Group Design Concepts Presentation Assignment

 

Instructions: Organize into groups of 3 or 4. Then choose a pair of design principles and elements from the list (see the Google Doc that I shared). After researching and studying them, you will create a compelling presentation to share your findings and designs with the class.

Guidelines/Rules

The presentation: Try not to make a “typical” slideshow presentation. Although using slides is a convenient way to share visual information, a slideshow can quickly suffer from the boob tube effect—with the presenter showing endless slides with bulleted text while reading from the screen! With that in mind, here are some guidelines and rules:

  • I have the principles and elements paired up in a random fashion. The principles and elements do not necessarily have relations with each other.  Pairing them is simply a way to get all of them covered.
  • Add variety to your presentation with handouts, writing on board, verbal explanations, etc.
  • If you do use slides, minimize the number, and avoid having a slide for everything that you say; it becomes a crutch.
  • If you do use slides, you must avoid using bulleted text. Your presentation should be graphics-rich and not dominated by text.  As I said earlier, it becomes a crutch.  Plus, it might put the audience to sleep.
  • Likewise, use words very sparingly on screen. 
  • When sharing designs and illustrations, use some of your own sketches and other designs. They can be from a past assignment, or you can create them just for this special presentation to us. This makes it more personalized and less of a “googled” feeling.

Content

As for the content, your goal is three-fold:  define, show examples, and inspire. Thus,

  1. Inform the audience of the meanings of the principle and the element.
  2. Provide visual examples, which can come from the design world in general as well as Processing sketches.  However, you must include some of your own sketches or other designs.
  3. Your presentation should inspire application of the principle and element. The oral and visual information that you provide should be so compelling, that your audience will garner ideas and be inspired to apply them in their own designs.
  4. Please keep in mind that your examples should mostly relate to digital media, graphic design, fine art, and maybe photography. Avoid having too many examples from lesser related areas.  The audience should be left with a “can do” feeling.

 

More on Delivery & Submissions:

Delivery: The time limit is 8 minutes for the presentation and 5 minutes Q&A.  In your quick introduction of team members, include an interesting or fun fact about each person. (Make it blend into your blurb; don’t say “A fun fact about John is…”) You don’t have to feel obligated to have each person share in the presentation.  I will assume that each person made a significant contribution no matter who’s up front. 

You must moderate the 5-minute question and answer period in an interesting way. Some suggestions are:  A) ask the audience questions, B) revisit a slide for more explanation C) suggest a question for the exam. Please don't neglect this very important part, as it will count into your grade.

 

Final Submission: Write a 1-2 page summary, as well as two possible test questions. Your summary can and should contain a few images, but please do not submit any slideshows to me. Print and hand in to me.

 

About the Grade:

This will count as a regular assignment.