Design for Journalists

Overview

What is “design for journalists”? How might this class, which combines two disciplines — graphic design and journalism — be any different from studying each one as a separate class in the same semester? In this course, we will explore each discpline in the context of the other. What is the role and value of graphic design from a journalistic lens; what is the role and value of journalism from a graphic design lens; finally, how can we introduce ourselves to both disciplines by strengthening our understanding of how they rely on one another in our creative and professional practices? The course is segmented in three parts:

1. Foundations
2. Making Meaning
3. Context

1. Foundations

The first part will be a deep dive into core design principles, including typography, editorial layout, and formal composition. We will draw on important historical and contemporary examples, and learn different ways form is used to convey ideas and elicit emotions. Finally, we will learn essential tools you need to know in your creative and professional practice. This part will entail weekly exercises.

2. Making Meaning

The second part will be about leveraging our foundational skills to communicate the specific ideas and values we intend. Relatedly, we will learn how to guide our audience through a designed user experience. Finally, we we learn how to communicate our creative ideas to other members of a creative team. How can we effectively convey the value of our creative ideas to others in a team environment? This part of the semester will entail weekly assignments that build on top of each other toward a midterm project.

3. Context

Understanding core design principles and how to make meaning with them is not enough. In this final part, we learn the importance of understanding our audience, along with the time and circumstances in which they access us. How do these variables frame the scope of our design and journalistic work from the very start? This part will entail weekly assignments that build on top of each other toward a final project.

General

Throughout the semster, I will assign readings. There will also be an ongoing “Instagram Story” assignment that two students will sign up to complete and present each week, for which you will take over the @designforjournalists Instagram handle to create a story about an assigned topic. You will be required to complete approximately 10 hours of work outside of class per week.

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Readings

• The Anatomy of Type by Stephen Coles
• Designing the Editorial Experience by Sue Apfelbaum & Juliette Cezzar

Recommended

• How to Design a Typeface by The Design Museum
• Designing News by Francesco Franchi
• Grid Systems by Kimberly Elam
• The Elements of Typographic Style by Robert Bringhurst
• A Type Primer by John Kane
• HTML5 for Web Designers by Jeremy Keith
• CSS3 for Web Designers by Dan Cederholm
• Forty Posters for the Yale School of Architecture by Michael Bierut

Final Grading Calculation

Line item	% of grade
Your completion of homework assignments on time	20%
Your midterm project – timely completion, process, and product	10%
Your final project – timely completion, process, and product	10%
Your timely attendance and participation	20%
The quality of your work over the semester	20%
Your effort and growth over the semester	20%

Attendance

Lateness and absences will affect your grade. All absences that don’t have a note from the doctor or the equivalent will be counted as unexcused. Three absences of any kind will automatically count as a fail. Students are given one “freebie.”