The course aims at providing basic knowledge in graphic design and visual communication. The main objective is to provide tools for understanding the relationships between history, theory, practice and criticism in relation to graphic and typographic languages. The workshop-based nature of the course offers a practical approach to themes and issues of graphic design and communication at the same time with reference to languages, tools, processes and material and immaterial conditions of production.

The course, developed over six weeks, for two sessions lasting three consecutive hours per week, alternates frontal lectures with exercises and moments of collective and individual review. The course proposes work on three main thematic focuses: sign, color and image. Each thematic core is addressed starting from a particular case study and includes an exercise. The program is complemented by a series of in-depth lessons on typography, printing and contemporary publishing processes.

Knowledge and understanding:

knowledge of the main historical-critical references in the field of graphic design and visual communication;
knowledge of the basic principles of graphic design and visual communication;
knowledge of the languages and contexts of application of the graphic design and visual communication;

Applied knowledge and understanding:

ability to recognize and contextualize the languages of the project in relation to the main historical-critical references;
ability to understand the context of application of graphic-visual languages;
ability to apply graphic-visual languages in relation to the context;

Autonomy of judgment:
At the end of the course the student will have developed the ability to observe, describe, evaluate and critically apply graphic-visual languages in relation to the contents, context and target audiences.

Communication skills:
The student will be able to use specific terms relating to the areas of graphic design and communication, both as regards the description of historical facts and critical issues, and as regards contemporary technical and design issues. He will be able to describe objects, contexts and issues in the field of interest, communicate needs and formulate specific requests.

Ability to learn:
The student will be able to acquire information independently with respect to the disciplinary area of interest, to update and integrate their knowledge on the basis of the specific needs of each project. He will also be able to learn new communication processes and possibilities within the graphic-visual project.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Teaching

Frontal lectures and excercises.

Attendance

Attendance is obligatory for a minimum of 3/4s of the lessons. It is not possible to take the exam as a non-attending student, with the only exception of those students who are studying part-time

Course books

Some chapters selctedn from the following books (as will be mentioned in class):

– Falcinelli R. (a cura di) Filosofia del graphic design. Torino: Edinaudi, 2022. 
– Polano S., Vetta P. Abecedario. La grafica del Novecento. Milano: Electa, 2022.
– Kinross, R. Tipografia moderna. Saggio di storia critica. Viterbo: Stampa Alternativa & Graffiti, 2005.

Assessment

The final evaluation will take place by means of an oral exam that will focus on the presentation and critical discussion of the three projects produced during the course, on the assessment of knowledge relating to the contents of the lessons, as well as the subject of the text books. The evaluation criteria are the following: the quality of the projects presented, the ability to analyze facts and projectual elements, the level of mastery of knowledge, the degree of articulation of the answers, the use of appropriate specific terminology. The final evaluation is expressed out of thirty.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Teaching

For non-attending students there are no laboratory activities.

Attendance

Attendance is obligatory for a minimum of 3/4s of the lessons. It is not possible to take the exam as a non-attending student, with the only exception of those students who are studying part-time.

Course books

– Falcinelli R. (a cura di) Filosofia del graphic design. Torino: Edinaudi, 2022. 
– Polano S., Vetta P. Abecedario. La grafica del Novecento. Milano: Electa, 2022.
– Kinross, R. Tipografia moderna. Saggio di storia critica. Viterbo: Stampa Alternativa & Graffiti, 2005.
Also vailable in English: Kinross R. (2019), Modern Typography: An Essay in Critical History. London: Hypen Press.

Assessment

The final evaluation will take place by means of an oral exam which will focus on the assessment of knowledge relating to the contents of the text books, as well as on additional digital supplementary materials that may be provided (via Moodle). The evaluation criteria are the followings: the quality of the projects presented, the ability to analyze facts and design elements, the level of mastery of knowledge, the degree of articulation of the answers, the use of appropriate specific terminology. The final evaluation is expressed out of thirty.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Attendance is obligatory for a minimum of 3/4s of the lessons. It is not possible to take the exam as a non-attending student, with the only exception of those students who are studying part-time.