Syllabus for Foundations of Media Design graduate level Media Studies course taught by Kit Laybourne at The New School.

1. FMD Syllabus – Laybourne - 1/5/15 – page 1
FOUNDATIONS OF MEDIA DESIGN
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is designed as a prerequisite to other media production courses within the MA degree
program in Media Studies: it provides a broad orientation for understanding areas of media production
and the precepts of media design. Through an activity-based study of perceptual principles, drawing,
graphic design, photography, sound, and the moving image, students examine the underlying forms,
principles and processes of media, as viewers, reviewers, and as makers. Students will also explore their
own creativity, career interests, and personal strengths in various production roles.
METHOD & COURSE REQUIREMENTS
This course stresses the use of basic digital gear and software, as applied to conceptual and analytical
problems within media design. Weekly creative exercises, web research, and production projects will
reinforce lectures and studio workshops. There are no tests and no formal papers, although students are
expected to write design critiques and maintain a regular log of images and observations. The course
content builds sequentially, and leads to a modest final project. The instructor will be consistently giving
assignments that require as much as 6 hours per week of “outside” time.
EXERCISES & PROJECTS
The course has three “cycles” of short, stand-alone exercises: Targeting (6 exercises), Still-Life (12)
and Portraits (10). These weekly creative tasks aim to materialize abstract concepts to experiment
practically.
There are three larger “projects” that require sustained work through a number of steps. Each student will
work individually in developing a “60 sec Spot”. Each student will also build an interactive selection of
semester work as either a “Site or DV”. Finally, the class will divide into production teams that collaborate
on a “Group Narrative” of about 5 minutes length.
READINGS & ON-LINE RESOURCES
There is no assigned text for the course. A number of books will be recommended and students are
expected to develop production library that covers areas of particular interest to them. The course will
involve considerable time reviewing the Design Chops domain within the Kit Laybourne’s web site, where
you will find some pdfs. An online training site Lynda.com is recommended as single source for useful
instruction about software.
ATTENDANCE & GRADES
Grades will be based upon (a) attendance & participation (20%), (b) a string of short individual projects
that culminate in a web site (45%), (c) a group project (25%) and a short paper (10%) that reflects upon
the course a experiences vis-à-vis goals for further learning in the MA program. Attendance is important
and more than two unexcused absences may result in reduction by a full grade level.
TOOLS
Topics and techniques of design will be taught primarily through a digital toolset based on the Macintosh
OSX operating system. Our classroom is equipped with updated Mac workstations and ample time is
available for out-of-class work on the University’s hardware.
On Saturdays throughout the semester, FMD Teaching Assistants will offer Saturday Workshops on
particular hardware and software. A schedule for this will be reviewed in class.
It is recommended that students arrange access to a digital still camera for location-based assignments.
In order to store their digital files, students will need to provide approximately 5 blank CD-R compact disks
(650+ MB), a Flash Drive or an external, portable Fire-Wire drive.
By the second class, students will need to acquire some drawing tools plus an artist’s sketchbook.

2. FMD Syllabus – Laybourne - 1/5/15 – page 2
CLASS SCHEDULE
#1 – Designer’s Eye & Hand - 1/22
introductions: Overview, Definitions, & Housekeeping
screenings: “Why Man Creates” by Saul Bass
studio: Basic drawing technique
assignments: Design Chops (on- going), Skills Inventory, Still Life Cycle, Date with Mirror, Media Scan (on-
going), Idea Vault (on-going)
#2 – Digital Intensive - 1/29
lecture: Short History of Graphic Style
studio: Intro Computer Facilities; Digital Drawing & Graphic Design tools.
assignments: Raw to Cooked, Grid Portrait, Still Life,
#3 – Illustration – 2/05
lecture: The Pathology of Notes
studio: Scanning & Managing Image Files; Illustrator Intro
assignments: Self as Strumpet, Alter Ego, Still Life
#4 – Type & Layout - 2/12
lecture; The Design Process
studio: MS Word as Graphic Design Tool
assignment: Garish Slate, Custom Font Library, Personal Logotype
President’s Day 2/19 no class
#5 – Photography – 2/26
lecture: A Short History of Photography: screening “Visions of Light”
studio: Lighting Basics:
assignments: Camera Inventory, Portrait of a Friend, Photo Self Portrait
#6 – Image Editing – 3/05
lecture: Archiving & Non-Destructive Editing
studio: Photoshop Intro;
assignment: Makeovers, Retouching, Working the Edges
#7 – Images-in-Series– 3/12
lecture: Four Modes of Structure; screening: collection of shorts
studio: iMovie & Final Cut Express for slide shows
assignment: Scene & Structure Set
Spring Break 3/19 no class
#8 –Ideation & The Production Process – 3/26
lecture: Intro to “60 Second Spot” Project
studio: Ideation Techniques
assignment: Three Pitches
#9 – Audio – 4/02
lecture: Lighting Basics:
studio: Garage Band Intro; Recording Technique
assignment: Sound Bed; Cutting to Beat, Spot: treatment, script, production plan.
# 10 – Writing, Directing, Performing – 4/09
lecture: Writing & Storyboarding
studio: Group Narrative Project Intro & Brainstorming
assignments: Spot: Production; Group: Beat Outline
#11 – Interactive Design – 4/16
lecture: Distribution and Sharing via Web and Wireless
studio: iDVD, iWeb and others; Group: Story Conference, Role Selection
assignment: Spot; Production; Group: Script Draft; site/DVD: Flowchart
#12 – DV Shooting & Non-Linear Editing - 4/23
lecture: Shooting Technique; Acting; Directing; Non-Linear Editing & QuickTime; Film & TV: The Biz,
Genres & Careers
studio: Group: Table Reading; Pre-Production
assignment: Spot; Production; Group: Final Script & Director’s Breakdown: site/DV: Build-Out.
#13 – Narrative Production - 4/30
studio: teams shoot on location
assignment: Spot; Rough Cut: Group: Assembly; site/DV: Build-Out.
#14 - One-on-One Screenings – 5/07
studio: during this open workshop, instructor will schedule quarter-hour rough cut screenings with each
student of their “:60 Spot”.
assignments: Course Evaluation; Complete & duplicate site/DV; Program Goal Setting.
Student Showcase – 5/11
#15 –Course Wrap-Up – 5/14
studio: World Premieres – “:60 Spot” & “Site or DVD” (by individuals) & “Group Narrative” (by teams)