“Education is not something you’re given.
It’s something that you take. You steal it.”
—Andy Rutledge*

 

Visual Communication 6: Portfolio

Instructor: Chad Eby
email: chaeby@iupui.edu
office: 156 HR (Eskenazi Hall)
office hours: make your own at eby.youcanbook.me

The most effective way to reach me is by email during the week (expect a 12-24 hour response time).

Instructor: Aaron Ganci
email: aganci@iupui.edu
office: 154 HR (Eskenazi Hall)
office hours: I'm here every day. Email me to set something up.

schedule | inspiration | the end

Description

This course facilitates your transition as a senior VCD student from an undergraduate education experience to working professionally in a design field or going on to graduate studies.

This process will involve learning about (and reflecting on) professional practice, researching potential employers and designing and producing portfolios and related self-promotional materials. You will develop an individual plan for a viable academic-to-career (or undergrad-to-grad) path and design a student-led venue for dissemination—the senior capstone show.

During this course you will produce evidence of your success as an analytical and creative problem solver. You will also produce a portfolio and collateral material that demonstrates your intellectual and technical creativity while further refining your understanding of contemporary design. Typical activities will include:

• lectures, visits and media on career research methods and professional practice
• analysis and assessment of project work in the form of regularly scheduled individual and group critiques
• team meetings to support the design and production of the senior portfolio show

Successful teamwork, particularly toward the end of the semester, will be essential.

Course meeting time and location

Mondays & Wednesday mornings, 8:30am-11:00am in the senior studio. Yes, it's early. No, I don't like it either.

We will typically devote Mondays to discussions, work days and in-class presentations and Wednesdays to guest presentations.

Goals and objectives

The primary goal of this course is to prepare you, in your final term at Herron, for the transition from the undergraduate academic experience to the professional practice of design—or the pursuit of further education. In working towards this goal, each successful student in the course will apply three strategies:

ONE: GATHER / ANALYZE / EVALUATE / REFLECT

Gather, analyze and evaluate a body of knowledge around professional design expectations and practices, and reflect on how that knowledge articulates with your personal values, ambitions and interests. 

Objectives for strategy one:

Keep a professional practice journal with notes from readings, lectures, visits, research, etc.   

TWO: DEVELOP A STRATEGY

Develop a viable personal career (or education continuation) strategy which will include conducting and presenting research on work opportunities in various regions and countries, different kinds of work and career options available to visual communication graduates as well as contacting specific firms or programs for informational interviews.

Objectives for strategy two:

Contact at least 3 firms / graduate programs to schedule informational interviews and/or recruit firms for local or remote presentations

THREE: DESIGN/PRODUCE/SHOW

Design, produce and exhibit a set of self-promotional materials synthesizing previous and new work that documents the depth and breadth of your skill, knowledge and critical thinking ability.  

Objectives for strategy three:

Design and produce a personal identity system, including letterhead, business card, invoice, etc.
Create a portfolio across media, including a version for print, for self-contained digital distribution and for the web
Create a promotional mailer / leave behind
Produce an effective Resumé
Develop and execute an exhibition strategy for the senior show (including installing, hosting and de-installing)

Course learning outcomes

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate to an external audience the level and scope of their abilities to
  • analyze communication problems
  • develop coherent problem statements that account for the cognitive, sociocultural, technological and physical characteristics of audiences and contexts
  • show cognizance of the degree to which visual communication both shapes and reflects culture
• Critically evaluate visual communication solutions, employing people and knowledge beyond design disciplines when necessary
• Apply design skills to solve problems through artifacts, objects and processes rooted in an understanding of human experience
• Apply knowledge of basic business practices, including the ability to organize design projects and to work productively in teams
• Communicate effectively in visual, written and oral presentations and demonstrate the ability to analyze and evaluate the presentations of others
• Make informed decisions regarding appropriate technology for the development and implementation of visual communication solutions (Seniors in the major should express confidence in their choices of tools and processes as they relate to printed and electronic forms of communication and demonstrate choice appropriateness in visual examples in professional work)

Course grade structure

Portfolio and collateral development assignments – 50%
In order to develop your final portfolio, you will be required to complete several developmental assignments. These will include typical identity / self-promotional collateral and a portfolio for online, electronic and printed distribution. 

Participation & professionalism – 15%
In addition to your portfolio assignments, a portion of your coursework will include online readings, journaling, participating in class discussions, providing feedback in critiques and other activities. These engagements will require active participation as well as an appropriate level of professionalism when working with your classmates and your instructor. And love; lots of love (It’s not just what makes a Subaru a Subaru). You will be assessed, on a day-to-day basis, in terms of participation in class activities and ability to support a professional classroom atmosphere.

Senior show – 35%
As part of this course, it is you and your cohort's responsibility to design and produce a 2-day senior portfolio show/exhibition. Your active engagement and participation in developing and producing (and removing!) the senior show is required, and is assessed as a portion of your course grade.

STANDARD GRADE PERCENTAGE RANGE
100–98	A+
97–93	A
92–90	A-
9–88	B+
87–83	B
82–80	B-
79–78	C+
77–73	C
72–70	C-
69–68	D+
67–63	D
62–60	D-
59–0	F
OVERALL COURSE GRADE
50%	Portfolio Assignments
15%	Participation & Professionalism
35%	Senior Show

 

Policies and resources

ATTENDANCE POLICY

Attendance is mandatory, full stop. If you miss class, we will have a conversation about it. If weather or illness will prevent me from meeting class, I will post an announcement on Canvas as soon as possible.

GRADING POLICY

Grading for this course is based on completion of assignments, attendance, participation and performance in class. Completing the minimum requirements of an assignment qualifies as ‘C’ level (or average) work. The degree and quality of effort with which you engage with the different criteria—above or below the minimum requirements—for each assignment determines how well you will do.

Work must be displayed on a final critique day, even if it is unfinished. In the event that work is not displayed at a final critique, it will be considered late and the applicable penalties will be assessed. If work is turned in 1 session late, the highest grade you will be able to earn is a C+. Work will continue to lose a letter grade step (for example, C+ to C) each class session it is late.

University Policies

This course follows all IUPUI university-wide policies. See the link "Syllabus Supplement" to the left, or download the latest PDF for the most current information.

This syllabus is not a legal contract. It is intended to give the student guidance in what may be covered during the semester and will be followed as closely as possible. However, the professor reserves the right to modify, supplement and make changes to the course and this document as needs arise.

 

* Mr. Rutledge may hold some questionable views, but he's right on the money with this one...

Tentative Schedule 

How much time is left in the course?