Description
This is a hands-on, project-based introduction to editorial and publication design. Both form and content, with emphasis on use of the grid as an organizing creative principle will be utilized. Typography and image will be discussed as students design, print, and bind their own books. Students may select a topic of personal interest and explore various materials and methodologies.
Learning Outcomes
- Interpret a text and translate your interpretation into design
- Develop typesetting and visual forms to create a distinct identity for a book
- Understand how to develop systems and structures for editorial design
- Learn how to analyze the grid structures of well-designed books
Courseware
Please check our class website and Slack channel regularly. The class website will be used for sign-ups and uploading course materials, while Slack will be used for group communication. We will use Are.na for sharing insightful resources.
Project Submission
All projects should be uploaded to the class Google Drive by the date specified in the class schedule. Files uploaded after this date will be rejected for your semester grade.
Grading
You will receive one-semester grade (A—F) according to the following metric:
- Course assignments & Projects :
clarity of topics and contents, final deliverables, visual ability
- Depth & Breadth :
in-depth research, exploration, curiosity, and experimentation
- Class Participation & Contribution :
actively participate and contribute in class
Disability Statement
Students who have self-identified, provided documentation of their disability, and requested reasonable accommodations may be entitled to receive approved modifications in the classroom, appropriate academic adjustments, or auxiliary aids that enable them to participate in and benefit from all educational programs and activities. Please see http://www.bu.edu/disability for more details.
Attendance & Absences
Please make every effort to arrive punctually. You must attend all the classes. According to the SVA Attendance Policy, unless specific permission for absence is arranged with the instructor of this course, students must attend class to receive credit for the course. Unexcused absences exceeding 1/4 of the total class hours in a given semester are considered excessive in all SVA courses. Tardiness and any unexcused absences will reduce your course grade. Three unexcused absences will reduce your semester grade by one step (e.g. A- to B+). Seven unexcused absences will earn you a failing grade for the course.
Wellness and Health
Your health and well-being are important for your journey as a professional graphic designer. It is important to work hard and balance that with rest, self-care, and attention to your mental and physical health. I will challenge you in this class through assignments, activities, and discussions. However, the work in this class should not be at the expense of your well-being. If for any reason you are struggling to find balance in your work life and health/wellbeing, please reach out. I am happy to discuss ways in which this class can support you in your learning and growth. You can find more resources provided by BU CFA Mental Health & Wellness Resources.
🄋 Gird Archive
One of the best ways to learn layout design is to develop the ability to quickly analyze how good design is constructed. We will analyze strong examples of layout design and build a shared Grid Archive together. Throughout the semester, everyone in the class can use this archive as a reference for their own projects. For this assignment, you will sign up for one presentation date during the semester. On your assigned date, you will share your analysis with the class and upload your files to the class Grid Archive on Google Drive.
➊ Experimental Inventory
In the first project, you will select one list from the options provided below and create a publication based on it. The key to this project is how you interpret the list and how you translate that interpretation into design. The form of your publication is completely open. Depending on your interpretation, your publication can be highly experimental, classical, or take any other approach that you find appropriate for the content.
➋ Narrative Composition
This project explores how typography and imagery can shape the overall mood and tone of a book. A series of workshops will guide you through carefully typesetting long-form text and developing your own visual themes that respond to the text you choose. For your source text, you may select any work from the Plays/Films/Dramas category on Project Gutenberg.
❸ Editorial Architecture
For your final project, you will develop the overall system and structure of a publication. Your publication should include at least four different types of page layouts. The choice of text is open, but you should select a text that has enough length and complexity to allow you to explore a variety of page layouts and typographic structures. Texts such as encyclopedia entries, instructions, or exhibition catalog texts are good examples, as they often contain different levels of information.