GDS 131 Graphic Design History

Project 2: Influential Graphic Designers
Instructor: Paul Young

 

Objective

To learn about influential designers throughout history and the philosophies, theories and breakthroughs developed by these designers. To collect reference materials for future use.

 

Secondary objectives

To utilize Google Docs (or Powerpoint) as a presentation tool.

 

Description

Using Google Docs (or Powerpoint), design a 15-minute presentation about an influential designer of your choice. Your presentation should cover specific innovations, breakthroughs and/or discoveries made by this designer. You must include visual examples of this designer's work and a bibliography of your references. Your selection of examples must include pieces not in the slide show or in the textbook.

 

Procedure

1. CHOOSE YOUR DESIGNER: Research books, periodicals and the Internet on source material available for the designers below (be sure to review del.icio.us/parkland.gds/InfluentialDesigners). Determine which designer's work you are interested in and confirm that there is enough source material on him/her to do an essay. "Claim" your designer as part of your Angel homework post when prompted (first come, first served; no duplication, please).

  • Saul Bass
  • Bill Bernbach
  • Michael Bierut
  • Will Bradley
  • Neville Brody
  • David Carson
  • AM Cassandre
  • Art Chantry
  • Seymour Chwast
  • Kyle Cooper
  • Lou Dorfsman
  • Milton Glaser
  • April Greiman
  • Tibor Kalman
  • Chip Kidd
  • Raymond Loewy
  • Herb Lubalin
  • Josef Muller-Brockmann
  • Clement Mok
  • William Morris
  • Victor Moscoso
  • Alphonse Mucha
  • Paul Rand
  • Stefan Sagmeister
  • Paula Scher
  • Rudy VanderLans
  • Massimo Vignelli

2. IN-DEPTH RESEARCH: Find books, periodicals and/or Internet resources about your designer. Be sure to look at the designer's influences as well as who this designer influenced. Compare and contrast this designer's style and philosophies with other of his/her time as well as those that came before. Give an overview of the time period that this designer lived in and what historical and/or social events may have had influence as well. What other information can you add that was not included in the slide lecture or your textbook? Prepare a bibliography of your sources (you must use at least two non-Internet sources).

3. DESIGNING THE PRESENTATION: Scan or download images for your presentation. Write notes for your presentation in bulleted format. Organize your information and sequence it in a logical manner. Format your presentation using Google Docs (or Powerpoint). You must include a bibliography of your sources. Rehearse and refine your presentation until your are happy with it.

4. GIVING THE PRESENTATION: On the scheduled day of your presentation, you will be projecting you presentation from Google Docs. Give your presentation in class (you have up to 15 minutes). Be prepared to answer questions after the presentation.

5. GRADING: Email your instructor a link to your Google Docs presentation.

Note: If you have an alternate designer you want to write about, you must get prior approval from the instructor. Late presentations will not be accepted.

 

 

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