Graphic and Multimedia Design
GMMD 101 INTRODUCTION TO MEDIA STUDIES
Fall/Spring, 3 credit hours GER 7
This course will introduce students to the process of media analysis. Emphasis will be placed on key terms for adopting a critical eye towards mass media and the development of media literacy in both traditional (print, radio, film, television) and emerging (digital and web-based) forms. Three hours lecture per week.
GMMD 102 INTRODUCTION TO DESIGN
Fall/Spring, 3 credits GER 8
Introduction to Design is a studio-based class investigating the tools, materials, and foundational concepts of design. Introduction to Design will present the methodology and critical awareness for problem solving inherent in all design fields. Through the discussion, examination and execution of a variety of design exercises, students will develop their understanding of visual composition and design theory. While the course exercises focus on 2-D graphic design, this broad introduction to design theory develops the creative problem solving skills integral to all fields of design. Three hours lecture per week.
GMMD 112 Intro to Time-Based Media
Fall/Spring, 3 credit hours
Intro to Time-Based Media provides a foundation for understanding the use of narrative and movement in design communication. Students create and distribute time-based digital content in multiple media. Students are introduced to the fundamental techniques of animation, film and sound editing, and interactivity.
GMMD 200 DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY
Fall, 3 credit hours GER 8
Students will develop competency in digital image capture, processing, and critical evaluation. Hands-on activities and studio/lab will permit each student to investigate the applications of applied digital and hybrid photography. Through technical studio assignments, critiques, and presentations, students will increase their skills in image printing, camera operation and using computer imaging software. Students will also develop critical awareness of composition and the relationship of digital photography to other media. Three hours lecture per week.
GMMD 201 LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY
Fall, 3 credit hours
Hands-on activities and studio/lab will permit each student to investigate the applications of applied digital and hybrid photography. Students will develop competency in digital image capture, processing, and critical evaluation. Through technical studio assignments, critiques, and presentations, students will increase their skills in image printing, manual camera operation and using computer imaging software. Students will also develop critical awareness of composition and the relationship of digital photography to other media.
GMMD 211 FILM ANALYSIS
Fall/Spring, 3 credit hours GER 8
As an introduction to the art of film, this course will present the concepts of film form, film aesthetics, and film style, while remaining attentive to the various ways in which cinema also involves an interaction with audiences and larger social structures. Throughout the course, we will closely examine the construction of a variety of film forms and styles-including the classical Hollywood style, new wave cinemas, experimental films, and contemporary independent and global cinemas. We will pay particular attention to the construction of film images, systems of film editing, film sound, and the various ways in which film systems can be organized (narrative, non-narrative, genres, etc.) There is a required weekly film screening. Three hours lecture per week.
Prerequisites: Expository Writing (ENGL 101) or Oral and Written Expression (ENGL 102) or permission of instructor.
GMMD 240 PROFESSIONAL PRACTICES
Fall/Spring, 3 credit hours
Professional Practice is an experiential survey of various design professionals and their working environments. Students attend several on and off campus activities and professional visits, experiencing first-hand the work flow, professional practices and client interaction of designers in their workplaces. Students complete several assignments based on their research and firsthand experiences with several design careers, including the preliminary work in arranging for their GMMD internship.
Prerequisites: GMMD Major and 45 completed credit hours or permission of the instructor
GMMD 301 3-D DESIGN
Spring, 3 credit hours
3-D design bridges the concepts of design with the basic methodologies and concepts of three dimensional fabrication and composition. The course will challenge students to further develop and employ problem solving methodology to a variety of basic conceptual and practical problems in 3-Dimensional space. The course emphasizes the basic sculptural methodologies, including subtractive and additive processes, assemblage, construction, carving, casting, molding, armature, Course Descriptions: geography, geology, graphic & multimedia 135 and kinetics/mechanics. The ability to move between 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional conceptualization/ realization is the primary focus of this class. Three hours lecture per week. Prerequisite
Prerequisite: Introduction to Design (GMMD 102).
GMMD 302 PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY
Fall/Spring, 3 credit hours
Building upon the introductory skills of GMMD 201, this course is designed for students who are interested in the professional applications of photography. Students experience a variety of advanced concepts, techniques, and approaches designed to help them enhance their abilities to create and use digital photographic image in narrative, creative, documentary, commercial, and editorial form. The classroom lectures emphasize versatile techniques and creative problem-solving strategies. Through practical assignments, students develop their skills and awareness in on-location photography, constructing and presenting visual narratives, ethics and issues, the creative license in commercial applications, and the ability to meet the demands of providing professional photography as a service. Particular emphasis is placed on the exploration of advanced techniques including lighting, post processing, photography as a design tool, and product photography.
Prerequisites: Digital Photography (GMMD 201) and Introduction to Design (GMMD 102), or permission of instructor.
GMMD 311 VIDEO EFFECTS AND POST-PRODUCTION
Spring, 3 credit hours
This course provides a project-based exploration of advanced editing techniques in digital video production. Topics include compositing, light matching, colorization, and motion graphics.
GMMD 313 STUDIES IN GENRE FILM
Fall/Spring, 3 credit hours GER 8
This course will provide an opportunity to study one film genre in depth. Emphasis will be on thematic cultural analysis of the genre's role in contemporary society. Different topics will be offered on a cycle, including the following: Documentary Film, Horror in Film, The Film Western, History of the American Comic Film, and Science Fiction in Film. Three hours lecture per week.
Prerequisites: Junior status and at least on literature course. Students may take one genre for Gen ED. credit. Students may take two genres for elective credit.
GMMD 317 CULTURE AND COMMUNICATION
Fall/Spring, 3 credit hours
This course provides students with tools to analyze communication resources. The course emphasizes the use of multimodal communication in contemporary popular culture, and considers resources ranging from photography, film, television, music, fashion and subcultures. Students develop detailed analysis of cultural resources through methods derived from semiotics and communication studies.
Prerequisites: ENGL 101 Expository Writing or ENGL 102 Oral and Written Expression and GMMD 101 Intro to Media Studies or PSYC 101 Introduction to Psychology or SOCI 101 Introduction to Sociology and at least 30 completed credit hours or permission of the instructor.
GMMD 330 WEB DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT
Fall/Spring, 3 credit hours
In this course students are introduced to basic code, web development strategies, and current industry standards. Students learn how to create and edit HTML and CSS with web authoring tools. Special emphasis is placed on file management and image design. The course culminates in a final project utilizing the design process.
Prerequisites: Introduction to Design (GMMD 102), Introduction to Programming (CITA 180) or equivalent, or permission of the instructor.
GMMD 331 DIGITAL ILLUSTRATION AND TYPOGRAPHY
Fall/Spring, 3 credit hours
This course emphasizes the acquisition of software skills in vector based graphics. Students explore digital workflow, visual communication, and the design process in relation to illustration, and logo and graphic identity. Two hours lecture, two hours studio per week.
Prerequisites: Introduction to Design (GMMD 102), Digital Photography (GMMD 201), or permission of the instructor.
GMMD 332 3D PRINTING AND DESIGN
Spring, 3 credit hours GER 8
This is an immersive course in fused filament fabrication (3d printing) and design. Students will develop their applications of 3-dimensional design through CAD drawing and applications in additive manufacturing. Skills that will be developed include technical knowledge of FFF machines, experience in fabrication with a variety of materials (ABS, PTEG, PLA, NYLON) and digital mesh optimization/repair. Throughout the course students will develop an analytical approach to iterative design and 30 problem solving, preparing for applications in rapid prototyping, on-demand manufacturing, virtual reality, and product customization.
GMMD/GAME 333 SOUND DESIGN & COMPOSITION FOR MULTIMEDIA
Fall, 3 credit hours
This course covers composition and production techniques for creating music and sounds for multimedia applications such as games, videos, films and more. Emphasis is placed on creating engaging sound environments that create emotion, mood, and/or settings across a variety of potential genres.
Prerequisite: GMMD 112 Introduction to Time Based Media
GMMD 337 DESIGN THINKING
Spring, 3 credit hours
This course develops innovative thinking skills related to "wicked" human-oriented problems. Students examine cases and propose resolutions following the five-stage design thinking process of Empathy, Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test. Cases involve the development and implementation of new products, processes, and services.
Prerequisites: ENGL 101 and GER 1 Math
GMMD 346 Screenwriting and Pre-Production
Fall/Spring, 3 credit hours
Students explore and develop the narrative of video projects ranging from videos ranging from 60 seconds or less to feature length movies and even longer, serial storylines. Students will be asked to produce their own narrative(s), read the narratives of other students and provide detailed feedback on the works shared in class. Class will consist of an open forum designed to hone students' writing and editing skills by in-depth discussion of narratives. The goal is to expose students to multiple video formats, have them dissect the differences in narrative form ranging from dialogue and story to visual impact and audience, and have them create multiple forms of narrative of their own by the end of the semester that will be ready to go into production.
Prerequisites: ENGL 101
GMMD 351 3D ANIMATION
Spring, 3 credit hours
This course is an overview of the techniques and history 3D animation, including character design, modeling, storyboarding, rigging and animating a scene. Students engage in hands-on projects involving the development of hand-drawn and computer-generated animation. Emphasis is placed on understanding the place of animation in the context of the film, television, internet, and gaming industries, project management, and the development of a personal animation style.
Prerequisites: Introduction to Design (GMMD 102), Digital Photography (GMMD 201), or permission of the instructor.
GMMD 365 Issues in Contemporary Advertising Design
Fall/Spring, 3 credit hours
Students are introduced to advertising and explore the development of copy, from the basic elements of advertising to honing a message and developing brand narrative to overarching campaign concept development. Students review successful advertising campaigns to learn to break down messaging to its core elements. Students also create and develop copy for campaigns in multiple media, including print, web, interactive, social media, radio, TV, video, point-of-sale and “guerilla” marketing. Using the Workshop methodology developed at the University of Iowa, students share their work with fellow students for discussion and analysis. As a course capstone, students develop their own advertising campaign and create the corresponding advertising and copy in multiple media forms. Three hours of lecture per week.
Prerequisites: GMMD 101 and GMMD 240
GMMD 401 MULTIMEDIA PRODUCT DESIGN
Fall, 3 credit hours
Fall, 3 credit hours This course will provide for an experimental and experiential approach to integrating content with new media techniques and processes. Students will use computers as creative tools to explore narrative, immersion, virtuality, visuality, and networked public sphere. Students will also develop planning and organizing skills for experimental interactivity and imaging projects. Three hours lecture per week.
Prerequisites: Visual Programming and Development Tools (CITA 342), and Digital Photojournalism (GMMD 302), and senior standing, or permission of instructor.
GMMD 408 PORTFOLIO DEVELOPMENT AND MEDIA STRATEGIES
Fall/Spring, 3 credit hours
This course explores issues of marketing on social media platforms as well as personal branding and portfolio development. Emphasis is placed on research, production and design of professional portfolios and interpretive materials in multiple contexts, and the maintenance of appropriate online presence. The ethics of digital media production and issues related to copyright and compensation are also addressed.
Prerequisites: Professional Communication (ENGL 301)
GMMD 411 DIGITAL DOCUMENTARY VIDEO
Fall/Spring, 3 credit hours
This course builds upon the technical, compositional and production techniques learned in GMMD 201 and GMMD 102. Through project-based studio production, this course will explore the practice of documentary filmmaking. Students will discuss basic tools and principles of film narration, montage and the technical and compositional aspects of using archival, found and produced footage. Through lectures, critiques, research and studio exercises, students will explore the creative process of interpreting, representing, and affecting the sociological and environmental relationships of this age by means of the moving image. Three hours lecture per week.
Prerequisite: Digital Photography (GMMD 201) and Introduction to Design (GMMD 102), or permission of instructor.
GMMD 420 ANIMATION TECHNIQUES
Fall/Spring, 3 credit hours
This course develops an overview of the techniques and history of 2D and 3D animation, including stop-motion and tweened animation. Students engage in hands-on projects involving the development of hand-drawn and computer- generated animation. Emphasis is placed on understanding the place of animation in the context of the film, television, internet, and gaming industries, project management, and the development of a personal animation style.
Prerequisite: Digital Illustration and Typography (GMMD 331), Experimental Digital Video (GMMD 412) or Experimental Digital Photography (GMMD 303) or permission of instructor.
GMMD 421 SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES
Fall/Spring, 3 credit hours
This course is a cross disciplinary study of the issues and efforts surrounding ecological crisis and the move towards sustainability in contemporary design. In this seminar course, students investigate sustainability issues through lectures from several disciplinary angles, including the sciences, legal studies, economics, humanities and engineering. Following study and discourse around the problems and goals of sustainability, students work with faculty to develop a semester long independent project pursuing some of these goals.
Prerequisites: 70 credit hours or permission of instructor required
GMMD 432 VIRTUAL WORLDS
Spring, 3 credit hours
This course examines gaming concepts, nonlinear narrative, delivery systems and software for the entertainment industry. Working with 2D and 3D visual concepts, virtual reality, interactivity and sound the student will develop media for the entertainment industry. Environments, characters, gaming strategies, role playing concepts, navigation and feedback will be part of the information presented within the course. Three lecture hours per week.
Prerequisites: Visual Programming and Development Tools (CITA 342), Classical Theater (ENGL 393) or Contemporary Theater (ENGL 394), Creative Writing (ENGL 221) or Short Fiction (ENGL 315) and senior level status, or permission of instructor.
GMMD 440 ORIENTATION TO CULMINATING EXPERIENCE IN GMMD
Fall, 1 credit hour
This course will focus on allowing the student to create a proposal for either a combination of group and individual culminating projects or for a culminating internship. One hour lecture per week.
Prerequisites: Senior level status and successful completion of all previous New Media work, or permission of instructor.
GMMD 443 ARTS MANAGEMENT INTERNSHIP
Fall/Spring, 3-4 credits
Students focus on the challenges of negotiation, public relations, and management. Students explore a variety of management situations in broadcasting, galleries, museums, and theaters and design agencies. Students apply classroom skills in an organizational environment. Working with a faculty and on-site supervisor, the students perform and reflect on prescribed work. Students complete a supervised internship in an appropriate internship setting commensurate with the student's career interests and at the appropriate baccalaureate level.
Prerequisite: GMMD 440: Orientation to Culminating Experience in GMMD
GMMD 444 MULTIMEDIA PRODUCT DESIGN II
Spring, 4 credits
This course is a capstone experience course in the Graphic and Multimedia Design program, allowing students to develop skills in group communication and teamwork as they plan, design, develop, produce, present, and defend a culminating research project. Through regular research, critiques, and planning sessions with GMMD faculty, the senior student capstone projects are developed and realized. This course builds on the skills, projects and working methodology developed in the GMMD401; culminating in a public presentation of student works and an exit portfolio for graduation.
Prerequisite: GMMD 401: Multimedia Product Design, or permission of instructor.
GMMD 291-295, 391-395 OR 491-495 SPECIAL TOPICS IN GRAPHIC AND MULTIMEDIA DESIGN
Fall/Spring, 1 - 4 credit hours
An introductory or more advanced exploration of subjects not covered or only partially covered by other courses in Graphic and Multimedia Design.