Visual Communication (EN 6960): Design Report

EN 6960
Visual Communication

In this Assignment
Final Product
Purpose of the Assignment
What You Should Do
Topics Available
Grading Issues

To become acquainted with a graphic designer or design concept, and to apply the concepts of visual rhetoric, prepare a slide presentation (such as in PowerPoint) and report (not to exceed 6 double-spaced pages, note that the report may make generous and creative use of visual design techniques) that together present the subject of your research. The report should not repeat the slide presentation; it should summarize and expand upon it. Combined, the slides may not have more than 75 words of text.
Also, deliver a 3- to 4-minute presentation about the topic. Incorporate the visuals that you prepared into the presentation.

To practice your skills in presenting complex information visually.
To develop a deep understanding of an individual design theory, designer, or design technique.
To familiarize you with the professional literature on graphic and visual communication.
To develop your comfort in discussing graphic and visual communication with others.
To develop your instincts in identifying effective graphic and visual communication.

Following is a suggested procedure:

In the assigned session, choose a topic from one listed in the section, Topics Available. Each topic will be assigned to a different person.
Read the material recommended in your assignment.
Going through the professional literature (ideally, in a library), read at least 8 articles about your topic. At least 4 must come from print publications. Note that this is a minimum; you might need to read additional articles to complete the research on your project.
List the 3-7 main points that others should know about the topic.
Prepare a draft of the slide presentation.

Note: Make sure that the amount of text on all of the slides combined does not exceed 75 words.

Notes:

Showing your draft slide presentation and handout to another student and receiving feedback, determine which aspects of the materials effectively communicate your main points and which ones need revision.
Revise the draft materials.
Prepare speaking points for your 3- to 4-minute presentation Limit them to absolute highlights--you will not have time to present more.
Practice your minute presentation.
Note: Because of time limits in the class, you will be abruptly cut off at the end of 4 minutes, whether or not you have finished. By practicing in advance, you can avoid being cut off.
Prepare to give your presentation and submit your handout January 18.

Note that each topic of the topics will be assigned to one person (so each student works on a unique topic).

Saul Bass James Wilson November 26	Jakob Nielsen Gilbert Chan November 19	Richard Saul Wurman	Edward Tufte
The psychology of airport design: Sonia Chan November 19	Differences between Chinese websites	Product packaging: Dorothy Pang November 26	The psychology of store design: Samantha Li November 19
Differences between Asian and Western design	Kan Tai-keung	Gender issues in advertising Cora Wong November 26	The psychology of office design Sandra Wong November 19
Age-ism in advertising Fiona McManus November 26	The psychology of classroom design Christo Yau November 26	Visual literacy	International symbols Rachel Lo November 26
I.M. Pei Kansas Lam November 19	The technology of printing: Michelle Chan November 26	Copyrights and visual images	Current trends in photography

Due: November 19.

Counts as 30 percent of your grade.

Grading criteria:

Does your work represent a thorough reading of source material?
Did you consult at least 1 article by a different author? Are different viewpoints apparent?
How appropriate are the main points that you selected?

Use of convention
Appropriate placement of information
Effectiveness use of "specialty" devices, such as pull quotes, shading, and tool lines
Lack of clutter
Other issues

Oral presentation (30 percent): Were you prepared and able to present your key points in 4 minutes or less?