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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "AS 332"
COURSE NAME: "Poster Design"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2025
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Valerio Di Lucente
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: W3:30 PM 6:15 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: one previous course in Graphic Design
OFFICE HOURS:
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The course focuses both on the practical and the theoretical aspects of Poster Design. It will address how to develop graphical concepts in order to bring a coherent message across for didactic purposes, campaigns, exhibitions, or events, and it will examine poster design from an historical and aesthetic point-of view. Technical practice includes an in-depth study of typography, composition, color, photography, and illustration. A basic competence in visual communication, including the major Graphic Design programs, is expected from students who wish to take this course.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
The course offers an insight into the evolution and artistic expression of poster design throughout history. Historic references and theoretical knowledge will provide students with a fundamental awareness for their design decisions during the course. Students will engage with the three visual languages typography, photography, and illustration, to design a series of posters that represent information in a spatial context.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

How to develop design concepts
How to develop grids
How to use typography
How to use imagery
How to use colour
How to prepare a print ready artwork
TEXTBOOK:
NONE
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Visual Assignments 50%
Written Assignments 10%
Midterm 10%
Final 10%
Participation 20%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality shows excellent mastery of the course content along with exceptional levels of technical skill, artistic awareness, originality, resourcefulness, commitment, quantity of work and improvement. There has been excellent collaboration and leadership in group projects, and there have been no attendance problems.
BA highly competent level of performance with work that directly addresses the content of the course, with a good quantity of work produced.
CAn acceptable level of performance: the work shows awareness of the course content, but is very limited in quantity, quality, commitment and skill.
DThe student lacks a coherent grasp of the course material and has failed to produce much work.
FNegligent in attendance, academic honesty, engagement with the course content, or production of work.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:

All scheduled classes are mandatory.
Announcements, presentations, tutorials, etc. are given at the start of each session.
Absence and late arrival affect the final grade.
Missing or incomplete assignments and/or assignments sent after the established deadline lower the grade.
Students are responsible for catching up with any course material they miss.
Make-up work is not offered, except in exceptional circumstances and after consultation with the Dean of Academic Affairs.
Students cannot make-up a major exam (Midterm or Final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family, or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused.
Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
SCHEDULE

WEEK 1

Course overview

Historical overview

Assignment: Written

 

WEEK 2

Printing Techniques

Poster formats

Technical overview

Focus: Printing

Assignment: Written

 

WEEK 3

Focus: Grids & Composition

Assignment: Poster Set #1

 

WEEK 4

Focus: Grids & Composition

Assignment: Poster Set #1

 

WEEK 5

Focus: Typography

Assignment: Poster Set #2

 

WEEK 6

Focus: Typography

Assignment: Poster Set #2

 

WEEK 7

Focus: Typography

Assignment: Poster Set #2

 

WEEK 8

Outdoor Session

Assignment: Written piece

 

WEEK 9

Focus: Photography

Assignment: Poster Set #3

 

WEEK 10

Focus: Photography

Assignment: Poster Set #3

 

WEEK 11

Focus: Photography

Assignment: Poster Set #3

 

WEEK 12

Focus: Illustration

Assignment: Poster Set #4

 

WEEK 13

Focus: Illustration

Assignment: Poster Set #4

 

WEEK 14

Focus: Illustration

Assignment: Poster Set #4

 

WEEK 15

Final Critique

 

OVERVIEW OF KEY BIBLIOGRAPHIC WORKS FOR THE COURSE

Photo Graphics, Poster Collection 17, Lars Müller Publishers, 2008

Zürich–Milano, Poster Collection 14, Lars Müller Publishers, 2007

Black and White / Schwarz und Weiss, Poster Collection 8, Lars Müller Publishers, 2003

Armin Hofmann, Poster Collection 7, Lars Müller Publishers, 2003

Typographic Architectures,Wim Crouwel, Éditions B42, 2021

Posters from Paddington Printshop, John Phillips, Four Corners Books, 2019

Come Alive! The Spirited Art Of Sister Corita, Julie Ault, Four Corners Books, 2006