Three New GCOM Classes Available

It's time to register for Fall classes, and Graphic Communication has some great NEW COURSES for you to consider!

GCOM319: Print and Multimedia Publication Design

Formerly the Newspaper Design class, this is now a full multimedia publication focus: web, magazine and newspaper design and production. This class works closely with Journalism and Photography students to produce the student newspaper, Express, it's web site, SacCityExpress.com, the student magazine, Mainline and it's web site, and the annual Sussurus literary journal. This is one of our "real-world" classes that provides a true vocational work experience environment, and is highly recommended for students looking get a job in the graphic or web design field. It's Mon/Wed 4:00 - 6:30 schedule includes lab time and is very flexible. 

For more info, contact Don Button: buttond@scc.losrios.edu

GCOM332: Advanced Image Editing for Web/Multimedia, Using Adobe Photoshop

This new advanced digital imaging class will focus on some of the newest and most exciting features of Adobe Photoshop CS4: 3D modeling and texturing, video frame editing and effects, simple animation, and web graphics and web site prototyping. This class will be an excellent experience for any students focusing on animation, game design, and motion or web design. It is being offered as an Interactive TV course, which gives you the option to attend class in person, watch a live public access TV broadcast, or watch a streamed video online (which is great if you have a work or class conflict). 

For more info, contact Don Button: buttond@scc.losrios.edu

GCOM390: Introduction to Motion Design using Adobe After Effects

This is our highly anticipated first offering of After Effects, the exciting and dynamic industry standard in motion design for web, interactive, broadcast and film graphics. This course is being offered with a scheduled, back-to-back lecture and lab. For more info, contact Don Button: buttond@scc.losrios.edu

Brainstorm: the recap

Brainstorm turned out to be a successful event thanks to the all the participants and attendees.

A special thanks goes out to all of the generous event sponsors (see below), the GCOM Club for organizing the event, Pat Crandley, Don Button, the Mac Lab, and our Student Design Awards judges John Forrest / CSU Sacramento, Graphic Design program, Taras Garcia / California Restaurant Association, 2008 Best Print Award Winner, David Jayne / Sacramento News & Review, Darcey Self / Sol Design Group, Jeff Toll / BKWLD.

This year, we had three Show Off competitions that included one for faculty, print design and 3D modeling. The GCOM chair Don Button picked up his second consecutive award in the competition for this version of Tag Yourself (a typographic self portrait). John Conley's poster design inspired by the theme Man vs. Nature was voted the best Show Off print design and Israel Lopez's 3D model of a stapler proved to be the most realistic of the newly introduced category.

The Student Design Awards awarded two bests of the year and a popular choice award voted by Brainstorm attendees. The Animation of the Year Award went to Cody Tibitts for his spiked heart. The Print Design of the Year Award went to John Conley for his book cover design and digital illustration for Timeline. The Popular Choice Award went to Carol Klippstein for her Calendar design and digital illustration.

Other winners of the Student Design Awards include:

Gold
Charles Henderson
Cody Tibbitts
Craig Dutton
John Conley
Peter Duong
Richard Yang

Silver
Amee Phelps
Andrew Clementi
Andrew Clementi, Suzanne Cabral, & Carol Klippstein
Bill Smith
Carol Klippstein
Charles Henderson
Christie Garcia
Deborah Frost
Israel Lopez
Joel Michael Smith
John Conley
Maricela Alvarez
Patrick Moore
Peter Doung
Priscilla Garcia
Rachel Cate
Richard Rennie & Suzanne Cabral
Richard Yang
Spring Salter
Steve Nyholm
Susan Klienhandle
Victor Campos
William Leung

Show Off Sponsors
Wacom Technology
Luxology
Digital Tutors

Award Reception Sponsors
Evan's Kitchen
Palermo Ristorante
California Pizza Kitchen

Printing Sponsors
Blue Moon Printing
The MAC Lab

Raffle Sponsors
Mohawk Fine Papers
Sacramento Music Circus
Rosebud Designs
Sol Design Group
Peach Pit Press
Subway
Raley's Bel Air

It's our annual event so if you didn't make it or were not able to participate, don't fret, we'll be back next spring! If you're interested in helping organize, join the GCOM Club by signing up for GCOM 490 this upcoming semester or email gcomclub@gmail.com for more info.

Brainstorm Schedule

As you guys are preparing your final projects for the semester, keep in mind that Brainstorm: the GCOM Design Showcase is taking place next Tuesday, May 19.

See the schedule below and we hope to see you there (some instructors are giving extra credit for attending—check with them individually)!

2pm Student Design Showcase / Animator's Ball Opens

3pm Welcome

3:15pm Faculty Show-off: Missy Anapolsky, Don Button, Tom Cappelletti, Jenn de la Fuente and Chris Seddon

4:00pm Design Show-off: Victor Campos, Andrew Clementi, John Conley and Richard Yang

4:45pm 3D Show-off: Andrew Forrest, Isreal Lopez, Codi Tidbbits

5:30pm Student Design Award Reception
presented by Evan's Kitchen and Palermo Ristorante

Student Design Award Judges:
John Forrest / CSU Sacramento, Graphic Design program
Taras Garcia / California Restaurant Association, 2008 Best Print Award Winner
David Jayne / Sacramento News & Review
Darcey Self / Sol Design Group
Jeff Toll / BKWLD

Reminders for this week

GCOM Students! As we wrap up the semester, there are a few reminders you should keep in mind!

It's almost submission time for the GCOM Student Design Awards Competition! Submissisions will be accepted this Wednesday, May 6, in T100, from 3–5pm. No late entries will be accepted. Entries that win gold or silver awards will be display at Brainstorm: the GCOM Design Showcase featuring the Animator's Ball on May 19 in the SCC Student Center and again at the GCOM Fall Open House. Best designs of the year will win cash and prizes, not to mention bragging rights

To see rules and guidelines for submissions, download the entry form here.


The GCOM Club is also still recruiting students to participate in our annual Show Off competition! News just in, the winners of all three Show Off competitions will win a grand prize Wacom Bamboo Tablet! If you are interested in competing, please email gcomclub@gmail.com.

P.S. Please check out our sister club SCC Photo Club at this months Second Saturday May 9th, "Iconic. Again." at Beatnik Studios 2421A 17th Street.



Peace & Love – priscilla garcia : club president

It's what designers do ...

With Swine Flu upon us, people are looking for all the information they can get on the illness. Media is all over it, which bring us to this post.

As designers, your job is to help get the message to the audience effectively through composition, graphic elements, type, color, etc.

Here's a perfect of example of taking the epidemic and creating something good of it. Check out the infographics showing the outbreaks and how Swine Flu is spread.

And don't forget to wash your hands!

GCOM Club web design launched

Check out the Go Green California Business web site, designed by the GCOM Club. The site sponsors hired the GCOM Club in the Fall 2008 semester to design this for them. Jenn de la Fuente, Priscilla Garcia and Vitaliy Zavorotny made up the group responsible for the site design. And Jenn actually landed a full-tim job with the site's sponsor because of it.

Congratulations to them on their outstanding work!


If you are interested in joining the GCOM Club and working on real projects like this site and more, register for GCOM 490: GCOM Studio + Club for the fall semester (MW 3–5pm in T100) or contact Andrea Diaz-Vaughn at diazvaughn@gmail.com.

The Student Design Awards are here!

Get your projects ready for judging! The Student Design Awards rules and guidelines for entries is here.

The 2009 GCOM Student Design Awards will recognize the best student work of the 08-09 school year. The competition is open to GCOM@SCC students who were or are enrolled in one or more GCOM classes during the Fall 2008 and/or Spring 2009 semesters. There are three categories: Print, Screen (web or interactive, HTML or Flash) and Animation (2d or 3d).

Submissisions will be accepted on Wednesday, May 6, in T100, from 3–5pm. No late entries will be accepted.

Entries that win gold or silver awards will be display at Brainstorm: the GCOM Design Showcase featuring the Animator's Ball on May 19 in the SCC Student Center and again at the GCOM Fall Open House.

Download the entry form here.

Questions? Email Andrea Diaz-Vaughn at diazvaughn@gmail.com.