VAGD190 Graphic Design History
Department of Arts and Communication: Graphic Design and Illustration
- I. Course Number and Title
- VAGD190 Graphic Design History
- II. Number of Credits
- 3 credits
- III. Number of Instructional Minutes
- 2250
- IV. Prerequisites
- Writing Placement Test score of 6 or better or COMP107 (C or better)
- Corequisites
- None
- V. Other Pertinent Information
- Museum trip is mandatory. This course meets the General Education requirement for Arts/Humanities.
- VI. Catalog Course Description
- This graphic design survey course covers visual communication since the Middle Ages, focusing on the period from the Arts & Crafts Movement through Postmodernism. Students gain a formal understanding, and they interpret selected examples using a variety of analytic methodologies, including cultural, religious, social, political, and/or economic context.
- VII. Required Course Content and Direction
-
-
Course Learning Goals
Students will:
- identify the visual styles of major graphic design movements;
- describe graphic design using appropriate art historical vocabulary (i.e., perform a formal analysis);
- analyze the subject matter of a design;
- interpret the possible meaning of a design and or explain why it was created within an appropriate and arguable context (e.g., historical, religious, political, economic, social, racial, gender roles, etc.); and
- apply research skills in using library resources and/or scholarly Internet sites.
-
Planned Sequence of Topics and/or Learning Activities
- Early Innovations and the History of the Book
- Arts & Crafts Movement
- Art Nouveau
- Early European Modernism through Plakstil
- European Modernism through Art Deco
- De Stijl & Constructivism
- Bauhaus and the New Typography
- Political Posters from WWI through The Gulf War
- American Modernism
- Design in gender, feminist, and gay and lesbian issues
- Advertising
- Design in popular culture since the 60's
- Post-Modernism
- Digital Art
-
Assessment Methods for Course Learning Goals
- Required exams that include essay questions
- Required museum paper with proper use and citation of research materials
- Optional quizzes
- Optional writing assignments
-
Reference, Resource, or Learning Materials to be used by Student:
Slides, video, digital technology, and supplementary readings are selected by instructor. Departmentally-selected textbook. See course syllabus.
-
Review/Approval Date 2/23/16; Revision: 4/18/23; Revised 3/5/2024