graphic design department policies

graphic design student learning outcomes [general]

updated 8.2020

  1. Communication – Demonstrate an ability to present and articulate written and verbal ideas and methods, to cultivate effective listening skills, and to participate in intercultural and intersectional discourse.

  2. Criticality – Create critical, culturally appropriate and meaningful digital and analog visual form and craft in response to design problems.

  3. Research: Conduct independent inquiry and research through critical engagement with diverse, multicultural and multidisciplinary information sources, including an understanding of dominant artistic discourses and their relationship to underrepresented groups and ideas.

  4. Risk-taking: Demonstrate a high level of creativity, a willingness to take creative risks, and an intellectual curiosity that probes beyond one’s lived experience.

  5. Techniques and skills: Demonstrate an ability to independently identify a design problem.

  6. Professional Practice: Demonstrate an understanding of professional design practice requirements including online portfolio development and self-promotional materials.

  7. Demonstrate an openness to learn about and cultivate an understanding and appreciation of different perspectives and diverse world views and how they contextualize works.

Each graphic design course in our curriculum has more specific learning outcomes that fall under these categories. Refer to your syllabus for more detailed, course-specific learning outcomes. 

In KCAI’s Graphic Design Department, all faculty and staff are committed to the creation and maintenance of inclusive learning spaces and the cultivation of a respectful community that is actively anti-racist, anti-sexist, and anti-discriminatory. We as faculty are committed to the ongoing evaluation and evolution of our curriculum, so that we may continually evaluate and reform inherent biases, oppressive historical narratives, and exclusive practices, in order to inspire and foster the creative explorations of all students.

In the Graphic Design Department, all faculty, staff and students of all race/ethnicity, gender identities, gender expressions, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, [dis]abilities, religion, regional background, Veteran status, citizenship status, nationality and other diverse identities that we each bring to class are welcome. In our studios, classrooms, online platforms, and other places of learning, all individuals will be treated with respect and our differences will be valued. All community members will be provided equitable opportunity to participate, contribute, and succeed.

Together we commit to developing intercultural and intersectional communication that recognizes the barriers of privilege and seeks to empower all students. The Department studios, classrooms, and online platforms are safe spaces where all faculty and students are encouraged to speak up, share their views, and grow as individuals. We will all be held accountable for the respectful engagement with regard to the dignity of all others.

Your success in our department and beyond is enhanced by the innovation and creativity of thought that inclusive communities and studios facilitate. The success of our program relies on the participation, support, and understanding of all of us.

diversity / civility statement

included 8.2020

use of studio space and time

Rapid progress is a benefit of the frequent interactions occurring in a community environment. Therefore, students are encouraged to work in the studio, utilizing the space provided for them. Students are expected to plan and manage their time properly, and are required to be actively working in the class area during studio time, with the following allowances (with instructor’s permission): working in school shops or labs, library research, or any area within the classroom building. Leaving to get supplies, meals, etc is not acceptable, and should be done before or after class.
gd studio hours: 6:30am–3:00am, seven days a week

student conduct

Students are expected to conduct themselves in a manner appropriate to a professional and educational setting and demonstrate collegial support of their peers. Students are required to observe the student code of conduct, which includes an anti-discrimination statement and no harassment policy. Please refer to your student handbook for more information.

use of communication / digital technologies

Regarding the myriad ways we may digitally communicate with one another – please practice the utmost respect for classmates, instructors, and your own intellectual development during designated course times. Engagement with technology during class time should be facilitating your learning experience, in particular for lectures, discussions and critiques. (Multitasking is not real, unless you are planking and listening to music [see Eager for details]). Cell phone rings, texting, and other unproductive digital activity is discouraged. If there is an emergency that may require you to receive a call or text, please let your instructor know at the start of class.

calculating attendance and effects on grading

Please take note of the following:
Any absence negatively affects your grade.
“late” = Out of the classroom during roll call at the beginning of class.
“absent” = Missing by 30 minutes or more, asleep, disengaged or lack of participation. 

FALL 2020 CONTINGENCIES

  • on-campus students are considered in attendance if they are in the classroom within 10 minutes of class starting. 

  • “synchronous remote” students are considered in attendance if they are on a call within 10 minutes of class starting. 

  • immunocompromised or otherwise ill students may work remotely and will not be counted absent, provided they communicate with their instructor in a timely manner about their issue.

three lates = one absence.
Being late will also result in your name being put at the end of the sign up sheet on days that we have one-one-one meetings.

3 absences = one letter grade reduction. 

5 absences = two letter grade reduction.

6 absences = automatic course failure per KCAI attendance policy unless withdrawal accommodations have been made.

While this may sound strict, it actually mirrors the working world you will soon be entering. A typical work year consists of about 250 working days. Professional-level workers average 10 vacation days and eight sick days annually. Following that same ratio with about 30 class meetings per term, we allow two absences before penalties accrue.

exceptions to this include circumstances beyond your control, such as medical emergencies, a death in the family, or religious holiday. please communicate with your professors as soon as an issue arises and we will do our best to resolve the issue in a reasonable fashion.

attendance exception – contagious / home-bound sickness
students with a contagious sickness that is likely to infect studio mates, or a serious issue rendering them home-bound, may have a "remote day" where they attend class virtually, with the aid of a classmate, using video-conferencing technology such as skype, google hangout, facetime, or similar. students are allowed one such day and it will not count as an absence. the intent is to participate in class as fully as possible while keeping the studio at-large healthy. students are expected to alert their instructor of their intentions of a "remote day" and make necessary arrangements with a classmate so they may attend virtually. the final decision on the exemption is at the instructor’s discretion.

attendance exception – educational travel
students may use one class session per studio course for educational travel purposes as it relates to design, which will not count as an absence. educational travel may include but is not limited to design conferences, workshops, special exhibitions, lecture opportunities, or similar. the intent is to broaden students’ understanding and value of diverse [out-of-classroom] educational opportunities that are available to them. students are responsible for notifying their instructor[s] at least two weeks in advance of the absence, and the nature of the educational experience. a visual/verbal report of what was learned is due to the department within two weeks after the trip is taken and must be scheduled with the department chair. if no such report is given by the last regular day of classes, an absence will be counted.

late / incomplete / missed projects & classes

All projects submitted for final critique will be evaluated as-is. You are expected to be present and engaged in all final critiques with your work ready to go at the beginning of class. 

Being absent for a final critique / projects not properly submitted at the start of final critique /Being tardy for a final critique will result in being marked absent for the day and receiving no credit or reduced credit for the project. If there are guest critics in attendance, it is at the instructor’s discretion if your work will be addressed and in what ways. This is not a reflection of any other accommodations. Any assigned project not submitted at all will result in an f for the course. Therefore, if you miss a deadline, the completed work should still be turned in. This must be arranged with the instructor within 24 hours of the missed deadline. 

Students that know they will miss a class or final critique must make arrangements with the instructor ahead of time and will be expected to make up all studio work in addition to homework assignments and final projects.

Revisions

Projects submitted for final critique will be graded as-is. However, as in the field, any work is subject to improvements based on feedback. Even after a final critique, revisions may be necessary for end of semester review, and most importantly, for your portfolio development. Students are encouraged to continue to seek critique from their instructors and make necessary revisions in a timely manner, as they have the potential to positively affect your final semester grade. 

process work

Process Documentation
Your instructors rely on well-documented process work to accurately assess your learning throughout a course. Keep all of your physical process (including sketches, interim print-outs, notes, etc.) throughout the semester and organize everything neatly and chronologically, according to your instructor's requirements – typically a project book, binder, or on your KCAI student blog. This work will be periodically checked throughout the semester. It will contribute toward your process and/or participation grade, as they are a primary means of demonstrating your learning and process work.

Curate and edit this process for public consumption by making the following types of posts or printed documentation: (1) documenting design methodology, (2) demonstration of learning through written analysis, reflection, or visual means, (3) research, inspiration, and resources, (4) formal/conceptual justifications of your work. Text must be well-written and spell checked. Digitally photograph, upload, or otherwise organize in a sensible fashion and comment on select and significant process steps. Professionally document any “final” artifacts. Special attention will be paid to the visual quality of final project documents, as they typically form the basis of one’s portfolio.

Consistent contribution to a personal blog or process book is required in most classes. If blogging is required, you may use the same blog across most all studios, for all semesters. Label each blog post by course name [ex: type3, InfoArch, DP]. Late, inappropriately labeled or paltry documentation is not accepted. You are to document / blog responsibly as a representative of the department and KCAI design community.

Process Printing
Designers print their work frequently as it develops so they can best assess the full array of design variables. Reviewing work on screen is not sufficient for physically-based artifacts. Please allot around $200 per course for all printing and paper costs. All in-progress and final critiques will be conducted with printed, physical mock-ups/comprehensives unless otherwise noted. Failure to deliver these as scheduled will result in a failing or reduced course or project grade, based on the instructor's discretion. 

GRAPHIC GRADING CRITERIA

All work completed in this course will be evaluated as a collective body. You will receive a written mid-term grade and a final grade, based on the following four criteria:

Course Objectives/Learning Outcomes
Ability to meet stated course learning outcomes [listed at the start of the syllabus] that clearly exhibits learning through risk-taking and pushing one’s limitations.

Presentation
Attention to detail and high level of craft. Level of quality and refinement achieved in final presentation design, and clarity of presentation in final critiques and reviews. 

Participation
Ability to articulate thoughts and ideas verbally and in written form in a group setting and with the instructor, in a professional and respectful manner, daily and in final critique. Absences will negatively affect your average in this area. 

Process
Demonstration of strong work ethic, curiosity, and motivation; consistent level of effort; and ability to follow a logical and thorough path from concept through refinement to completion. Absences will negatively affect your average in this area. 

// // // // //

Shorter exercises and papers, if assigned, will be graded on various criteria more appropriate to their purposes, described at the outset of each project. Extra credit will be offered at the instructor’s discretion. 

Grading Scale
A   4.0   superior         
A-  3.7
B+ 3.3
B   3.0 above average    
B-  2.7
C+ 2.3
C   2.0 average
C– 1.7
D+ 1.3
D   1.0 below average  
D-  0.7  
F   0.0 failing

Rubric
A superior
Fulfills all learning outcomes at a high level with clear extra effort and risk-taking; memorable and unique formal and conceptual work; high-quality physical/digital craft and final presentation; strong understanding, application, and generalization or synthesis of concepts/principles; group and individual participation is consistently strong and professional; excellent evidence of all required (and "above and beyond") process; significant learning is evident. 

B above average
Fulfills all learning outcomes at a moderately high level with some areas of extra effort and some risk-taking; strong formal or conceptual work; adept physical/digital craft and final presentation; clear understanding and application of concepts/principles; group and individual participation is consistent and occasionally strong; strong evidence of all required process; a good amount of learning is evident. 

C average
Fulfills all learning outcomes at a basic level with no obvious “above and beyond” effort; expected or common formal or conceptual work; a basic grasp of physical/digital craft and final presentation; basic understanding of concepts/principles; group and individual participation is often consistent; basic evidence of required process; some learning is evident.

D below average
Fulfills some learning outcomes at a basic level; concepts, form, craft and final presentation is of low quality, incorrect, or incomplete; struggles to understand and/or implement concepts/principles; group and individual participation is inconsistent; some inconsistent evidence of process; little learning is evident.

F failing
learning outcomes not addressed; poor or nonexistent formal or conceptual work; craft and final presentation is of very low quality or missing; concepts/principles not understood or implemented; group and individual participation is rare; little to no evidence of process; very little to no learning is evident.

Determination of how a student’s work ranks is in relation to developmental norms for design students at your course level pursuing a BFA degree, as well as expectation for entrance into professional practice. If your work and process stands out as highly effective, innovative, and memorable in how it satisfies all grading criteria, you will earn an above average or superior course grade. If your work and process satisfies the grading criteria in a basic way but is not memorable or does not demonstrate significant learning, you will earn a course grade of average or below. If you have a question about your grade, the appropriate channel to contact your instructor is to set up an appointment for office hours. We are happy to meet with you to provide further clarification if you follow those steps. 

end of semester reviews

sophomores

At the completion of the sophomore fall term you will have the opportunity to verbally and visually demonstrate your design abilities. You will show select process and projects from your semester in the department. Faculty will provide feedback regarding your strengths and weaknesses and what to work on in subsequent courses. This review will have a significant impact on your fall semester studio grades, so take it – and all work undertaken this year – seriously. A project brief will be distributed several weeks before the review. Logistics and questions will be addressed at that time.

juniors

The junior review is a closed, private event at the end of the spring term that will be graded as pass/fail. Strengths and weaknesses will be formally recorded and serve to signal each student’s level of preparedness to advance to senior level courses. A passing grade in junior review is required to advance and a failing grade may result in remediation of certain coursework. It provides the opportunity for students to verbally and visually demonstrate their command of design. It includes the framing of process and select projects for faculty to review. A project brief will be distributed several weeks before the review. Logistics and questions will be addressed at that time. 

department safety manual

 

the department safety manual can be found on mykcai. you’ll first need to log in with the first half of your kcai email [username] and your kcai email password.