ACADEMIC COORDINATION

Date: January 22, 2010

Course Title: THEORY OF FORM

Course Number: GRA 312

Prerequisite (s): None

Co requisite (s): None

Credits: 3 Credits: (2 lecture credits and 1 lab credit)

30 instructional contact hours in class and 30 hours in lab per semester.

This is a four hour class per week. The first half of the class (2Hours) will consist of reviewing
exercises and lecture and remaining class period will be on individual workshop/studio for
students to creatively work on projects with guidance of instructors.

Place and Time of Class Meeting: José María Vargas University Campus

Name and Contact Information of Instructor: Abner J. Colmenares Guevara

Required Text:

Poppy, Evans and Thomas Mark A. (2008)

Exploring the Elements of Design
Delmar Thomson Learning
ISBN-13: 978-1418038555

Classroom expectations for students:

Students will develop his/her knowledge of illustration as means of communication in graphic

design. Students will be able to explore illustration with a strong emphasis on concepts and ideas
for a successful pictorial communications. Practical work will be done in class in relationship to
the visualization process, the drawing process, and the basic illustrative techniques of executing
finished art.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to attend all scheduled University classes for the courses that they are
registered for and to achieve the goals set forth by each class instructor. Attendance roll is taken
daily. Enrolled students are permitted no more than 2 “free” absences in one semester. Students
missing 3-5 classes over the course of the semester will receive a one-letter grade deduction from
their final course grade; missing more than 6 classes will result in failure of the course regardless
of grade average. It is the student's responsibility to arrange to make up work missed because of
an absence.

Student Tardiness Policy:

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A student is considered tardy/late if he/she comes to class 15 minutes late. Three tardies and the
student accumulate one full absence. If the student misses half of the class period, it is a full
absence. More than 6 tardies and the instructor will contact the JMVU Coordinator of Student
Development and Advisement and request an intervention session with the student to develop
and implement an intervention program to help students learn new ways to save and manage
time.
Other course requirements:

NOTE: Plagiarism is defined as the use, without proper acknowledgment, of the ideas, phrases,
sentences, or larger units of discourse from another writer or speaker. Plagiarism includes the
unauthorized copying of software and the violation of copyright laws. Students who committed
plagiarism will obtain Failure Grade on their exam or assignment.

Course Description (must correspond exactly to Catalog description)

This course provides the students majoring in Graphic Design with a solid theoretical foundation
in the artistic and aesthetic expression of visual forms, as well as the cultural and philosophical
currents that have influenced the development of graphic language.

Learning Objectives
At the end of this course the student should be able:
• Describe artistic expression with appropriate language and the theoretical foundation,
from the fundamental elements of perception theory and Gestalt theory to an
understanding of the aesthetic event.
• Analyze visually works of art, demonstrating understanding of the psychology of form
and its aesthetic variables.

Topical Outline and Schedule

DATE SPECIFIC TOPIC (S) LEARNING HOMEWORK &

OBJECTIVE ACTIVITIES ASSIGNED
READINGS
Week 1 To discuss the Syllabus Lecture about Complete the Library
course objectives topics in orientation Course. The
and requirements The idea of form discussion. instructor will verify its
in philosophy, art competition.
To discuss the and graphic Participate in
idea of form in design. workshop on Homework: Assigned
philosophy. subject reading for next class.
Library
Orientation
Course.

Week 2 To define the The concept of Lecture about Conduct library and
concept of perception. topics in internet research.
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perception discussion.
Mono-modal, Develop final project
multimodal Participate in proposal of research
To discuss perception workshop on topic and tentative
research and images. subject bibliography.
planning of the
final project. Discussion of Assignment: Practical
final class project, work on concept of
presentation, and perception.
list of topics.

Week 3 To identify the Steps in the Lecture about Homework: Assigned

three steps in the process of topics in reading for next class.
process of perception: discussion.
perception selection,
organization and Participate in
interpretation. workshop on
subject

Discussion of
final class project
Proposal and
tentative
bibliography
Week 4 To describe the The general Lecture about Continue conducting
principals of principals of topics in research and working in
perception. perception: discussion. final project
integrity, .
structure, Participate in
selectivity, workshop on
constancy and subject
signification.

Week 5 To demonstrate Final project Computer Continue conducting

mastery of research laboratory session research and working in
material development and to continue research final project
presented during process and completion of
class by the final Project Due final project
completion of proposal of research
Exam I. topic and tentative
bibliography
To investigate
aspects about the Homework: Assigned
research topic to reading for next class.
continue
completing the
final project.
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Week 6 To discuss and Formal method Lecture about Continue conducting

identify different structures for topics in research and working in
methods used in design. discussion. final project
design.
John Christopher Participate in Assignment: Practical
Jones: Design workshop on work on formal method
Methods / 1976 subject structures for design.

Week 7 To discuss and Bruce Archer: Lecture about Continue conducting

identify different Systemic Method topics in research and working in
methods used in for Designers / discussion. final project.
design. 1963
Participate in Homework: Assigned
John Christopher workshop on reading for next class
Jones: Design subject
Method / 1976

Guillermo
González Ruiz:
The focus plan /
1994

Jorge Frascara:
Communication
Design /2004
Christopher
Alexander: From
Synthesis of art
(1964), Pattern
Language (1997)
and The Nature of
Order (2000)

Week 8 To describe the Design methods Lecture about Continue conducting

formal method and processes? topics in research and working in
structure for discussion. final project.
design. Design elements.
Participate in Homework: Assigned
Design principles workshop on reading for next class
subject

Week 9 To describe the Graphic design Lecture about Continue conducting

formal method methods and topics in research and working in
structure for processes? discussion. final project.
design.
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Graphic design Participate in Assignment: Practical

elements workshop on work on graphic design
subject principles
Graphic design
principles .

Week 10 To distinguish the Action camp of Lecture about Editing and revision of
limits of design the design. topics in final project.
and fine art discussion.
Limits of design
and fine art. Participate in
workshop on
Fundamentals of subject
design, fine arts
and graphic
design.

Week 11 To distinguish the Extension area of Lecture about Due: First draft final
limits of design graphic design topics in project.
and fine art discussion.
Graphic design Homework: Assigned
To demonstrate and graphic art. Participate in reading for next class.
mastery of workshop on
material Midterm subject
presented during evaluation of first
class by draft final project.
completion of
Exam II.

Week 12 To identify the Image theory in Lecture about Editing and revision of
graphic design graphic design. topics in final project.
main design discussion.
theories Color theory in
graphic design. Participate in
workshop on
Typography subject
theory in graphic
design.

Meaning and
content theory in
graphic design.

Week 13 To identify the Tendencies and Lecture about Editing and revision of
graphic design of technological topics in final project.
the XX century changes. discussion.
Homework: Assigned
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Camp of action of Participate in reading for next class

the graphic design workshop on
subject
Spread
classification of
the graphic design

Week 14 To identify the Tendencies and Lecture about Editing and revision of
graphic design of technological topics in final project.
the XX century changes discussion.
(continuation of
To demonstrate topic). Participate in
mastery of workshop on
material Contemporary subject
presented during graphic design in
class by the global village
completion of
Exam III.

Week 15 To demonstrate Final project

mastery of the
material Final presentation
presented during
class by the
completion of the
final project, and
final presentation

Instructional Methods

The first two hours of this class will be conducted as a lecture class. The remaining class will be
a design workshop. Students must come prepared with all materials ready to begin work during
the second half of class hour and clean after themselves, Students are ask to participate in class
critique and become familiar with the fundamental theories of design, graphic design and art and
their elements that will be offered. Students are urged to explore the materials given to broaden
their theoretical understanding of design methods and techniques.

Instructional Materials and References

Dabner, David (2005). Graphic design school: a foundation course in the principles and practices
of graphic design. 3rd ed. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
:NC 845 .D33 2005
ISBN-13: 978-0471686835

Landa, Robin (2005). Graphic Design Solutions. New York: Delmar Cengage Learning.
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ISBN-13: 9780766813601

Lupton, Ellen, et.al. (2008). Graphic design. The new basics. New York
ISBN-13: 9781568987026

Samara, Timothy (2007). Design elements: A graphic style manual. Gloucester, Mass.: Rockport
Publishers.
ISBN-13: 9781592532612

Schon, Donald A (1983). The Reflective Practitioner: How Professionals Think in Action. Basic
Books.
ISBN 0465068782.

White, Alex (2002). The elements of graphic design: space, unity, page architecture, and type.
New York: Allworth Press.
ISBN-13: Z246.W56

Reference: Dubberly, Hugh (2004). How do you design? A compendium of Models. Dubberly
Design Office. San Francisco:
http://www.dubberly.com/articles/how-do-you-design.html

Reference: Design Council (2007). Eleven lessons: managing design in eleven global brands.
London
http://www.designcouncil.org.uk/About-Design/managingdesign/Eleven-lessons/

Assessment Criteria and Methods of Evaluating Students

90 – 100% A
90 – 96%  A-
87 – 89%  B+
83 – 86% B
80 – 82%  B-
73 – 79%  C+
70 – 72% C
67 – 69%  C-
63 – 66%  D+
60 – 62% D
57 – 59 %  D-
< 57% F

Do not count on a curve!

Generally, the grades “A” through “C-” are considered passing grades. Grades "W" and
"I" indicate that no grades were earned for the course. A "W" grade indicates that the
student withdrew from the course. An "I" grade indicates that the student was passing the
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course, but failed to complete all the required course work. The instructor, in his/her
discretion may grant an "I" grade instead of an "F", pending completion of the course
work by the student within a specified time arranged by the instructor and told to the
student. It is the student's responsibility to follow-up with the instructor to complete the
course work. If the course work is not completed by the arranged time, the “I” grade
becomes an “F".

Distribution of Grade Elements

Class participation: 15%

Exam I: 10%
Exam II: 10%
Exam III: 10%
Final project: 40%
Final presentation: 15%
Total: 100%
Date Syllabus Was Last Reviewed: ___________________