Design Courses

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Intro to Communication Design

SF EXGRP–1500–01
Instructor: Cindy Steinberg
Thurs., 7:15–10 p.m., February 9–April 19
11 sessions. $335. Noncredit. Prerequisite: none
This course offers a broad introduction to the field of graphic design. Following a brief survey of the history of graphic design, the course examines contemporary design practices. Topics include typography, color, grid systems, corporate identity, information design, print and digital design.Slide presentations accompany many of the lectures. A number of design projects will be assigned. Computer skills will not be covered in this course.
Bring to first class: several examples of your graphic design or other visual work (if you have any).

Intro to Typography

SF EXGRP–1501–01
Instructor: Lee Friedman
Mon., 7:15–10 p.m., February 6–April 23 (no class March 19)
11 sessions. $335. Noncredit. Prerequisite: familiarity with InDesign or Illustrator
This course presents an overview of the history of typography, introduces basic typographic principles, and helps students implement these principles. Students gain an understanding of typographic classification and form subtlety through a detailed study of type specimens as they learn to identify letter forms by style, tonal intensity, and personality. The course also explores the formal characteristics of typography through a series of hands-on projects in which students experiment with type size, weight, style, space, movement, and contrast. The use of grid systems and layout are explored through the examination of typography in book, magazine, and poster design.
Bring to first class: sketchbook, pencils, pen, conté crayons. Computer skills will not be covered in this course, but students will need access to a computer to complete homework assignments.

Ideation Sketching & Visual Notation

SF EXGRP–1504–01
Instructor: Lewis Bangham
Wed., 7:15–10 p.m., February 8–April 18
11 sessions. $335. Noncredit. Prerequisite: one previous drawing class or equivalent experience
Whether you are a designer, artist, or filmmaker, what inspires you to create art and design are the pre-visual concepts that arise in your mind. These pre-visualized concepts may potentially become the foundation of a great painting, product, movie, or advertisement.
In this course, students learn how to form and evolve ideas through the use of images, as well as to communicate them clearly and effectively with clients, art directors, or in meetings, using sketch techniques. Class time will be divided between demos, short lectures, and in class studio time. Students should expect to have at least a few hours of homework each week.
Students begin by learning the fundamentals of translating 3D space and objects onto 2D drawn space. Topics covered include using 1, 2, and 3 point perspective, laying out your ideas, using backgrounds, and finding your style. Various types of notation (arrows, typography) will be explored to help clarify your drawn ideas.
Bring to first class: 14" x 17' pad of layout paper, pad of tracing paper, a variety of drawing pencils (2H, HB, 2B), fine-point ballpoint pen or sharpie.

Animation: Intro to 2D & 3D Production

OAK EXMED–1501–01
Instructor: Ed Gutierrez
Sat., 1:15–4:15 p.m., February 11–April 14
10 sessions. $350. Noncredit. Prerequisite: none
This course covers the principles of animation and the production pipeline procedures as they relate to 2D (traditional) and 3D animation. The first half of the course focuses on 2D animation production, while the second half uses Maya 3D software to complete assignments. Students produce short animations in class, with instructor demonstrations preceding all projects. Industry standards are emphasized and discussed. Students have the opportunity to compile a final reel of all animations produced in class.
Bring to first class: a sketchbook no larger than 9" x 12", pen, B or 2B pencil, and a 2-4GB flash drive to save assignments. A more detailed materials list will be given out at the first class meeting.

Illustration: Visual Storytelling

OAK EXILL–1503–01
Instructor: Arden Johnson-Petrov
Tues., 7:15–10 p.m., February 7–April 17
11 sessions. $335. Noncredit. Prerequisite: none
Spiderman began as a comic. Where the Wild Things Are started with a book. Both morphed into movies and licensed characters. This course focuses on the methods and tools of sequential, visual storytelling (storyboarding), as it is applied to children's books, comics, graphic novels, commercials, and movies.

This studio also covers pacing, character development, thumbnails, dummies, preliminary sketches, and finished portfolio pieces. Students create visual story images from written and spoken ideas.

In the first few classes, students develop a black and white storyboard for a 10-second commercial, exploring how to stage a scene/shot with angles, P.O.V, perspective, and lighting. Guest speakers include a successful freelance illustrator in the field of storyboarding commercials and movies and an art director from Pixar Animation Studios. Please note that all guest speakers are subject to change.

Editorial Illustration

SF EXILL–1504–01
Instructor: Caitlin Kuhwald
Tues., 7:15–10 p.m., February 7–April 24 (no class March 20)
11 sessions. $335. Noncredit. Prerequisite: None
Editorial illustration is the bread and butter of a full-time freelance illustrator. No matter what the current trends are in illustration, art directors are always in the market for conceptual thinkers, as well as accurate and inventive portraiture.

Learning to be a professional editorial illustrator is learning how to interpret a source and produce an illustration that represents the essence of its accompanying text.

This course goes through the step-by-step process of creating an editorial illustration—from thumb, to sketches, to final. Given the same material and information an art director would provide, participants work on some actual editorial assignments. The class also discusses using reference material and editorial promotion techniques, as well as reviewing examples of successful editorial illustration.
Bring to first class: sketchbook, pencils, a black marker.

Intro to Interior Design

SF EXINT–1500–01
Instructor: Briggs MacDonald
Tues., 7:15–10 p.m., February 7–April 17
11 sessions. $335. Noncredit. Prerequisite: none
In this studio-based overview of the practice of interior design, students review the history and current applications of the practice. Participants explore the multifaceted technical and aesthetic principles of design. Students also examine concepts of programming, planning, and three-dimensional form. Principals of light and lighting, color, materiality, furniture overview and layouts are covered through hands-on exercises.

Students develop one long-term project of their choice from conception through presentation.
Bring to first class: one roll of 12" tracing paper, one black-ink Uni ball roller ball pen (or equal), and an architectural scale.