BOOK DESIGN
PBDS 642

NOTE: This is representative of the syllabi for this course. It is not necessarily the syllabus being used in any one semester.

Course Syllabus

Course Description: This course is an advanced design elective in the Publications Design program. Students should be familiar with typography, image manipulation, comprehensive presentation, and the basics of printing. These areas will be reviewed and various presentation methods will be discussed and demonstrated. A wide range of book formats, sizes, binding methods, and materials will be introduced. Field trips and guest speakers will supplement lectures whenever possible and appropriate.

Course Objectives: As with other kinds of graphics, the designer of books is responsible for planning the production of an object, from concept to finished produce. Such an object is usually assigned by an editor, and driven by marketing strategy, but in today's highly competitive publishing world, designer-driven products can be refreshingly different and highly successful. This has opened new doors for the entrepreneurial designer who wants to see her/his own ideas published. Writing a proposal, designing and presenting a comprehensive package, and conceiving spin-off or collateral products for a publisher's consideration are powerful tools for the designer of books. Students will be familiar with these by the end of the class.

Required Text: None.

Supplies, Materials: Tracing paper

Bristol board

Illustration board or Fome-cor

Spray adhesive

Metal ruler 18" or longer

Scissors/X-acto knife

CD for image, information storage

Course Requirements: Attendance is mandatory, as you will be responsible for all material presented in class, and you are expected to participate in class activities and discussions. Assignments are always due at the beginning of class, so please arrive on time and keep all personal communication devices turned off. Students who continually disrupt the class with such devices will be asked to withdraw. All thumbnails and roughs should be neatly flush mounted on smooth white Bristol for presentation or class discussions. Roughs may be computer generated, but everyone will present hand-drawn thumbnails first.

Grades: The minor project and weekly exercises together will count as half of your grade; the larger project as the other half. Attendance and class participation are also factors in determining your grade. Students with three or more unexcused absences will suffer a reduction in grade, and possible failure.

Schedule: Week 1,2: Intro to book publishing, parts of the book

Week 3,4: Title design, systems of organization, the clothbound book-inspirations

Week 5,6: Revisions, Comps

Week 7,8: Options for the major project, thumbnails

Week 9,10: Roughs, revisions

Week 11-14: Comps of design package, spinoffs

Week 15: Final presentation

Fair Warning: It is illegal and unethical to use someone else's work without properly crediting the source, whether it's online, print, or other. If you are not sure where that line is between needing to credit a source or not, or between quoting, paraphrasing, and original language, or between imitating and copying an existing piece of work, please ask me in advance or err on the side of over-citing. If I discover that you've plagiarized material for this class, I will follow the University's policy for violations of academic integrity, the consequences of which can include failing the course and expulsion from the University of Baltimore.




			BOOK DESIGN PBDS 642 NOTE: This is representative of the syllabi for this course. It is not necessarily the syllabus being used in any one semester. Course Syllabus Course Description: This course is an advanced design elective in the Publications Design program. Students should be familiar with typography, image manipulation, comprehensive presentation, and the basics of printing. These areas will be reviewed and various presentation methods will be discussed and demonstrated. A wide range of book formats, sizes, binding methods, and materials will be introduced. Field trips and guest speakers will supplement lectures whenever possible and appropriate. Course Objectives: As with other kinds of graphics, the designer of books is responsible for planning the production of an object, from concept to finished produce. Such an object is usually assigned by an editor, and driven by marketing strategy, but in today's highly competitive publishing world, designer-driven products can be refreshingly different and highly successful. This has opened new doors for the entrepreneurial designer who wants to see her/his own ideas published. Writing a proposal, designing and presenting a comprehensive package, and conceiving spin-off or collateral products for a publisher's consideration are powerful tools for the designer of books. Students will be familiar with these by the end of the class. Required Text: None. Supplies, Materials: Tracing paper Bristol board Illustration board or Fome-cor Spray adhesive Metal ruler 18" or longer Scissors/X-acto knife CD for image, information storage Course Requirements: Attendance is mandatory, as you will be responsible for all material presented in class, and you are expected to participate in class activities and discussions. Assignments are always due at the beginning of class, so please arrive on time and keep all personal communication devices turned off. Students who continually disrupt the class with such devices will be asked to withdraw. All thumbnails and roughs should be neatly flush mounted on smooth white Bristol for presentation or class discussions. Roughs may be computer generated, but everyone will present hand-drawn thumbnails first. Grades: The minor project and weekly exercises together will count as half of your grade; the larger project as the other half. Attendance and class participation are also factors in determining your grade. Students with three or more unexcused absences will suffer a reduction in grade, and possible failure. Schedule: Week 1,2: Intro to book publishing, parts of the book Week 3,4: Title design, systems of organization, the clothbound book-inspirations Week 5,6: Revisions, Comps Week 7,8: Options for the major project, thumbnails Week 9,10: Roughs, revisions Week 11-14: Comps of design package, spinoffs Week 15: Final presentation Fair Warning: It is illegal and unethical to use someone else's work without properly crediting the source, whether it's online, print, or other. If you are not sure where that line is between needing to credit a source or not, or between quoting, paraphrasing, and original language, or between imitating and copying an existing piece of work, please ask me in advance or err on the side of over-citing. If I discover that you've plagiarized material for this class, I will follow the University's policy for violations of academic integrity, the consequences of which can include failing the course and expulsion from the University of Baltimore. home \| bs, corporate communication \| ba, english \| ma, publications design \| mfa, integrated design \| mfa, creative writing & publishing arts \| people \| portfolio \| facilities \| classes \| undergraduate applications \| graduate applications \| contact \| site index \| university of baltimore \| academic calendar