SCHEDULE OVERVIEW
*All homework is listed on the day it is assigned, and is due the following week, unless otherwise specified| Week | Date | Topics |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9/8 | Introduction, Course Overview, Gestalt Theory |
| 2 | 9/15 | Color Theory & Relativity, Vector, Raster, AI & PS |
| 3 | 9/22 | Typography, Signs, Symbols and Composition |
| 4 | 9/29 | Logos & Brands |
| 5 | 10/6 | Logo Project Draft 1: Group Critique |
| 6 | 10/14 | Logo Project Draft 2: 1-on-1/peer-to-peer Critiques |
| 7 | 10/20 | Midterm: Logo Project Final Critique |
| 8 | 10/27 | Motion Graphics Fundamentals (using final logos) |
| 9 | 11/3 | Motion Graphics Workshop + Project 2 Introduction |
| 10 | 11/10 | Project 2 Phase 1: Collection Concept & Visual Exploration |
| 11 | 11/17 | Project 2 Phase 2: Asset Development & Interface Wireframe Critique |
| 12 | 11/24 | Project 2 Phase 3: Interactive Prototype Development Workshop |
| 13 | 12/1 | Project 2 Phase 4: Interactive Prototype Refinement Critiques |
| 14 | 12/8 | Final: Project 2 Presentations |
Major Critiques:
- Week 5: Logo Draft 1 Group Critique
- Week 6: Logo Draft 2 Individual Critiques
- Week 7: Logo Final (Midterm)
- Week 11: Project 2 Phase 2 Critique
- Week 13: Project 2 Phase 4 Individual Critiques
- Week 14: Project 2 Final Presentations
Class 1
Monday, September 9, 2025 —
Intros, Course Overview, Gestalt
Agenda
- Introductions in Figma
- Visual Lecture: Course Overview
- Review Syllabus
- First Day of Class Exercise
BREAK- Visual Lecture: Gestalt Theory and Visual Perception
- Software Onboarding and Intro Demo: Figma for submitting exercises and readings
- Ticket to Leave
Homework (due next class)
*All homework is listed on the day it is assigned, and is due the following week, unless otherwise specified
- Create an
Are.na account, join our Are.na group with this invite link and browse the Visual Design Studio Resources - Complete the Individual part of the first day of class exercise that we started in class in Figjam, and comment or respond with an emoji to someone else’s question(s) If you also have that question and/or would like address it at the beginning of our next class.
- Verify your Figma Student account and join our Figma group with the link in the upper left corner of the course site home page
- Download and install Adobe Creative Cloud (specifically Illustrator, Photoshop, After Effects, InDesign, and Acrobat). Open each program and make sure it is opens successfully, since we'll be diving in and introducing Illustrator and Photoshop next class.
- Let me know if there are any other questions or scheduling/adding/dropping issues, otherwise I will see you at our next class on Monday!
Required ReadingA Primer of Visual Literacy, ch. 2-3 Donis A. Dondis
Supplemental Reading The Triangle, Bruno Munari
A Language of Vision, Gyorgy Kepes
Art and Visual Perception, Ch. 1-3, Balance, Shape, and Form, Rudolf Arnheim
Investigations on Gestalt Principles, Max Wertheimer
Monday, September 15, 2025 —
Color Theory & Relativity, Vector, Raster, AI & PS
Agenda
- Review First Day exercise questions in Figjam
- Discussion of Dondis reading assigned for this week, commented in Figma
- Visual Lecture: Color Theory and Relativity
- Adobe Color Tool Demo
- Color Method game
- Color Resources on Are.na
BREAK- Vector vs. Raster
- Software Demo Intro: Photoshop & Illustrator, Vector vs. Raster
- Bezier Method Game
- Flag Exercise introduction
Homework (due next class)
- Color Exercise
- Flag Exercise and completed Bezier method game
- Listen to this Radiolab podcast on the History and Perception of colors while you do the exercises:
- Illustrator Tutorials as needed, see
are.na resources and LinkedIn Learning Tutorial Illustrator Essentials to get familiar with the core functions of Illustrator. Use your @nyu.edu email to login to LinkedIn Learning here - Figma Tutorials as needed, start with Figma Design for Beginners
Required ReadingInteraction of Color, Introduction and Plates I-X, by Josef Albers
Structure and Movement, by Karl Gerstner
Supplemental Reading The Elements of Color, Johannes Itten
Graphic Design: The New Basics, "Color" chapter, by Ellen Lupton
Politics of Design, Colour and Contrast chapter, by Ruben Pater
IMPORTANT ADMINISTRATIVE NOTE:
Monday, Sept. 15: Add/Drop deadline
Tuesday, Sept. 16: Fall 2025 Withdrawal Period Begins
Classes dropped on or after this date result in a “W” grade on the student transcript. To withdraw from a class, students may Request a Class Withdrawal in Albert.
Students can no longer be enrolled into a class from a waitlist and waitlists are purged.
Monday, September 22, 2025 —
Typography, Signs & Symbols
Agenda
- Quick Review of everyone’s Flag and Color Exercises
- Reading Review of Interaction of Colorand Structure and Movement
- Visual Lecture: Typography
- I Shot the Serif game
- Typography Resources
BREAK- Logo Project Introduction
Homework
-
Expressive Typography and Typeface Research exercise
- Kerning Method game
- Shape Type Method game
- Logo Project part 1 only: decide on your name, category archetype and describe. Decide on your 3-6 letter/number/symbol for logo project and write 2-5 sentences about what it is, be as specific as you can!
- Continue at your own pace with LinkedIn Learning Tutorial Essentials to get familiar with the core functions of Illustrator and Photoshop.
Required Reading A Language of Signs and Symbols, Bruno Munari
The Crystal Goblet, by Beatrice Warde
Supplemental Readings Graphic Design: The New Basics, "Hierarchy" chapter
Thinking With Type, Ellen Lupton
Politics of Design, Typography and Language chapter by Ruben Pater
Monday, September 29, 2025 —
Logos & Brand Identity Systems
Agenda
- Review Expressive Type and Typeface Research exercise
- A Language of Signs and Symbols Reading Response Review
- The Crystal Goblet Reading Discussion
- Finish Visual Lecture: Logos
BREAK- Logo Project Instructions Review
- Logo Project Figma Template duplicate, rename, review
- Review Logo Design Tips and Tricks
- Boolean Method exercise (time permitting)
Homework
- Logo Project Draft 1 - re-read the instructions carefully!
- Howtocrit.com reading and answer discussion questions In Figjam - do in groups of up to 3 people If you want to!
- "See How You Feel" from Symbols, by David Gibbs
- “Hear All Ye People; Hearken, O Earth”by Errol Morris, The New York Times, 2012
Supplemental ReadingsLogotype (skim/browse)
Politics of Design, Symbols and Icons chapter by Ruben Pater
Graphic Design: The New Basics, "Figure/Ground, Framing" chapter, Ellen Lupton
Watch Helvetica (2007), directed by Gary Hustwit on Kanopy (log in access via your NYU account)
Monday, October 6, 2025 —
Logo Project Draft 1: Group Critique
Agenda
- Review ‘Critique Sentence Starters’ (in Figma presentation template)
- Logo Project, Draft 1: All-class group critique
Homework
-
Logo Project Draft 2
Required Readings
None - Focus on logo development and iteration
Supplemental ReadingsThere’s No Such Thing as a Free Watch by Jenny Odell, a Special Investigative Report for the Museum of Capitalism
Watch: Notes on Icons and Design with Susan Kare, Letterform Archive
Note:
Due to Legislative Day Break on Monday, October 13, all classes on Tuesday, October 14 meet according to a Monday schedule. Therefore, our class next week will be on Tuesday the 14th, not Monday the 13th!
*Tuesday*, October 14, 2025 —
Logo Project Draft 2: 1-on-1/peer-to-peer Critiques
Agenda
- Logo Project Draft 2: 1-on-1 critiques with professor, peer-to-peer critiques in breakout rooms
- Ticket to Leave
Homework
- Logo Project Final Draft
Required Readings
none
Supplemental readings Watch: Design is One on Kanopy (log in via SSO with your @nyu.edu account)
Monday, October 20, 2025 —
Midterm: Logo Project Final Critique
Agenda
- Logo Project Final Critique: add at least 1 comment In Figma on each presenter’s file
- BREAK (towards end of class)
- In class exercise: comparative subjective logo analysis spectrums In Figma
Homework (due next class)
- Complete Midterm Self-assessment
- Read (and re-read) the Motion Design Module instructions
- Prepare logo files for animation (Illustrator vector cleanup for multiple formats - Illustrator, After Effects and/or SVG, see guides and tutorials below)
-
Watch animated logo motion design examples for inspiration
- Watch Technical tutorials and guides for After Effects Animation from Illustrator & Figma Smart Animate
Required Readings
none
Supplemental readings
none
Monday, October 27, 2025 —
Motion Design Fundamentals (using final logos)
Agenda
- Logo Project in-class exercise: comparative subjective logo analysis spectrums in Figma
- Watch Powers of 10
- Lecture: Motion Design Fundamentals
- Demo: Figma Smart Animate and After Effects
BREAK
Workshop: Logo Animation Storyboarding- Animation Sharing - Storyboards and/or working prototypes
- Project 2 brief overview introduction
- Ticket to Leave
Homework
- Logo Motion Design Module: complete 3 different storyboard concepts, choose one, complete prototype for next week
- Begin Project 2 collection research (3 potential topics), due Week 10
Readings
none
Monday, November 3, 2025 —
Motion Design Workshop, Grids & Hierarchy, Photoshop Demo, Project 2 Intro & Examples
Agenda
- Logo Animation Show & Tell
- Visual Lecture: Grids and Hierarchy
BREAK
- Project 2 detailed overview & examples
- Photoshop Intro Demo & Examples
- Collection brainstorming / mood boarding (time permitting)
- Ticket to Leave
Homework
- Project 2 Phase 1 Prep: Research 3 collection concepts with visual directions
- Complete logo animation project