VCD 205 | Course Introduction and Application Information - Department of Visual Communication Design

Course Name

Computer Aided Graphic Design

Code	Semester	Theory (hour/week)	Application/Lab (hour/week)	Local Credits	ECTS
VCD 205	Fall	1	2	2	4

Prerequisites	None
Course Language	English
Course Type	Required
Course Level	First Cycle
Mode of Delivery	-
Teaching Methods and Techniques of the Course	Discussion Problem Solving Q&A Critical feedback Application: Experiment / Laboratory / Workshop Lecture / Presentation
National Occupation Classification	-
Course Coordinator	Dr.Öğretim Üyesi DANIELE SAVASTA
Course Lecturer(s)	Dr.Öğretim Üyesi DANIELE SAVASTA
Assistant(s)	-

Course Objectives	The aim of this course is to introduce students to the fundamentals of digital and computational design for visual communication, familiarizing them with a broad spectrum of tools and building a critical understanding of software as a tool and code as a design material.
Learning Outcomes	The students who succeeded in this course; Identify and choose the appropriate design tool for a given design problem. Use the chosen tool fluently to execute a design intention. Recognize the affordances and constraints of different design techniques and plan their work accordingly. Apply computational thinking — rules, iteration, generativity — as a design method, rather than treating code as a neutral or given tool. Combine multiple tools and software within a single project workflow. Evaluate and produce output across a range of media appropriate to the final design format.
Course Description	The course introduces a perspective on software as tools and code as a computational material to design with — engaging with rules, iteration, and generativity alongside traditional print production. This awareness aims at improving students' relationship with the choice of software for their design, expanding their view from passive users to actors with a deeper understanding of the digital matter, and treating print and screen as parallel outputs of a shared design process. The course explores a variety of software without restriction, from industry standard to independent and original, while keeping a strong focus on contemporary evolution in the software field for designers. Space is offered to students to both suggest topics and solve technical challenges in a collegial manner. Students will collect their exercises in a compiled booklet in the form of a fanzine.
Related Sustainable Development Goals

Course Category	Core Courses	X
	Major Area Courses
	Supportive Courses
	Media and Management Skills Courses
	Transferable Skill Courses

Week	Subjects	Related Preparation
1	Tools for Design/Making
2	Grids: Page vs. Browser	Hertz (2023), Introduction; Levin & Brain (2021), Preface
3	Color: CMYK / RGB	Exercise; Gautier & Gautier (2017), "Grid"; Lupton & Phillips (2015), "Grid"
4	Image Making: Collage Techniques	Exercise; Gautier & Gautier (2017), "Colors"; Lupton & Phillips (2015), "Color"
5	Computing without a Computer	Exercise; Gautier & Gautier (2017), "Images"; Lupton & Phillips (2015), "Layers," "Transparency," "Figure & Ground"
6	Rules as Code	Exercise; Maurer, Paulus, Puckey & Wouters (2013), Conditional Design Workbook (selected exercises)
7	Iteration and Patterns	Exercise; Levin & Brain (2021), "Generativity"; Maurer, Paulus, Puckey & Wouters (2013), Conditional Design Workbook (cont'd)
8	Midterm	Fanzine Draft; Lupton & Phillips (2015), "Pattern," "Modularity"; Levin & Brain (2021), "Generativity" (cont'd)
9	Time and Interactivity	Fanzine Draft; Gautier & Gautier (2017), "Formats," "Print Media"
10	Modular Typography on Paper	Exercise; Levin & Brain (2021), "Interactivity"; Lupton & Phillips (2015), "Time & Motion"
11	Modular Typography on Screen	Exercise; Lupton (2010), Thinking with Type, selected chapters; Gautier & Gautier (2017), "Typography"
12	Interactive Typography	Exercise; Lupton (2010), Thinking with Type (screen typography); Levin & Brain (2021), "Transcoding & Transmediality"
13	Development Review	Exercise; Levin & Brain (2021), "Interactivity" (cont'd); Klanten, Ehmann & Hanschke (2011), "Touch" and "Engage" sections
14	Fanzine: HTML to PDF	Levin & Brain (2021), "Transcoding & Transmediality" (cont'd); paged.js documentation (pagedjs.org)
15	Semester Review
16	Evaluation

Course Notes/Textbooks

Gautier, D., & Gautier, C. (2017). Design, typography, etc.: A handbook. Niggli.
Levin, G., & Brain, T. (2021). Code as creative medium: A handbook for computational art and design. MIT Press.
Hertz, G. (2023). Art + DIY electronics. MIT Press. (open access: direct.mit.edu)
Lupton, E., & Phillips, J. C. (2015). Graphic design: The new basics (2nd ed., rev. and expanded). Princeton Architectural Press.

Suggested Readings/Materials

Lupton, E. (2010). Thinking with type: A critical guide for designers, writers, editors, & students (2nd rev. ed.). Princeton Architectural Press.
Klanten, R., Ehmann, S., & Hanschke, V. (Eds.). (2011). A touch of code: Interactive installations and experiences. Gestalten.
Maurer, L., Paulus, E., Puckey, J., & Wouters, R. (2013). Conditional design workbook. Valiz. (digital edition available via shop.studiomoniker.com)
Further resources will be provided during the course hours.

Semester Activities	Number	Weigthing
Participation	1	15
Laboratory / Application
Field Work
Quizzes / Studio Critiques
Portfolio
Homework / Assignments	1	65
Presentation / Jury
Project	1	20
Seminar / Workshop
Oral Exams
Midterm
Final Exam
Total

Weighting of Semester Activities on the Final Grade	3	100
Weighting of End-of-Semester Activities on the Final Grade	-
Total

Semester Activities	Number	Duration (Hours)	Workload
Theoretical Course Hours (Including exam week: 16 x total hours)	16	1	16
Laboratory / Application Hours	16	2	32
Study Hours Out of Class			0
Field Work			0
Quizzes / Studio Critiques			0
Portfolio			0
Homework / Assignments	12	3	36
Presentation / Jury			0
Project	1	24	24
Seminar / Workshop			0
Oral Exam			0
Midterms			0
Final Exam			0
		Total	108

#	Program Competencies/Outcomes	* Contribution Level
#	Program Competencies/Outcomes	1	2	3	4	5
1	To be able to apply the fundamental principles of design in creating visual narratives and messages, using physical and digital media,	X	-	-	-	-
2	To attain complex problem-solving skills, using various design methods,	X	-	-	-	-
3	To have a clear understanding of creative/art direction,	X	-	-	-	-
4	To be able to use the advanced theoretical and applied knowledge attained in the areas of Visual Communication Design,	-	-	-	-	-
5	To act with social and ethical awareness and to take responsibility, both individually and collectively, for developing aesthetic and effective design solutions,	-	-	-	-	-
6	To be able to investigate, interpret and evaluate the developments on Visual Communication Design in the world and in Turkey,	-	-	-	-	-
7	To have an advanced level of knowledge and experience in producing/editing still and moving images,	-	-	X	-	-
8	To attain proficiency in using related software, media, and communication technologies,	-	-	-	X	-
9	To gain reflexive and critical thinking abilities,	-	-	-	-	-
10	To undertake self-directed and continuous education in the discipline, to develop a lifelong learning attitude,	-	-	-	-	-
11	To be able to collect data in the areas of Visual Communication Design and communicate with colleagues in a foreign language ("European Language Portfolio Global Scale", Level B1),	-	-	-	-	-
12	To be able to speak a second foreign at a medium level of fluency efficiently,	-	-	-	-	-
13	To be able to relate the knowledge accumulated throughout human history to their field of expertise.	-	-	-	-	-