ART 3224 (LUOA), ARTS 224 (LUO): Media Design

11/08/2019 to 04/16/2020 • Modified 01/27/2026

Course Description

In the Media Design Course, students examine new and traditional forms of media communications, design principles, concepts, and applications that will strengthen communication efforts with graphic design and advertising projects. Through lectures, readings, case studies, and hands-on assignments, students are introduced to the media campaign process, and the impact of new media technologies. Students will learn how to make sense of the dynamic field of media communications through a critical analysis of real-world campaigns serving as a foundation to build their own strategies.

Rationale

Studying conceptualization, design principles, and visual communication is essential to the Strategic Communications student. This class will provide the student with the necessary tools that will allow him/her to intelligently work with visual creators and will allow the student to bring his/her ideas to life visually. The student will learn to dig deep conceptually and think differently, and to see design and campaigns from a strategic, design and consumer perspective. The student will learn to visually communicate his/her own concepts.

The student is a communicator and a storyteller. The tools that the student will walk away with from this class will expand his/her communication skills, prepare him/her to work with a creative team, and provide him/her with the ability to add a visual dynamic to the stories he/she is called to tell.

Course Assignment

Textbook readings and lecture presentations

Discussions (2)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student is required to create a thread in response to the provided prompt for each discussion. Each thread must be 300-350 words and demonstrate course-related knowledge. In addition to the thread, the student is required to reply to two (2) other classmate’s threads of at least 100 words by the due date.  The student should refer to the assignment instructions for more specific requirements for each discussion.

Campaign Project Assignments (5)

Using the project process and design elements, the student will create a campaign. The student will design one poster advertisement and discuss two additional tactics that would fit into their campaign. The project is broken into 5 phases with designated point values.

Campaign Project: Business Selection Assignment

The student will select a small business or non-profit and complete research. The student must fill out the template provided. The student’s answers provided for each prompt should be a full paragraph to demonstrate a thorough understanding of the information discovered. The student must include at least 1 reference in a works cited using current MLA format.

Campaign Project: Brief Assignment

For this assignment, the student will conduct research about his/her chosen business from the previous assignment. This assignment will be completed in three steps. In step one, the student will create a creative brief. The student will then come up with a creative strategy in step two and choose tactics in step three. The purpose of this assignment is to allow the student to begin thinking of how to create a poster advertisement. Answers provided for each prompt should be a full paragraph to demonstrate a thorough understanding of the information discovered. The student must include at least one reference in a works cited using current MLA format.

Campaign Project: Thumbnails and Roughs Assignment

In this assignment, the student will create 20 thumbnails and 3 roughs for his/her poster tactic that he/she described in the corresponding section of the previous assignment. The thumbnails must be 1.5 x 2 inches, and the roughs must be 8.5 x 11 inches. These must be designed with paper and pencil. There is a template provided for the thumbnails that the student may use. The student must either scan or take photos of his/her work. The student must put all files into one document and upload a PDF to the designated submission link.

Campaign Project: Composition Assignment

In this assignment, the student will create 1 comprehensive based on one of his/her three roughs from the previous assignment using Adobe CC (Adobe InDesign/Illustrator/Photoshop). The student can use whichever program he/she wants in the suite in order to complete this assignment. His/her comprehensive should be 8.5 x 11 inches. Once completed, the student will save it as a native Adobe File (AI, PSD, or INDD) and a PDF and upload both files through the assignment link. In addition, the student must include an explanation in his/her submission.

Campaign Project: Final and Portfolio Assignment

In this assignment, the student will submit his/her final 8.5 x 11-inch poster created in Adobe CC (Adobe InDesign/Illustrator/Photoshop) with required changes based on feedback from the previous assignment. In addition, the student will include all phases of the Campaign Project within an Adobe Portfolio the student has created. Once the portfolio is created, the student will copy and paste the link to the portfolio the assignment comments section in the assignment submission link to Canvas. In addition, the student will submit the final poster document as a native Adobe file (AI, PSD, or INDD) and a PDF. 

Case Study Assignments (3)

The student will recognize and identify concepts and principles in use in campaigns and evaluates the efficacy of the design and strategy of media campaigns. The student will be given a campaign to analyze within the resources section in each assignment. The student will prepare a report in current MLA format to analyze and evaluate the strategic process of the specific campaign. The student is constructing an argument about whether, in what ways, the campaign was or was not effective. The student will complete the written report in 6 sections responding to the provided prompts. Outside sources to compile the information below may be needed (refer to the assignment instructions). 

Type Poster Assignment

The student must choose a Bible verse and create a typographical poster of the verse using Adobe CC (Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, or InDesign). Once completed, the student will save the poster as a native Adobe File (AI, PSD, or INDD) and a PDF and upload them through the assignment link. With the submission, the student will include at least a 100-word summary of your choices.

Mood Board Assignment

The student must download the template provided to create his/her mood board. The student is to create a mood board that describes himself/herself. This mood board will consist of images, texts, and/or shapes in a composition of choice.

Quizzes (6)

Each quiz will cover the Learn material for the Modules: Weeks in which it is assigned. Each quiz will be open-book/open-notes, contain 10 multiple-choice and true/false questions, allow for 1 attempt, and have a 20-minute time limit.