Weeks 4 to 7 · about 21 hours
Module 3: Recipe: Grids and Hierarchy
Instructor notes (instructor view only)
- After Step 3, run a short anonymous mid-semester check-in (a Canvas survey: what is working, what is not, one change).
- Step 4 is the first image step: check sources and licenses before grading the design.
Build list before this module opens
- Create and caption the video: The 12-column grid in InDesign: document setup and column guides (5 minutes, captioned)
- Create and caption the video: Placing versus pasting, effective resolution, RGB and CMYK (4 minutes, captioned)
- Create and caption the video: Exporting the eight-page print PDF (4 minutes, captioned)
- After Step 3, run a short anonymous mid-semester check-in (a Canvas survey: what is working, what is not, one change).
Objectives
Module 3 objectives. By the end of this module, you will be able to:
- 3.1 Explain three ways to create typographic hierarchy by setting one line of your own recipe three ways. (Course Competency 2; Understand)
- 3.2 Use InDesign to set a recipe on a 12-column grid and to place an outside image at correct effective resolution and color mode. (Course Competency 3; Apply)
- 3.3 Apply one hierarchy variable at a time (leading, kerning, weight, case, scale) and explain how each changes what reads first. (Course Competency 2; Apply)
- 3.4 Produce an eight-page, print-ready PDF that revises every design, after ranking all eight against the hierarchy goal. (Course Competency 5; Create)
Overview
One recipe, eight designs, a 12-column grid and one typeface at one size. Each step unlocks one more tool for hierarchy: placement, then weight and case, then scale, then an outside image. This is where you learn grids, and where you learn to place images correctly for print.
Watch
- The 12-column grid in InDesign: document setup and column guides (5 minutes, captioned)
- Placing versus pasting, effective resolution, RGB and CMYK (4 minutes, captioned)
- Exporting the eight-page print PDF (4 minutes, captioned)
- Videos are posted in Canvas before the module opens.
Read
- Baseline, Grid Systems
- Typography Handbook, spacing and hierarchy chapters
Practice
Before Step 1, set up the 8 by 8, 12-column document and save it as a template you reuse for every step.
Assessment
- Reading: Hierarchy and the Grid: 5 points, Exercises; due Thu Feb 18 at noon
- Recipe Step 1: Placement Only: 10 points, Process Work; due Thu Feb 18 at noon
- Recipe Step 2: Weight and Case: 10 points, Process Work; due Sun Feb 21 at noon
- Recipe Step 3: Scale: 10 points, Process Work; due Thu Feb 25 at noon
- Recipe Step 4: Image in Negative Space: 10 points, Process Work; due Sun Feb 28 at noon
- Recipe Step 5: Final: 30 points, Projects; due Thu Mar 4 at noon
Critique
Each step is posted to #avc183-graphic-design-1 the day before it is due, with three principle-based comments.
Due
- Reading: Hierarchy and the Grid: due Thu Feb 18; hard close Fri Feb 19, all at noon
- Recipe Step 1: Placement Only: Discord Wed Feb 17; due Thu Feb 18; hard close Fri Feb 19, all at noon
- Recipe Step 2: Weight and Case: Discord Sat Feb 20; due Sun Feb 21; hard close Mon Feb 22, all at noon
- Recipe Step 3: Scale: Discord Wed Feb 24; due Thu Feb 25; hard close Fri Feb 26, all at noon
- Recipe Step 4: Image in Negative Space: Discord Sat Feb 27; due Sun Feb 28; hard close Mon Mar 1, all at noon
- Recipe Step 5: Final: Discord Wed Mar 3; due Thu Mar 4; hard close Fri Mar 5, all at noon