︎
Mark

Design II:
Intro to Graphic Design



EXERCISE: FORM STUDY


This course begins with an exercise in form. Inspired by Martin Venezky’s form studio at California College of the Arts, random everyday objects such as combs, pencils or rubberbands are distributed in paper bags for students to take home and explore its formal properties through photography, drawing, or mark making. Instruction is given to approach the object as if you have never encountered it before and even break, melt, or deconstruct it however you see fit. This exploration forces students to experiment with techniques they may otherwise not of thought of using in design and discover formal properties through the act of a process.  



ZINE PROJECT

Lydia Somani Anya Ritter Lorenzo Rivera


On the first day of class students were given a random object and asked to explore its formal properties. In this project, students were asked to revisit that object in the format of the zine. Using the mediums of photography, mark making, or vector illustration students construct a visual sequence that tells a particular narrative derived from the given object. This could be as simple as demonstrating the objects function (how does it work, why do we use it?) to a narrative loosely linked to the object in someway (who is using it, how is it being used?). That said, we are also interested in capturing a deeper narrative. Are there cultural, historical, geographic, or personal connections that could be layered into the more literal story?


SOCIAL ACTION
POSTER

Ann Ho Megan Miller Tara O'connor Lorenzo Rivera

Our final project of the semester has a long and illustrious history within our field—the poster. Students were tasked with creating a poster that addresses a social, political, or cultural issue that they consider important. The choice of how to communicate the issue was entirely up to the student. In Spring 2020, the COVID-19 crisis hit right as the project began. Many of the students chose to tackle this timely topic.


Design III:
Introdution to Typography




FONT MANNERISMS


Helvetica by Lydia Somani Helvetica, Manipulate the Word to Emphasis Connotation. by Lydia Somani Helvetica, Apply the Word in Context. by Lydia Somani Helvetica with Hierarchy. Lydia Somani Avenir, Create an Image of the Word that Enhances its Meaning. Lydia Somani Avenir by Ann Ho Avenir, Manipulate teh Word to Emphasis Connotation. Ann Ho Avenir, Create an Image of the Word that Enhances its Meaning. Ann Ho Adobe Caslon, The Family Mannerisms, by Carmen Cordero Adobe Caslon, The Family Mannerisms, by Carmen Cordero Adobe Caslon, The Family Mannerisms, by Carmen Cordero

The Font Mannerism Portfolio is a project that I treat more as a series of exercises, to replace some of our more formal exercises that taught specific typography skills in isolation. The Mannerism Portfolio allows students to learn typographic principles and skills while conducting an in-depth study of one particular typeface through examination of its classification and history, character sets, styles, formal attributes, letterform anatomy features, and its contextual usage. I pair this with readings and discussions about connotative and denotative meaning as well as the study of historical type classifications, and type anatomy. I’ve noticed the project allows for deeper discussions and learning opportunities that did not always exist in the purely formal exercises used when I took over the course.


TROPE 

Baily Bourgeois, Museo Craft Beer Labels Ann Ho, Avenir & Times New Roman as Campaign Mailers Brandon Bittner, Clarendon as Beef Jerky Logan Perrin, Mrs. Eaves as Tea Packaging Logan Perrin, Mrs. Eaves as Tea Packaging Hannah Bloom, Univers as Eye Shadow Palette Hannah Bloom, Univers as Eye Shadow Palette Baily Bourgeois, Museo Craft Beer Labels Hannah Bloom, Univers as Eye Shadow Palette


This project, titled “Not a Type Specimen” asks students to identify a “typographic trope”, and then recreate the trope as a type specimen. This challenges students to think critically about how typography in our environments embody messages that send cultural signals through packaging, media, and just about anything that we consume in our society that includes language. The project forces students to understand the different types of roles that typography serves in these contexts, from branding and messaging about the product to informative information such as nutrition facts and barcode numbers.



ALBUM & LYRIC
ANIMATION 

Derek Schimmenti Gabi Stahley Gabi Stahley Gabi Stahley Paige Graff Zachary Faust Zachary Faust Tessa Peña Tessa Peña Charlotte Rymar


In this ever popular project, students are asked to redesign an LP package. After selecting an album, students are asked to listen carefully to the album and create a mind map based off themes that they find in the music. They then conduct typographic studies around these themes, then put it all together in the package. A recent addition to this project addresses hierarchy in motion, with a lyric animation. Students learn how to create basic animations using illustrator and photoshop. 


SYMPOSIUM POSTER
& WEBSITE

Gabi Stahley Tessa Peña Carmen Cordero

In this poster project, students work together in groups to concept a Symposium on a subject that they know little about. They are then required to pull content together using real leading experts in the field and their infomation. With all the content generated by the group, each student takes on their own design for a poster and website with this information. This introduces them to the typogrpahic problems that arise when dealing with informational text in both print and web formats.

Design VII:
Systems Design









DESIGNING FOR
HEAT EMERGENCIES
IN PHILADELPHIA

Coolture Fest, Event Graphics, Zack Faust, Anna Mucci, Joelle Rush Coolture Fest, Community Created Mural, Zack Faust, Anna Mucci, Joelle Rush Coolture Fest, Heat Emergency Guidebook, Zack Faust, Anna Mucci, Joelle Rush Coolture Fest, App, Zack Faust, Anna Mucci, Joelle Rush Coolture Fest, How Might We Statement, Zack Faust, Anna Mucci, Joelle Rush Coolture Fest, Heat Emergency Guidebook, Zack Faust, Anna Mucci, Joelle Rush Coolture Fest, Event Give Aways, Zack Faust Anna Mucci Joelle Rush Coolture Fest, Mural Template, Zack Faust, Anna Mucci, Joelle Rush Coolture Fest, Heat Emergency Guidebook, Zack Faust, Anna Mucci, Joelle Rush

In a collaboration with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health students were tasked with creating a design system that would help Philadelphians’ better prepare for rising temperatures. This semester long project consisted of an extensive research phase that required students to conduct their own human centered research before and during the design process.



CONTROVERSY
Miette Rivera, Belonging to But Not a Part Of, VR Experience Miette Rivera, Belonging to But Not a Part Of, VR Experience Dylan McQuiston, White Privilege Board Game Dylan McQuiston, White Privilege Board Game Dylan McQuiston, White Privilege Board Game Zach Nolter, a publication based on the great cheese steak debate in Philadelphia Zach Nolter, a publication based on the great cheese steak debate in Philadelphia Zach Nolter, a publication based on the great cheese steak debate in Philadelphia
Students design or develop a designed artifact for a controversial topic that provides equal narrative of both sides of a social, political, environmental, cultural or human rights issue. The topic and information direct the form of the project.

Issues in Information Design


COVID-19 REPORT


We have all become accustomed to looking at charts that graph the toll COVID-19 has on the human population and the healthcare system. But what about everything else that this pandemic has affected? Students of the Undergrad Visual Communication Design elective Issues in Information Design and the Master’s elective Communicating Health Data came together to use data and design to ponder this question. Thorugh study of the pandemics’ peripheral effects, they uncovered how these effects shape and influence our culture, society, economic, and social behaviors.





BIODIAGRAM




This project introduces students to the basics of creating a diagram. We start by learning the five basic principles of organization for information—Location, Alphabet, Time, Catagory, and Hierarchy. Students then use these organization methods to construct a diagram that tells a story about themselves.


CARTOGRAPHY


Stephen Andreo, Rising Waters


For this project, students chose a uncharted territory to map. It can be a conversation, a natural phemnomena, a social network, or painting. The format is up to them, they are encouraged to explore physical, digital, and motion based solutions.  


COMMUNITY HEALTH
REPORT



In a collaboration with the Jefferson Center for Urban Health,  students each took on a topic covered in the report and represented the data provided in a visual explanation. Solutions ranged in approach from visual breakdowns of languages spoke by the community to maps displaying economic density in Philadelphia’s neighborhoods. A dissection of the sodium levels the Philadelphians’ favorite cheesesteak helped make the content relatable to the community. Students collaborated to come up with a look and feel for publication in a broadsheet format. 

 

Experiential Graphic Design










ABINGTON HOSPITAL PEDIATRIC UNIT 

Rendering of chosen patient room design by Daniel Modestine Rendering of chosen playroom design by Keith Ellis Elevation of chosen patient room design by Dawson Skipper Concept for AR application for growing plant in patient room by Skylar Penrose

This collaborative project developed around an opportunity funded by the Joy in Childhood Foundation to improve a pediatric unit at Abington Hospital. The need was to make their space more appealing to teen patients through the design of three environments, including two patient rooms and one waiting room.   Working in teams, each group developed concepts, conducted research on teen patients and environments of care, and prepared preliminary documentation for an experiential design within that space. Teams created ideas around nature as a healing environment, creating a comfortable, home-like space to relieve anxiety, and engaging patients in narrative and play to address patient boredom. Surfaces incorporating graphics included walls, windows, shades, and floors. Many solutions merged digital and physical experiences such as customizable projections on ceilings that display different views of the sky, gardens cared for using AR phone technology, and dry erase walls with illustrations for coloring and word puzzles.


3D LETTERFORM




SIGNS

Determine a place / thing / situation where you feel a sign could help. Design a (temporary) sign, or signs. The sign must be designed for use somewhere in the public realm. Consider your target audience, who will use/see your sign(s). Fabricate or render your sign and document it in use.