Dynamic Typography D MA 155 Spring 2009 Instructor Rafael Macho rafaelmacho at ucla dot edu www propelo tv rm at propelo dot tv www rafaelmacho com TA X rene Eskandar xarene at ucla dot edu Tuesday Thursday 9 00 11 50 AM Broad Art Center Room 4230 Class website http classes design ucla edu Spring09 155 Syllabus Course Description Studio six hours outside study nine hours Preparation completion of preparation for the major courses Enforced requisites courses C101 or 104 or C106 and 154A Integration of print and digital information technology with continued emphasis on fully integrating visual vocabulary with mastery of conceptual and creative procedures P NP or letter grading Class Structure Classroom time will be used primarily to review work either as class discussion or individual meetings Every week you will have a new assignment due the following class Work is to be presented according to instructions by 9 00am Class Description In this class students will be introduced to strategies of visual communication through kinetic elements focusing on form speed rhythm orientation color texture and quality of motion Students will explore the typographic language in a variety of exercises dealing abstractly or concretely within motion Through analyzing contemporary and historical examples such as film and TV titles music videos commercials video art as well as exemplary typography work in print design students will develop their own potential for expression trough dynamic typography The first four exercises are quick projects focusing on learning how to express visual communication concepts through motion and sound These exercises will progress along with to page 1 the learning curve of the software After Effects in order to let students refocus their creativity and take control of the technical aspect For the final project each student will create a project based on the theme alphabet from A to Z using various techniques including motion and sound For each letter the student will visualize a word starting with each letter Students will realize the project while sustaining a chromatic constancy with transition and rhythm These assignments deal with control of the time chromatic constancy editing and the visual typographic representation in time and space It is advised to limit the use of software tools and to concentrate on the concept The entire semester focuses on the software Adobe After Effects as a recognized platform tool in combination with editing tools such as Premiere or Final Cut Other software such as Flash Processing stop motion such as Dragon must be discussed with the instructor specific to the current exercise if allowed Production techniques may range from filmmaking digital or film hand draw animation stop motion animation to editing video footage Each student will also give a research presentation about a designer and discuss his or her contributions to design animation and typography Projects will be evaluated based on their concept aesthetic qualities and execution All exercises must be completed in order to pass the course Late assignments will reduce the assignment s grade by one partial grade B to B each class day they are late Exercises are only considered as complete when they are accessible from the course website Attendance is mandatory More than two absences without the instructors permission medical certificate might be requested before the class meetings will decrease the overall grade by one partial grade for each missed class Three times running late will be considered as one unexcused absence Students must attend at least three D MA sponsored lectures during Spring quarter 2009 Grading 15 Participation Attendance and Research Report 60 Exercises 1 2 3 and 4 15 each 25 Final Project Required Reading How To Be a Graphic Designer Without Losing Your Soul by Adrian Shaughnessy Recommended Readings Tibor Kalman Perverse Optimist page 2 Milton Glaser The Design of Dissent Stefan Sagmeister Things I have learned in my life so far Steve Katz Visualizing from Concept to Screen Good Magazine The Eye Magazine Print Research Report Deadline Tue April 7 Dynamic Typography topics experts in animation motion graphics and type design Choose one of the designers or a company from the following list of pioneer artists and designers in motion Trailer designer Film Title designer TV Title designer or Film Title companies Genevieve Gauckler Imaginary Forces Saul Bass Psyop The Light Surgeons Prologue Smith Foulkes Pleix Pablo Ferro Maurice Binder Werner Jeker Doug Aitken Milton Glaser Oscar Fischinger Saul Bass Kuntzel Deygas Tibor Kalman Bruce Mau Your research report is a 10 minute in class presentation to your peer students This presentation is based on research The following structure is expected 1 Introduction Short statement about who the individual group is and what they are known for 2 Background Biographical information the life and times of your subject page 3 3 Work Description of the person s or studio s work and achievements Include at least 10 20 full frame visuals to give a representative picture of their work 4 Discussion Why is the work significant to our context 5 Conclusions Your evaluation and opinions 6 References Make sure you find a minimum of three books articles essays websites about the topic References should be based on the Chicago Citation Style Be certain to practice and time your presentation before presenting in class You will be evaluated based on the substance of your research and clarity of your presentation You may use HTML PDF or other web accessible technology to present your topic Only presentations accessible from the class website will be accepted Optimize the amount of information per page legibility of typography and images based on a presentation context and a screen resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels page 4 EXERCISES Exercise 01 Contrast Exercise 02 Words in motion Exercise 03 Visual Speech Exercise 04 Movie Main Titles Midterm Review Final Project Alphabet Create all exercises in the size 960 540 pixels NTSC Square Pixels This is the aspect ratio of today HD 16 9 Save all your compositions in high quality Develop storyboards for all of your projects Photoshop storyboards are 16 9 aspect ratio A convenient size in Photoshop is to keep working within a 960x540 resolution Avoid working with lower resolution Create a single template for developing storyboards and use this system for each of your exercises Use the H 264 compressor