Introduction to Digital Tools

Code:

IFD101

Acronym:

IFD

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Communication Design

Instance: 2015/2016 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Design
Course/CS Responsible:	Communication Design

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
DC	64	Licenciatura em Design de Comunicação	1	-	4,5	60	121,5

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

* To provide a socio-cultural framing of digital media and tools in current design practices;
* To consolidate theoretical and practice-based knowledge regarding digital graphics editing in order to underpin the individual practice of Communication Design, providing a scientific and technical understanding of the fundamental principles of digital image;
* To create, to promote and to refine work methodologies for the conception and production of design projects that rely on digital tools.

Learning outcomes and competences

* Basic expertise in operating digital graphics editing tools;
* Fundamental and applied understanding of the technical and scientific principles regarding digital image and surrounding media;
* Development of an autonomous and conscientious work practice and methodology based on the exploration of digital tools.

Working method

Presencial

Program

The Introduction to Digital Tools class will perform an introduction to the role of digital tools and media—the computer, more specifically—in the practice of Communication Design in its technical and scientific, practical and theoretical aspects. The fundamental principles of digital imaging will be studied, taking into account the technological attributes of bitmap image and of vector image, using WYSIWYG interfaces and parametric and procedural systems, with parallel focus on the exploratory study of contemporary graphical grammar and language—from basic elements such as point, line, plane and colour to the exploration of more complex dynamics such as rhythm, modularity, patterns, grids, randomness.

Each module will explore a set of digital tools dedicated to computer assisted graphics editing, in order to introduce students in their practice.

Mandatory literature

—; Scribus Help Manual (At http://wiki.scribus.net/canvas/Help:TOC.)
BAH, Tavmjong; Inkscape: Guide to a Vector Drawing Program, 2011 (4th edition. At http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/.)
The GIMP Documentation Team; GNU Image Manipulation Program User Manual, 2014 (At http://docs.gimp.org/2.8/en/.)
Lupton, Ellen, and Jennifer Cole Philips; Graphic Design: The New Basics, Princeton Architectural Press, 2008. ISBN: 978-1-56898-702-6
Muller-Brockmann Josef; Sistemas de retículas. ISBN: 968-887-201-6
Stephenson, Neal; In the Beginning… Was the Command Line, Harper Collins, 2007. ISBN: 9780061832901 (iBook edition. Original edition, 1999, at http://www.cryptonomicon.com/beginning.html.)
McCloud, Scott; Understanding Comics: The invisible art, Harper Perennial, 1993. ISBN: 978-0-06-097625-5
McCloud, Scott; Reinventing Comics: How imagination and technology are revolutionizing an art form, Harper Collins, 2000. ISBN: 978-0-06-095350-8

Complementary Bibliography

—; Gimp, Floss Manuals (At https://www.flossmanuals.net/gimp/.)
—; Inkscape, Floss Manuals (At https://www.flossmanuals.net/inkscape/.)
—; Scribus, Floss Manuals (At https://www.flossmanuals.net/scribus-2/.)
Ceruzzi, Paul E; Computing: A concise history, The MIT Press, 2012. ISBN: 978-0-262-51767-6
Dailey, David (ed); An SVG Primer for Today's Browsers, 2010 (At http://www.w3.org/Graphics/SVG/IG/resources/svgprimer.html.)
Eisenberg, J. David; SVG Essentials, O’Reilly, 2002. ISBN: 0-596-00223-8
Lupton Ellen; Design writing research. ISBN: 0-7148-3851-9
Lupton, Ellen (ed.); Type on Screen: A Critical Guide for Designers, Writers, Developers, and Students, Princeton Architectural Press, 2014. ISBN: 978-1-61689-170-1
Galloway, Alexander; The Interface Effect, Polity Press, 2012. ISBN: 978-0-7456-6253-4
Gere Charlie; Digital culture. ISBN: 1-86189-143-1 24.00
Manovich, Lev; Software Takes Command, Bloomsbury, 2013. ISBN: 978-1-6235-6261-8
Negroponte, Nicholas; Ser Digital, Editorial Caminho, 1996. ISBN: 9789722110563 (Original edition, 1995.)
Peck, Akkana; Begining Gimp: From novice to professional, Apress, 2008. ISBN: 978-1-4302-1070-2
Kirsanov, Dmitry; The Book of Inkscape: The Definitive Guide to the Free Graphics Editor, No Starch Press, 2009. ISBN: 978-1-59327-181-7
Ribeiro, Nuno; Multimédia e Tecnologias Interactivas, FCA, 2007. ISBN: 978-972-722-574-3
Williams, Sam, & Richard M. Stallman; Free as in Freedom (2.0): Richard Stallman and the Free Software Revolution, Free Software Foundation, 2010. ISBN: 9780983159216

Teaching methods and learning activities

Presentation, analysis and discussion of relevant materials in order to establish a permanent discussion forum within the workgroup.

The classroom will be organized according to a laboratorial structure for the development of design projects. Thereby, will be set in place the idea of the creative lab as a space of experimentation and exploration, where students, individually and collectively, will develop class projects in order to implement scientific contents and consolidate technical skills.

Software

Affinity Designer
Gimp (www.gimp.org)
Scribus (www.scribus.net)
Adobe InDesign
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Illustrator
Nodebox (www.nodebox.net)
Inkscape (www.inkscape.org)
Affinity Photo

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Participação presencial	10,00
Trabalho laboratorial	90,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Elaboração de projeto	25,00
Estudo autónomo	25,00
Frequência das aulas	45,00
Trabalho laboratorial	26,50
Total:	121,50

Calculation formula of final grade

* The final grades will be calculated from the mean average of every project evaluation, and its articulation with a qualitative evaluation of the students' attendance and contributions in class and in all the remaining curricular activities;
* Non delivered projects will be scored with a 0 (zero);
* Projects that are not duly monitored won't be evaluated;
* Projects delivered beyond the established deadlines will be penalized in its score by 25%.

Classification improvement

Only by frequenting classes in the following year.