Yearbook and Journalism - Welcome to TGJ 3M1

Your first official blog post assignment!

WOAH! Back up everyone. Before we get to that, I want everyone to finish setting up their blogs, and then send me a comment at the bottom of this posting that has your blog URL - that's the http://blahblahblah.blogspot.com. That's it. Then I'll add you to a new blog list so I can access your blog from the class blog (that's this one).

Okay, now we can get to the assignment...

As you are aware, we're at a standstill. We've gone head to head and are currently trying to decide between the theme of Music vs. Video Games for this year's yearbook. In order to make this decision and be as equitable as possible, I'm going to give you an assignment that will be both an important learning experience as well as a bit of a competition. And, in order to be fair to those with less experience using computer graphics programs, there will be tutorials available AND I will ask that you pair up with someone with more graphics experience and knowledge. Also, you may submit a design that is drawn by hand using whatever medium you are most comfortable with.

Here is your procedure:

1. Team up with someone who has a skill that you don't. Ideally you might have one person that has experience/skills in computer graphics/design and another that is more experienced and skilled in writing.

2. You will be working individually, but assisting each other with different aspects of the task - i.e. peer assessments and assistance along the way.

Now for the task...

3. Design a cover for the yearbook that includes the back cover AND spine. Draw some thumbnail sketches, choose your best ones (2 or 3) to expand on and turn into a fairly detailed rough draft of a cover design. You will be submitting a comprehensive design - in other words, something that looks relatively finished, can give your peers the sense of what you'd like it to look like, without it being the absolute final design. This cover should give everyone a sense of how the theme might work throughout the book as well.

A note on size: We have not yet determined the size of the book. I am proposing that we go with a traditional 81/2x11" cover. You may choose to use this in a vertical or horizontal format. Think about how that might work as a full front and back cover with a spine of perhaps 1/2". If you would like to propose a different format, you may, but keep in mind that traditional sizes will cost less, which means we can spend more money on upping the colour content of the book.

4. Design any visual elements that might appear throughout the book to show your peers.

5. Write about it! Write a 1-2 page description that provides a justification for your visual design. Ideally there is a conceptual element that takes the visual to another level. For example, the traffic theme from the example I gave you, uses the word traffic, the concept of traffic and the visual of two converging circles, which is used to symbolize bumper to bumper traffic and congestion. This visual and conceptual theme is carried out through the yearbook.

Additionally, you should be able to give concrete examples of how you might change section titles and use verbal statements to carry the theme through. Perhaps re-naming each section with a musical twist. Check out clevel newspaper article headlines for this type of thing.

This is due: Wednesday October 6, 2010. The editorial board will be reading and viewing all designs and written proposals and will take the summaries to the rest of staff for an all staff vote. Please post your final design and written statement on your blog. If your design is by hand, then please submit your finished design (proper size please) with written to the work in folder by the due date.

If your work is digital please make sure you are sizing it accurately. I am not concerned with resolution at this point, but the size must be accurate!