Assignment Information

10/15/23, 6 : 09 PM Assignment Information Page 1 of 4 https://learn.snhu.edu/content/enforced/1379351-GRA-200-T1622-OL…SessionVal=pj7p2Rf7ECi7OFBaEhwQwDfv1&ou=1379351&d2l_body_type=3 GRA 200 Project Guidelines and Rubric Competency In this project, you will demonstrate your mastery of the following competencies: Explain the various types of design software Practice navigating the interface of different design software Use software to revise basic designs Overview The number of tools available in any profession can be overwhelming. For this reason, professionals often create a toolkit, which contains a core set of tools they find useful and rely on most. Consider carpenters and their tool belts. Because only a certain number of tools will fit in their belt, they include the tools they know they’ll use most often and like the best. In the graphic arts, where there are almost limitless resources and options, it is helpful to create a Design Toolkit Design Toolkit that includes a core set of tools you know can be used in nearly any design situation. For this project, you will start building your Design Toolkit with a focus on three primary software tools: Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign. Your Design Toolkit will include a description of the types of design problems each of these software tools can be applied to (just like a carpenter has to learn which situations require the use of pliers, and which are better addressed with a crowbar). You will also include additional information, such as your software feature preferences. You will use your Design Toolkit in other courses in the Graphic Design and Media Arts program, and will add to it throughout your career, as you identify useful examples, shortcuts, and other helpful reference material. Directions Part 1: Design Software Overview Part 1: Design Software Overview Your Design Toolkit must include an overview of each software application overview of each software application, for quick reference when you need to complete specific design tasks. To build this portion of your Design Toolkit: 1. Complete the Design Software Overview Complete the Design Software Overview section to: Describe the purpose and primary uses of Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign Explain the advantages and drawbacks of each software application Identify the different types of file formats and how they are used within each software application 2. Use the resources provided in the course and the software applications themselves to complete the Design Software Overview section. Sources should be cited according to MLA style. Part 2: Comparing Tools and Features Part 2: Comparing Tools and Features ! "

10/15/23, 6 : 10 PM Assignment Information Page 2 of 4 https://learn.snhu.edu/content/enforced/1379351-GRA-200-T1622-O…SessionVal=pj7p2Rf7ECi7OFBaEhwQwDfv1&ou=1379351&d2l_body_type=3 Your Design Toolkit must include information about the specific tools and features available in each software application specific tools and features available in each software application, the design tasks they are most applicable to design tasks they are most applicable to, and how they compare how they compare. To build this portion of your Design Toolkit, you will use Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign to complete six specific design tasks complete six specific design tasks, capture your results, and then explain your experience. 1. Complete the following six basic design tasks on each of the sample posters provided in the Supporting Materials section, using the software application each poster was created in. The three sample posters are identical, but each was created in a different software application (Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign). Download the Photoshop and Illustrator poster files and the InDesign folder so all the items are on your computer before you make any design changes. Then, complete the following tasks for each of the posters. Be sure to save your work after completing each task, so you do not lose work if the application or computer should freeze and need to be restarted while you are working. 1.1. Change the background color to one you believe is more appealing. 1.2. Remove the last “Sponsored by:” item (mouse with cheese in bottom right corner). 1.3. Move the remaining three “Sponsored by:” items so they are evenly spaced across the bottom. 1.4. Add a drop shadow to the circle with text. 1.5. Add a text box above the picture of cheese using the following content: “Thousands of different varieties of cheese: cow, goat, sheep, yak, camel—even reindeer and horse.” 1.6. Replace the picture of cheese with any cheese-related image of your choosing. 2. Identify which tool in each software application you used to complete each of the six design tasks, and where the tool is located (i.e., name the menu or tab you used to find the tool). a. Save each of the three changed posters as an image file after completing all of the tasks and insert the images in a Word document. Title each poster image with the software application it was created and modified in. Under each poster image, name the tool or feature you used to complete each of the six design tasks and where the tool/feature is located. (i.e., 1.1. Change Color, Color Replacement Tool, flyout menu of the Brush Tool in the Tools panel). 3. For each of the six design tasks, explain which tool/software application you found easiest to use in accomplishing the task and why. Explain your perspective in paragraph format. 4. For each of the six design tasks, explain which tool/software application you think had the best result and why. Explain your perspective in paragraph format. Part 3: Analyzing and Improving Designs Part 3: Analyzing and Improving Designs You will analyze an existing design analyze an existing design and use your Design Toolkit to support your work in making needed improvements use your Design Toolkit to support your work in making needed improvements. You will also analyze and improve three of your improve three of your own designs own designs: the artifacts that you drafted for the Module Six Practice Activity: Communicating Visually. 1. Download the InDesign Sample Newsletter folder from the Supporting Materials section so all the items are on your computer before you make any design changes. 2. Analyze the sample newsletter contained within the InDesign Sample Newsletter folder from the Supporting Materials section: a. Identify effective graphic design elements, based on the five elements and the six principles of design defined in Chapter 2 your textbook, Graphic Design: Learn It, Do It . Capture the newsletter as an image and use one of the software applications to circle/highlight 2 to 3 effective design elements. Insert the captured newsletter image with your highlighting into a Word document. Name each highlighted graphic design element (i.e., “White space”) and explain how the newsletter effectively applied this design element. b. Identify ineffective graphic design elements, based on the five elements and the six principles of design defined in Chapter 2 of Graphic Design: Learn It, Do It . Capture the newsletter as an image and use one of the software applications to circle/highlight 2 to 3 ineffective design elements. Insert the captured newsletter image with your highlighting into a Word document. Name each highlighted graphic design element (i.e., “font”) and explain how the design element was ineffectively used in the newsletter. 3. Determine which combination of software applications and tools (Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, or InDesign) you will use to make needed improvements to the newsletter design, based on your work in step 2b. a. Name the design element needing improvement and then list the software/tool you will use to make that improvement. Explain why you made this selection, using your earlier work on the Design Toolkit as a guide. 4. Use the software/tools you selected to make needed improvements to the newsletter design. a. Be sure to save your file. b. Export the newsletter as a PDF file for submission. 5. Refine the artifacts that you drafted from the Module Six Practice Activity: Communicating Visually.

10/15/23, 6 : 10 PM Assignment Information Page 4 of 4 https://learn.snhu.edu/content/enforced/1379351-GRA-200-T1622-O…SessionVal=pj7p2Rf7ECi7OFBaEhwQwDfv1&ou=1379351&d2l_body_type=3 uses Strengths and Strengths and drawbacks of software drawbacks of software applications applications Exceeds proficiency in an exceptionally clear, insightful, sophisticated, or creative manner Provides clear explanation of the strengths and drawbacks of each of the three software applications Shows progress toward proficiency, but with errors or omissions Does not attempt criterion 10 Different file formats Different file formats and uses and uses Exceeds proficiency in an exceptionally clear, insightful, sophisticated, or creative manner Accurately identifies the different types of file formats and how they are used in each software application Shows progress toward proficiency, but with errors or omissions Does not attempt criterion 10 Purpose and location of Purpose and location of tools tools Exceeds proficiency in an exceptionally clear, insightful, sophisticated, or creative manner Determines which software tool is appropriate for a given design task and why and its location within the software Shows progress toward proficiency, but with errors or omissions Does not attempt criterion 10 Uses software tools for Uses software tools for basic design tasks basic design tasks Exceeds proficiency in an exceptionally clear, insightful, sophisticated, or creative manner Successfully completes basic design tasks using software application tools Shows progress toward proficiency, but with errors or omissions Does not attempt criterion 10 Similarities and Similarities and differences between differences between tools tools Exceeds proficiency in an exceptionally clear, insightful, sophisticated, or creative manner Compares the functionality and ease of use of various tools in the three software applications Shows progress toward proficiency, but with errors or omissions Does not attempt criterion 10 Analyzes designs Analyzes designs Exceeds proficiency in an exceptionally clear, insightful, sophisticated, or creative manner Accurately identifies effective and ineffective design elements, with supporting rationale Shows progress toward proficiency, but with errors or omissions Does not attempt criterion 10 Identifies best software Identifies best software to revise a design to revise a design Exceeds proficiency in an exceptionally clear, insightful, sophisticated, or creative manner Determines software/tools appropriate for accomplishing basic design tasks, with supporting rationale Shows progress toward proficiency, but with errors or omissions Does not attempt criterion 10 Uses software tools to Uses software tools to improve designs improve designs Exceeds proficiency in an exceptionally clear, insightful, sophisticated, or creative manner Uses a combination of software applications/tools to make needed improvements to a design Shows progress toward proficiency, but with errors or omissions Does not attempt criterion 10 Articulation of Response Articulation of Response Exceeds proficiency in an exceptionally clear, insightful, sophisticated, or creative manner Clearly conveys meaning with correct grammar, sentence structure, and spelling, demonstrating an understanding of audience and purpose Shows progress toward proficiency, but with errors in grammar, sentence structure, and spelling, negatively impacting readability Submission has critical errors in grammar, sentence structure, and spelling, preventing understanding of ideas 5 Citations and Citations and Attributions Attributions Uses citations for ideas requiring attribution, with few or no minor errors Uses citations for ideas requiring attribution, with consistent minor errors Uses citations for ideas requiring attribution, with major errors Does not use citations for ideas requiring attribution 5 Total: Total: 100%