CURRICULAR UNIT - INTRODUTION TO DESIGN
Academic Year: 2020 / 2021
1st Year – 1st Semester
Código UC nº 397002
OBJECTIVES AND COMPETENCES TO BE DEVELOPED
The main objective of this course is to introduce the students in the area of Graphic Design, exploring is relation with economic, social and technological aspects:
- – To develop the ability to apply methodologies to solve problems of Design projects;
- - Develop critical sense as a basis for prior analysis of the contexts in which it is intended to intervene;
- - Strengthen the ability to communicate and discuss original ideas as well as the synthesis of the project;
- – Acquire technical skills resulting from experimentation;
- – To develop capacity for synthesis and visual communication through the use of images, drawings, and other means of representation that allow the presentation of the project;
- – Understand the importance of drawing as a means of visual reasoning and exploration of ideas;
- – To understand the importance of the descriptive memory, as an essential support for self-criticism and an instrument that reveals the degree of awareness put into practice throughout the project;
- – Develop skills in the construction and analysis of models and prototypes in the design process;
- – Understand the importance of sustainability and inclusiveness, promoting the application of these aspects in a practical way in the project;
- – To develop the sense of social responsibility regarding moral, ethical, deontological and legal issues applied to the Design project.
- - To develop a concern with the quality of work, the quality of communication of work and who produces it, with social responsibility.
PROGRAM CONTENTS
The origin of Design; Fundamentals of Design; Design and draw; Design, Art and Technology; Fields of action of the Graphic Designer; Contextualization of Graphic Design taking into account political, economic, social, technological and cultural aspects; The structural elements of visual language; Project methodology.
CURRICULAR UNIT - PHOTOGRAPHY
Academic Year: 2020 / 2021
1st Year – 1st Semester
Código UC nº 397005
OBJECTIVES AND COMPETENCES TO BE DEVELOPED
In this curricular unit students should be able to:
- 1. choose, apply and potential the different methods of work and the various technical procedures in the field of photography;
- 2. explore the technical, formal and creative capabilities of photography;
- 3. recognize the specificities of photography as an image;
- 4. design and execute the project in photography;
- 5. develop the capabilities of analysis and photographic criticism.
PROGRAM CONTENTS
1. Introduction to photography
- 1.1. History of the evolution of photography.
- 1.2. The social and cultural importance of photography in the communication process.
- 1.3. Applications of photography in industry and research.
- 1.4. Photography as art and technique.
2. The importance of light in image formation: Photometry.
3. The camera
4. Composition
5. Digital image aspects
6. Concepts of contrast density and colour balance
7. Photographic lightning
CURRICULAR UNIT - DRAWING AND GRAPHICS
Academic Year: 2020 / 2021
1st Year – 1st Semester
Código UC nº 397006
OBJECTIVES AND COMPETENCES TO BE DEVELOPED
To develop in students the capacity of observation, representation and projection through drawing.
Learning to draw is a specific mental process, which develops the capacity of abstraction, of representation, fostering a cognitive ability, essential in the use of design methodologies.
- 1. Mastering specific concepts and contents
- 2. Develop the capacity for observation, analysis, understanding and representation of the models and the relations between them
- 3. Experiment with the potential of diverse supports, instruments and techniques of drawing, recognizing their versatility
- 4. Know how to consistently apply the line, textures, chromatic tones and volumetric
- 5. Graphically translate the perception of the real, dominating the various processes of representation
PROGRAM CONTENTS
- 1. Elements of Visual Design / Perception: line; shape (positive and negative); tonal values; proportions and perspective; texture; light / shadow.
- 2. Representation: drawing what you see; modes of drawing: sketching, study, drawing, final drawing; balance and chaos / symmetry and asymmetry / construction and deconstruction / discipline and indiscipline; composition and self-expression.
- 3. Instruments and Techniques: Scribing instruments, supports, dry, wet and mixed techniques: specificities, incompatibilities, crosses.
- 4. Use of a Graphic diary as a research support: observation drawing; experimental drawing; drawing, thinking and knowledge.
CURRICULAR UNIT - DIGITAL FINAL ATWORK AND PRE-MEDIA
Academic Year: 2020 / 2021
1st Year – 1st Semester
Código UC nº 397007
OBJECTIVES AND COMPETENCES TO BE DEVELOPED
The Digital Artwork and Pre-Media curricular unit (CU) aims to provide students with the following technical skills:
- 1. To prepare digital files for their graphic execution in excellent conditions for their reproduction;
- 2. Correctly use typography, colours, images and printing areas;
- 3. Save correct final files for imposition and printing according to the standards.
PROGRAM CONTENTS
1. Desktop Publishing software and file formats
- 1.1. Creating files: dimensions and definition of workspaces
- 1.2. Crop and bend marks, bleed and slug
2. Management of typographic fonts
- 2.1. Correction and verification of text
- 2.2. Typography and font management
3. Colour management
- 3.1. ICC profiles
- 3.2. Application colour settings
- 3.3. Transparencies, trapping and overlay
- 3.4. Colour proof
4. Bitmap and vector images
- 4.1. Suitable image formats
- 4.2. Image adjustments
- 4.3. Linked or embedded images
- 4.4. Appropriate resolution
5. Use of desktop publishing software forecasting and revision tools
6. Open files and generation and edit of PDF files
CURRICULAR UNIT - GRAPHIC DESIGN
Academic Year: 2020 / 2021
1st Year – 2nd Semester
Código UC nº 397010
OBJECTIVES AND COMPETENCES TO BE DEVELOPED
Following the previously acquired knowledge at “Design”: an Introduction, this curricular unit aims to develop the analytical, planning and execution abilities in graphic and communicational projects. At the same time, is intended that in each project the student makes use of research and self-exploitation knowledge alongside of the information provided, thereby enhancing a creative and critical self-thinking joined by innate and seized abilities.
The attendance at this curricular unit will empower students with the necessary skills to develop and manage graphic work/ communicational, from initial concept to creating the planning of its production. This route should take into account the different functions, public and media that each type of work intended, trying to present innovative proposals wherever possible and appropriate to each student.
PROGRAM CONTENTS
1. Visual Communication Elements Multimedia
- 1.1. Simple grids, and fluid grids for different media and media;
- 1.2. Use of informational design for treatment of more complex data;
- 1.3. Understanding usability and interface in different supports and media (digital and physical).
2. Project
- 2.1. Project methodology;
- 2.2. Concept development;
- 2.3. Extrapolation systems design for new realities;
- 2.4. Application of knowledge production to specific projects;
- 2.5. Finishing and projects presentation.
3. Design and communication in context
- 3.1. Analysis and critique of design and communication materials developed at this CU and others;
- 3.2. Systematization of strengths and weaknesses;
- 3.3. Adequacy to the target audience;
- 3.4. Outcome assessment in different contexts of design (social, cultural, economic and sustainable)
CURRICULAR UNIT - PREPRESS PROCESSES AND TECHNOLOGIES
Academic Year: 2020 / 2021
1st Year – 2nd Semester
Código UC nº 397012
OBJECTIVES AND COMPETENCES TO BE DEVELOPED
The overall goals og the prepress course is to provide students the basic skills to prepare and produce digital documents, in the print production process between graphic design and final output in various cross media channels, including:
- 1. learn to prepare appropriate digital artworks for electronic and printed media;
- 2. PDF creation and use of its production tools;
- 3. basics of colour management and standardization;
- 4. basics of imposition
- 5. output colour proofs, imposition proofs, films and plates;
- 6. basics of quality control.
PROGRAM CONTENTS
- 1. introduction to prepress, definition, importance, historical references and workflows;
- 2. basic colour management (configuration and synchronization, colour spaces, profiles and colour conversions);
- 3. digital image (scanning, digital photography and basic colour correction);
- 4. standardization (brief approach to ISO standards for graphic technology);
- 5. PDF for print and electronic media (PDF presets, standards, print production tools);
- 6. colour proofing;
- 7. imposition (stock sizes, flat plans, signatures and print finishing);
- 8. imposition proofs (digital “blueprints”);
- 9. PostScript and PDF (typeface fonts for print media and electronic devices, RIP, resolution, line screen frequency and angle, colour separation, films, analog and digital plates, CTP output and quality control);
- 10. prepress for different printing processes (Offset, digital, screen printing, pad printing, gravure, flexo, spot colours, duotones, hi.fi colours, vamish, embossing and die-cutting).
CURRICULAR UNIT - DIGITAL IMAGE PROCESSING
Academic Year: 2020 / 2021
1st Year – 2nd Semester
Código UC nº 397013
OBJECTIVES AND COMPETENCES TO BE DEVELOPED
This curricular unit aims to provide students the basic skills to manipulate, correct and adjust digital images to its reproduction in print and digital media, with image editing software. Students are expected to be able to:
- 1. Organize and manage image files with resource management software;
- 2. Adjust the image file formats depending on their ultimate goal (printing, digital publishing/ multimedia and web design);
- 3. Determine the size and digital resolution best suited to the images according to their final objective;
- 4. Use the fundamental tools of image editing: selections, layers, masks, smart-objects and filters;
- 5. Make conversions between color spaces (RGB, CMYK and Grayscale);
- 6. Adjust contrast, sharpness and chromatic appearance of images using histograms, curves, filters and other tools;
- 7. Retouch and correct images (example: fashion, portrait, product, architecture, landscape).
PROGRAM CONTENTS
1. Understanding digital images
- - Types of digital images (bitmap and vector)
- - Main file formats and adaptation to the final reproduction (printed or digital media);
- - Resolution, interpolation and color depth of digital images;
- - Resolution ratio of displayed pixels vs. printed dots (PPI, DPI, LPI);
- - Reproduction in: four-color, black and white, grayscale, direct colors and hi-fi colors.
2. Color Management Basics
- - Color models, color spaces and color measurement;
- - What is and how color management works;
- - ICC color profiles and conversion shapes between color spaces.
3. Resource management software - Adobe Bridge
- - Viewing, organizing and managing files;
- - Synchronization and color settings.
4. Digital image manipulation with image editing software - Adobe Photoshop
- - Interface, workspaces and preferences;
- - Control of color settings, color profiles, image resolution and display;
- - Conversions between color spaces (RGB, CMYK and Grayscale);
- - Selections: selection tools and techniques for selecting areas of the image using vectors, using channels and using masks;
- - Layers: creation and management of layers; "non-destructive" editing (adjustment and fill layers, filters and smart-objects);
- - Image Adjustments: contrast, sharpness, and chromatic adjustment of Images; introduction to Camera Raw;
- - Retouching and correction: techniques and tools for retouching and correction of images
- - Automation and productivity: techniques and tools for task automation (Actions and Droplets).
