Schedule Overview
*All homework is listed on the day it is assigned, and is due the following week, unless otherwise specified| Week | Monday | Wednesday |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Labor Day - No Class | Class 1 (Sept 3) - Introductions & Course Overview |
| 2 | Class 2 (Sept 8) - Gestalt Theory & Perception | Class 3 (Sept 10) - Color Theory & Relativity |
| 3 | Class 4 (Sept 15) - Vector/Raster, Software Demo | Class 5 (Sept 17) - Typography |
| 4 | Class 6 (Sept 22) - Logos & Project 1 Intro | Class 7 (Sept 24) - Point, Line, Plane |
| 5 | Class 8 (Sept 29) - Logo Draft 1 Crit (Group A) | Class 9 (Oct 1) - Logo Draft 1 Crit (Group B) |
| 6 | Class 10 (Oct 6) - Logo Draft 2 Crit (Group A) | Class 11 (Oct 8) - Logo Draft 2 Crit (Group B) |
| 7 | Class 12 (Oct 14) - MIDTERM: Logo Final (Group A) | Class 13 (Oct 15) - MIDTERM: Logo Final (Group B) |
| 8 | Class 14 (Oct 20) - Grids & Hierarchy | Class 15 (Oct 22) - Graphic Treatments & Photoshop |
| 9 | Class 16 (Oct 27) - Conference Project 2 Intro + Interface Lecture | Class 17 (Oct 29) - InDesign Demo & Visual Research Workshop |
| 10 | Class 18 (Nov 3) - Conference Poster Draft 1 Crit (Group A) | Class 19 (Nov 5) - Conference Poster Draft 1 Crit (Group B) |
| 11 | Class 20 (Nov 10) - Conference Poster Draft 2 (Group A) | Class 21 (Nov 12) - Conference Poster Draft 2 (Group B) |
| 12 | Class 22 (Nov 17) - Mobile Design + Figma Demo | Class 23 (Nov 19) - Conference Mobile Project + Brand Translation |
| 13 | Class 24 (Nov 24) - Conference Poster Finals + Conference Mobile Draft 1 | Thanksgiving - No Class |
| 14 | Class 25 (Dec 1) - Conference Mobile Draft 2 (Group A) | Class 26 (Dec 3) - Conference Mobile Draft 2 (Group B) |
| 15 | Class 27 (Dec 8) - FINAL: Brand System (Group A) | Class 28 (Dec 10) - FINAL: Brand System (Group B) |
Wednesday, September 3, 2025 —
Introductions & Course Overview
Activities:
- Introduction Ice Breaker in Figma
- Review Syllabus
- First Day of Class Exercise
- Digital Platforms overview & onboarding: Figma and
Are.na
- Ticket to Leave
Homework:
- Create an
Are.na account and browse the Visual Foundation Studio Resources - Complete the individual part of the first day of class exercise that we started in groups in class. Submit the second part via Google Form.
- Let me know if there are any other questions or scheduling/adding/dropping issues
Readings:
- Letters from the previous student cohort, posted in the First Day of Class Figjam file
Class 2
Monday, Sept. 8, 2025 —
Gestalt Theory & Perception of Visual Form
Activities:
- Platforms onboarding and general questions
- Introductions 2 in Class 2 Figjam file
- Creator Show and Tell example presentation by professor: Emory Douglas
- Visual Lecture: Gestalt Theory
- Select Creator Show and Tell Partners and Presentation Dates
- Ticket to Leave
Homework:
- Download and install Adobe Creative Cloud (specifically Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, and Acrobat) and the Figma desktop app on your computer. Make sure you can open each program so that it is installed correctly
- Read and comment on the letters from the previous semester's students (if not already completed)
- Write your Future Bio, 30 years from now. Submit via Google Form
- Start working with your partner(s) on your Creator Show and Tells
Readings:
Class 3
Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025 — Color Theory & Relativity
Activities:
- Creator Show and Tells:
- Kenya Hara - Peter and Sophia
- Emily and Mauraya - Andy Warhol
- Reading Discussion: A Primer of Visual Literacy
- Visual Lecture: Color Theory & Relativity
- Color Method Game (interactive exercise)
- VFS Color Resources on Are.na
- Ticket to Leave
Homework:
- Complete the Color Exercise and upload to shared Figma file with description
- Listen to Radiolab podcast on the History and Perception of Colors
- Review Color Class Resources Page/Resources on Are.na
- Start LinkedIn Learning Tutorial "Illustrator Essentials" using your @nyu.edu email to login to LinkedIn Learning here.
Readings:
- Graphic Design: The New Basics - Color Chapter, by Ellen Lupton
- The Elements of Color, Johannes Itten
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.
Class 4
Monday, Sept. 15, 2025 —
Vector/Raster, Illustrator & Photoshop Demo
Activities:
- Creator Show and Tells:
- Frank and Avery - Jean-Michel Basquiat
- Minjae and Eric - Susan Kare
- Review Color Exercise in shared Figma
- Vector vs. Raster
- Software Demo Intro: Photoshop & Illustrator, Vector vs. Raster
- Bezier Method Game (interactive exercise)
- Flag Exercise introduction
- Ticket to Leave
Homework:
- Finish Bezier Method Game and upload screenshot of high score to shared Figma file
- Complete the Flag Exercise export as PNG file and upload to shared Figma
- Continue LinkedIn Learning Tutorial "Illustrator Essentials"
- Consult the Figma Design for Beginners Tutorial, specifically Chapter 8. Create your avatar using shapes and fills for Figma basics relevant for Structure and Movement reading design exercise
Readings:
- Read and complete the reading comprehension design exercise on Structure and Movement by Karl Gerstner
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.
Class 5
Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025 —
Typography
Activities:
- Creator Show and Tells:
- Melody and Subeen - Herb Lubalin
- Aparna and Serena - Guerilla Girls
- Review Flag and Bezier exercises
- Visual Lecture: Typography
- Exercise: I Shot the Serif game (interactive)
- Typography resources on Are.na
- Briefly Introduce Logo Project, assign part 1: come up with your brand name
- Ticket to Leave
Homework:
- Complete Expressive Type and Typeface Research Exercise
- Complete the I Shot the Serif game and upload screenshot of high score
- Extra Credit: Complete Kerning Method game
- Extra Credit Complete Shape Type Method game
Readings:
- "Hear, All ye People, Hearken O' Earth" Part 1 & 2 by Errol Morris, NY Times 2-part series, August 8, 2012
- A Language of Signs and Symbols, by Bruno Munari - Create a 3-symbol visual haiku in the same Figma file as the reading
- Letter and Text chapters from Thinking with Type by Ellen Lupton
Class 6
Monday, Sept. 22, 2025 —
Logos - Signs, Symbols, Icons, Graphic/Word Marks
Activities:
- Creator Show and Tells:
- Sanjana and Wujin - Peter Saville
- Review and discuss Typography Exercises for homework
- Review of A Language of Signs and Symbols, Bruno Munari reading symbol haikus
- Reading Discussion: Errol Morris, "Hear All ye People..."
- Logos Visual Lecture
- Logo Project Introduction
- Introduce Figma template for Logo Project critiques
- Decide Logo Project Groups A & B
- Ticket to Leave
Homework:
- By next class, decide on your 3-6 letter/number/symbol combination for Logo Project and write 2-5 sentences about what it is. Post to your logo project Figma file template
- Review Logo Project template for posting work from Illustrator to Figma for Logo Project Draft 1
Readings:
- The Crystal Goblet by Beatrice Warde and add at least 2 comments in Figma
Class 7
Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025 —Designing Logos Workshop
Activities:
- Announce groups A and B for Projects
- Finish Logos Lecture
- Review & Discussion of The Crystal Goblet
- Logo Design Tips and Tricks & Adobe Illustrator Exercise with your logo name
- howtocrit.com reading exercise in breakout groups
- Ticket to Leave
Homework:
- Project 1: Logo design, Draft 1: Group A due Class 8, Group B due Class 9
Readings:
- See How You Feel, from Symbol, by David Gibbs
- howtocrit.com
Class 8
Monday, Sept. 29, 2025 —
Logo Project Draft 1 (Group A)
Activities:
- Review Critique Sentence Starters
- Logo Project Group A pin-up, group critique in Figma
- Ticket to Leave
Homework:
- Group B Draft 1 critique next class
- Group A work on Logo Project Draft 2, due Class 10
- Come prepared to your critique with at least 3 specific questions about your work
Readings:
- none
Class 9
Wednesday, October 1, 2025 —
Logo Project Draft 1 (Group B)
Activities:
- Logo Project Group B pin-up, group critique in Figma
- Ticket to Leave
Homework:
- Group A Logo Project Draft 2 critique next class
- Group B Logo Project Draft 2 due Class 11
- Come prepared to your critique with at least 3 specific questions about your work