faux columns, rounded corners, styling lists to create CSS navigation bars, adding favicons, pdf downloads, Javascript pop-ups, PHP scripts, Spry for dynamic pages, print and handheld style sheets, building image galleries, adding multimedia, image replacement and accommodations for older browsers will be covered. Discussions will include search engine optimization, connecting a website to a blog, browser usage statistics, obtaining and managing domain names and web space, hosting multiple websites, clients, and using the web host's control panel. Multi-tasking web development is emphasized through the creation of two comprehensive business oriented websites. Prerequisites: CGD109 and CGD240 (Grade C or better) or permission of instructor. Fall.
CGD242 ADVANCED WEBSITE ANIMATION (ADVANCED FLASH)
3 credits
Go beyond the boundaries of static website designs! This course examines the creative use of multimedia interactivity: where media methods collide with meaningful messages! Advanced Adobe Flash animation techniques and action scripting are used to assemble text, images, animation, sound, and video. Students build interactive presentations utilizing multiple media formats saved in Flash animated websites. Topics include digital audio, digital video, dynamic text, animated graphics, vector-based navigation, action scripting and interactive interfaces. A foundation in basic Flash
techniques is necessary for participation. The focus of this course is on creating Flash websites with built-in functionality, interactivity, and accessibility. Course work will include two website projects. Prerequisites: CGD110 or skills with vector- based animation programs, and permission of instructor. Spring.
CGD244 DESIGNING FOR E-COMMERCE (WEB DATABASE DESIGN)
3 credits
The Internet has reshaped our world and shopping online is now as common as stopping at your neighborhood corner store used to be. The ability to create an online store has become an essential element of a web designer’s skill set. This course will examine the basic components necessary for an e-commerce website including designing your store, shopping carts, merchant accounts, payment methods, SSL, shipping, sales tax, managing your store, marketing your store, promoting your products, and tracking your store statistics. Students will research and explore a wide variety of online store building options and discuss how to select the solution that best fits their client's needs. Topics include customizing pre-built store templates, selecting add-ons for increased functionality, dedicated store building software, solutions for digital downloads, an overview of PHP and JavaScript, and connecting to databases. For their course project students will plan, design and build a full store prototype for their portfolios and then implement their store using available e-commerce software. Prerequisites: CGD109, CGD240. Co-requisite or prerequisite: CGD241. Fall.