Contents

Links 
Learning Centers 
Tools 
Short Courses  
Ergonomics 
Faculty Gallery 
Noteworthy
GDRG

Links

Above: a seasonal image from www.ijm.nl/ A Netherlands Designer site, originally found at emmas.blogg.se It reminds me of how the opportunities to be creative are all around us

Designboom

1. Competitions results | love your earth - designers from 98 different countries have participated.
2. Interview | bill viola
3. Snapshots | tokyo designers week 2007
4. Michael van den besselaar paintings depict nostalgic images of vintage television sets
5. Competition | dining in 2015

Adobe.com 

Adobe has a long list of recorded seminars on topics pertaining to use of their products and general design issues. Topics include web design, trends in printing output, presentation software.

Recommended

Classroom 2.0 is the myspace for educators, or
"the social networking site for those interested in Web 2.0 and collaborative technologies in education."

I personally it much more interesting and valuable as a resource than Facebook and Myspace. Check it out - and become my friend while you are at it (: - JP

Tools

Problem Letter Templates PDF by Bob Koons (Former FT Faculty)

49 letter templates! This is a great resource and covers situations from plagiarism to flaming. Approx 1.75 MB PDF download

NEW!

Typinator I tried this out and it works really well - I can type "tx" and it inserts "thanks! And let me know of you have any questions (: JP"

I can also type "cc" and it inserts "See my comments in the threads and let me know if you have any questions (:"

The only problem is the price - it is priced in euros, and with the weak dollar it is about $30. - JP

From the apple download site:

"Typinator boosts your productivity by automating the process of inserting frequently used text and graphics and auto-correcting typos.
Drag-and-drop import from Textpander, TextExpander, and TypeIt4Me makes migration to Typinator a no-brainer.

You can use Typinator to…
- quickly type greeting phrases,
- set up a list of standard text fragments to be used in e-mail replies..."

Another from the apple download site:

Earthdesk.html "Replaces your static desktop picture with an image of the Earth showing current sun, moon, and city illumination. The software operates silently, in the background, keeping your desktop updated while you work.

With an internet connection, EarthDesk displays real-time global cloud cover, allowing users to track hurricanes and typhoons, or simply admire our beautiful planet."

It's not free at $24 - but it is very cool. The trial version has "Not Licensed - evaluation copy only" lettered over the desktop image. - JP

---------------

Security software - although the Mac has fewer issues than the PC, we still have tracking cookies, trojan horses and other evil things waiting to infiltrate and infect.

I recommend MACSCAN from securemac.com for $25
It has different modes, from cleaning internet files to looking at your entire system. It found 318 spyware cookies on my mac in the first run. Nothing since then. Checks for spyware updates every time you open it up.

There are many more utilities and things of interest at apple.com/downloads - JP

---------------

Misc

Webware web app winners

EDMC Release Form The release form (.doc) can be downloaded here if you don't already have it

Colortemperature.html An excellent easy read on general color theory - a link to more of Caponigro's writing is on the website

---------------

Newsletter Archives 07

Fall I
Summer II
Summer I
Spring II

Fonts used this issue: base 9 by Emigre, html verdana, pixel font hooge and Candy Cane

Check this out - you are familiar with using google docs to share information - shared mind maps anyone? You can move the sample map around below and zoom in and out

Noteworthy

Catherine Case has been asked by the College Art Association (CAA) to participate in the Career Development Mentoring and Artist’s Portfolio Review Workshops for 2008.

All emerging, mid-career and advanced arts professionals are counseled and evaluated, pairing them with their field of interest and expertise through one-on-one discussions with regard to management skills, artist’ portfolios and professional strategies. The mentor-mentee relationship is designed to help mentees establish a professional network and gain moral support during their job searches.

Previously, Catherine acted as a mentor for the Career Development Workshop and for the Artist’s Portfolio Review in 2005 in Atlanta, GA, 2004 in Seattle, WA and in 2003 in New York, NY. Reviews of her work will be printed in the Newsletter of the College Art Association. Mentors are selected based on their professional experience. According to Vanderbilt University, candidates for this opportunity are considered to be the “best of the best in their field.” Catherine will have the opportunity to discuss her creative work and scholarship during and prior to her tenure.

This year’s Annual College Art Association Conference will be held in Dallas-Fort Worth on February 23-30, 2008 at the Adam’s Mark Hotel and Conference Center.

Learning Centers

Fall II Session

Each tutor will be holding office hours two hours a week in the truncated version of ClassLive Pro...using the chat feature to converse but also having whiteboard capabilities to display examples etc. So that is 6 hours total per week that a student can access ClassLive Pro and converse in real time with the tutor via the chat and be provided with examples as well. Each tutor will be provided a demo on their Hot Topic for the week in ClassLive Pro. So six hours during the week we will give live demonstrations. As soon as we get the full-version with the audio features our demos will be much more proactive and all inclusive.

Our Weekly Flyer should be coming out soon that will include Weeks 1 and 2. Also included will be the introductory information on the Centers including the PPT presentation that provides a nice overview. Then for each subsequent week one will be sent out the first day of the new week to all adjuncts We will continue with the Weekly Hot Topics as designated above and are available to assist students six days a week, Monday thru Saturday from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm EST. All questions will be answered within 24 hours. All questions posted after 10:00 pm will be answered the next day and all questions posted on Sunday will be answered on Monday.

We have the new Video Demos in the Illustrator Learning Center that students can review at their leisure and provide links to video Demos in the Photoshop Learning Center under Video Demos.

- Nan Pendarvis

Short Courses

We are getting ready to run our next round of Photoshop and Illustrator Short Course Workshops for Fall Session II! The upcoming slate of short courses will begin Thursday, November 15. These 3-week workshops are for students who are new to Photoshop or Illustrator and would benefit from a crash course on the software necessary for their studies.

Students who are interested in enrolling in a short course should contact their Academic Advisor. The following FAQ provides more details about how the short courses work:

The Basics - Photoshop/Illustrator

Q. What is the purpose of the short course workshop?

A. Our Photoshop and Illustrator software short course workshops cover the basic tools and skills students need in order to begin using the software in their course work.

Q. Do students need to have Photoshop or Illustrator experience in order to participate in one of these workshops?

A. No. These workshops were specifically developed for students who have no experience with the software.

Q. Are there assignments involved?

A. Yes. Both workshops included assignments that provide opportunities for students to gain hands on experience with the software. All supporting files that are used for these assignments are included in each workshop.

Q. Will my work be graded?

A. No. Your work will be assessed and you will be provided with specific feedback and guidance to help you further develop your software skills, but a grade will not be issued. If you successfully complete a project you will receive a “1” in the grade book. A “0” will be entered for any assignment that is not submitted. In this way, your instructor can track whether or not you have successfully completed each project.

Q. Do I get credit if I complete each assignment and the workshop?

A. These short course software workshops are designed to help students gain software proficiencies. They are not required and are not for credit. If you successfully complete the workshop you will receive a Certificate of Completion, signed by your instructor.

Q. What happens if I don’t successfully complete the workshop?

A. These workshops were developed for students who need help with the Adobe software used throughout the graphic design program and in other program areas, like Residential Planning and Interior Design. They are offered to new students who have little or no experience in Photoshop or Illustrator, free of charge and are facilitated by highly skilled instructors with many years of experience with this software. If you have been enrolled in either workshop, it is to your advantage to make every effort to complete each assignment and the workshop. Because these workshops are not for credit, you will not receive a final grade, thus you will not “fail” the workshop. If you are not able to successfully complete the workshop you simply will not have gained the software proficiency needed to succeed in your program.

Q. How long does each workshop last and how much time is involved?

A. The Photoshop workshop is 3 weeks in length; Illustrator is 2.5. The amount of time you will need to dedicate to each is dependant on your computer skill level, whether or not you’ve used the software before, and how quickly you are able to learn the tools. In general you can anticipate 5 10 hours per week for the duration of the workshop. Like everything else, the more you use the software, the more proficient you will become and the more quickly you’ll adapt to new techniques introduced.

Q. Who do I contact if I have more questions?

A. Contact your advisor. He/She will provide the information or direct you to the appropriate contact.

- Jeff Davis

Nancy Wood:

The AI Graphic Design Resource group is a great place for faculty to find tutorials, examples, and other resources for your class.

Faculty : Please help develop this resource by adding 1 (one) example of student work from a course you teach, and 1 (one) resource- website, tutorial, etc, for a class you teach- by the end of the year.

Thanks to those of you who have already provided examples.

Jeff P:

The Graphic Design Resources group located in AI Connections is a work in progress, meaning we are always adding course folders and looking for support content. If you don't see a course folder you are looking for, or need some tutorials or course support in a particular area, contact the group administrator Nancy Wood, or Jeff Prentice. Each course folder should have week 1 - 6 folders, along with a general discussion thread for non-assignment specific posts. Each weekly folder should have an assignment thread for each assignment.

Tutorials and tips can be posted under these assignment threads by faculty - and that means you! All faculty and students are welcome to browse the group and use the materials.

Please note that the usual copyright limitations apply. Feedback is always appreciated.

Q: How do you access the GDRC? Where is it?

A: You need to be a member of AI Connections. When you log in to go to class, scroll down to where you see the AIConnections button. Click, enter, create a profile for yourself, click on 'groups' in the menu bar and look for Graphic Design Resources in the list.

Look for this Logo

Ergonomics

(click the thumbnail for a larger view)

I recently got interested (well, was forced into it) in Ergonomics after going through physical therapy for back problems. It's no secret that people who sit a lot and work on the computer tend to suffer from degenerative disk disease (ddd) and sciatica and carpal tunnel among other ailments and keep the economy healthy by employing those doctors, therapists, and insurance companies.

Check out the image above for the standard ergo guidelines that will help stave off the ailments. I personally had to lower my chair so my feet were on the floor (knees at 90 degrees) and of course the back has to be straight but relaxed (recommended: a lumbar support) and the elbows at 90 degrees and supported as well. The monitor should be either eye level or slightly lower. So the chair you buy needs to have all of those adjustable parts and have good materials and cushioning. I found one at Ikea for $250 and another at a back store for $800. Health isn't inexpensive. But the orthopedist and the therapist both said that you didn't need to spend $800 on a chair - just pick one that is comfortable (but have you noticed how the comfortable ones are the more expensive ones?)

Another tip from therapy was to take a break from sitting and stand and work for a while. I work on a desktop at a workstation with 2 big LCD monitors so I can spread out with lots of windows open but when I get my laptop I will create another work area where I can trade off from sitting and stand for a while.

I don't have to remind everyone to take frequent breaks, right?

As far as tables - I use a DYI version - it is two nice IKEA bookend trestles with a simple home depot door placed on top (big!) and a slideout keyboard holder - height adjustable. Cost: less than $100

-JP

free limited time ergonomics seminar fellowes.com/

contact Jeff Prentice jprentice@aii.edu (Adjuncts, don't be shy)

Teaching Tips

Marnie Michels and Jeff P

Question: How are the points affected when students are late getting work in?

Answer: Some faculty take 10-15% off of the students grade. So if the total points are 24, take 2-5 points off. (jeff P: addendum - others of us don't allow late work unless notified of an extenuating circumstance)

Question: What if a student is late on several assignments?

Answer: One way to avoid this is an idea that a faculty member had - At the beginning of the term offer a "FREEBEE" where each student is able to turn in one late assignment. (thank you to Jeff Davis for this idea)

Question: Is it necessary to ad COMMENTS in the grade book?

Answer: It is CRUCIAL that you add comments so that students know what they have excelled at and what they need to work on. Give suggestions for improvement OR if you have already given suggestions in the thread for the assignment, let them know what was achieved and what still needs work, specifically.

Question: What is grade inflation?

Answer: When instructors do not follow the rubrics and/or do not look at the students work before grading (or just grade too darn easy - jp). This gives all students a higher grade than they achieved.

Question: In studio assignments how do I show students, in their electronic files usually, what they need to rework.

Answer: IDEAS: Convert their files to a pdf and use the mark up tools, OR open the file in photoshop and mark the work up OR use other software to record your voice and film your desktop. (note: numerous examples of QUICK markups done in Photoshop can be found at jeffprentice.net/workshop07.html

Question: How do I grade critiques?

Answer: If students are not specific on their critiques, take points off. For example, if a student says simply, "I see dilation and rotation in Sallys work." This is not being specific. OF COURSE, it is necessary to attach examples of EXCELLENT critiques at the beginning of the term so that they know, beforehand what to expect. (Jeff P - I specify 150 - 200 word minimum using design terms and objective analysis)

Full time Faculty

Catherine Case	Jeff Davis	Robin Masi	Marnie Michels	Nan Pendarvis	Marie Patierno	Nancy Wood		Tammy Lockett
Merrily Hall	Lori Trujillio-Cole	Dusty Crocker	Jennifer Price	Jeff Prentice	Geerte Hunter	Nancy Zeller		Sylvia Shapiro
Toni-Lee Sangastiano	Wendy Barr	Ed Buscemi	David Lyons	Elena Martignon	Elizabeth Tilak	EllynNorris		Garry Mckee
Joe Podlesnik	Sharon Edwards Russell	Maria Creyt

Top