Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Graphics
Other languages of instruction: Spanish
Teaching staff
Introduction
Graphism is a 4 ECTS credit course taught in the second semester of the third year of the Audiovisual Communication degree.
The Graphism course builds upon the Design course (2nd CA) and introduces us to animation techniques using After Effects, as well as creating graphics and digital post-production in audiovisual environments.
The Graphism course aims to train students in two areas. One is to develop the ability to express their ideas graphically, and the other is to be able to present them to the outside world in an appropriate and controlled manner.
Pre-course requirements
No prerequisites are required.
Objectives
To introduce students to the tools and techniques for creating animated graphic content in an audiovisual environment. To familiarize students with the intuitive interface of After Effects and its similarity and integration with other Adobe programs. To proficiently handle and understand the main features of After Effects, its system, and workflow. To develop the ability to create motion graphics and digital post-production projects, from initial concept to final render. To understand the most commonly used file systems for video export. To develop observational, analytical, and synthesis skills.
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
- 04 - The ability to work in a team and autonomously
- 08 - The ability of critical analysis, synthesis, concretion and abstraction
- 12 - The ability to meet deadlines, develop the ability to be punctual and respect for human, technical and material resources
- 25 - The ability to maximize creative development
- 26 - The ability to develop a sense of taste and perfection in the aesthetics and finalization of projects
- 27 - The ability to adapt to distinct audio visual publics and markets.
- 44 - The ability to adapt to new audiovisual formats
- 46 - The ability to dominate resources used for image (Photographs, lighting...) and sound.
- 47 - The ability to understand and run digital retouching tools, special effects, postproduction and graphics design
- 50 - The ability to adapt, understand and apply the expressive possibilities of new technologies and future changes
Learning outcomes of the subject
Upon completing the course, students will be able to demonstrate the following learning outcomes:
- Understand the tools and techniques for creating animated graphics in an audiovisual environment.
- Develop graphics in a media outlet, agency, or production company.
- Possess aesthetic and functional criteria to optimize the formal presentation of communicative products.
Teaching and learning activities
In person
The contents will be worked on through various activities that require continuous assessment.
The activities combine technical training and creative development in practice.
The development of training activities will take place in an eminently practical space.
| TRAINING ACTIVITY | ECTS CREDITS |
| Coaching. Monitoring how students learn the content of the subject, either individually or in groups. In the coaching sessions, mistakes will be corrected, queries answered, and exercises and activities to achieve the established objectives will be suggested. | 0.8 |
| Focused Praxis. Handing in occasional exercises to learn theory through practice. | 0.8 |
| Seminar. This activity will consist of taking an in-depth look at specific up-to-date topics in a monographic manner-in some cases these topics will have been debated socially-, via active work in small groups. | 0.4 |
| E-learning. Virtual learning based on ICT. | 1 |
| Lab. Working groups that combine theory and practice. The aim of these is not to undertake already known techniques, but instead to make progress that is both theoretical and technical. These Lab sessions will culminate in the creation of a professional or semi-professional product. | 0.4 |
| Peer learning. The aim of this activity is to ensure that students gain the ability to analyse and be critical. One way of achieving this is by correcting their peers' exercises and results, etc. Each student will be evaluated twice: as both a recipient and a transmitter of critical knowledge. | 0.3 |
| Mentoring programme. Ensuring a review of and in-depth look at competences and knowledge, as well as the development of habits involving social commitment and responsibility, with the strongest students providing guidance for students from lower years, particularly if they have any type of disability (physical, etc). | 0.3 |
Evaluation systems and criteria
In person
Assessment System:
The evaluation will be continuous. Students will be required to submit several projects periodically and as agreed.
Both short and long-term projects will be undertaken simultaneously to enhance organizational skills on the part of the student and thus approach a professional working environment.
Long-term projects:
Emphasis will be placed on analytical effort, organization, precision, coherence, and rigor in the use of techniques.
The evaluation objects for long-term projects will be the works developed in class; consequently, no works that have not been at least proposed in class will be accepted, and no student who has not punctually submitted all their works in the successive phases of each project will be evaluated.
Given that we are in an educational environment, the use of templates in long-term projects will not be accepted. In no case, that is, neither in the entirety of the project nor partially adapted.
Short-term projects:
Emphasis will be placed on synthetic effort; exercises that require quick and concrete graphic responses, consistent use of techniques and materials, according to the determined parameters.
Works submitted later than the agreed date and time will also not be accepted unless due to a serious and justified reason.
Assessment Criteria:
The final evaluation grade will be the weighted average of the long and short-term projects.
It is worth noting (although it is common sense...) that the mere submission of all projects only grants the right to be evaluated but does not imply an unconditional pass at any time.
Long and short-term projects submitted later than the agreed date and time, unless for a serious or justified reason, will be penalized in the grade and will only be eligible for a pass.
Evaluation will be based on:
In reflective aspects:
- Degree of coherence between the problem raised and its resolution.
- Intellectual effort.
In practical aspects:
- Degree of coherence and rigor in the use of techniques.
- Degree of precision and mastery of techniques. Aesthetic and functional adequacy of the result. Through presence and participation in workgroups and intervention in collective presentations.
Bibliography and resources
ADOBE PRESS, Adobe After Effects Classroom in a Book (2020 release)
BERGSTRÖM, Bo: Tengo algo en el ojo (PromoPress, 2009)
BROCKMANN, Josef Müller: Historia de la comunicación visual (Gustavo Gili, 2005)
CHION, Michel: La audiovisión: Introducción a un análisis conjunto de la imagen y el sonido (Ediciones Paidós, 1998)
COSTA, Joan: Identidad televisiva en 4D (Grupo editorial Design, 2005)
DONDIS, D.A.: La sintaxis de la imagen (Gustavo Gili, 2010)
GLASER, Milton: Milton Glaser Graphic design (Penguin Books, 1983)
HARRIS, Ambrose: Fundamentos de la tipografía (Parramón, 2007)
HERVÁS Ivars, Christian: El diseño gráfico en Televisión: Técnica, lenguaje y arte (Cátedra, 2002)
MEGGS, Philip B.: Historia del Diseño Grafico (Editorial RM, 2009)
OTTO & OLAF: Color y Percepción (Index Book, 2008)
RAFOLS, Rafael: Diseño Audiovisual (Gustavo Gili, 2006)
WIGAN, Mark: Imágenes en secuencia (Gustavo Gili, 2008)
WOOLMAN, Matt: Tipos en movimiento (Index Books,S.L., 2000)