Showing posts with label GCOM news. Show all posts
Showing posts with label GCOM news. Show all posts

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Many new changes for GCOM in the Fall

The Fall 11 schedule is now available on line, so you should start planning you classes and be ready to register as soon as you day and time arrive.

But the Graphic Communication department will be going through some important changes in the Fall, so please read this message to be prepared.

COURSE NAME CHANGES
In an effort to better represent our department philosophy and align our course names with many of the 4-year institutions our students transfer to, beginning Fall 2011, our core GCOM classes will be undergoing a name change.

course # / old name                                     new name
313 Beg. Page Layout using InDesign        Digital Layout I
314 Adv. Page Layout using InDesign        Digital Layout 2

330 Beg. Photoshop                                 Digital Imaging I
331 Adv. Digital Imaging for Print              Digital Imaging 2
332 Adv. Digital Imaging for Web/Multi.     Digital Imaging 3

340 Beginning Illustrator           Digital Illustration for Graphic Design I
341 Adv. Digital Illustration      Digital Illustration for Graphic Design 2

380 Beg. Interactive Design                       Interactive Design 1
383 Intermediate Interactive Design           Interactive Design 2
390 Beg. Motion Design                            Motion Design 1

(note: similar name changes are likely to take place for these courses in the following school year: 343, 345, 360, 361, 362)


NEW LECTURE / LAB CHANGES
For many years nearly all of GCOM’s graphic design and web design courses have been offered as a scheduled Lecture with the Lab portion listed as TBA — allowing students to complete their lab work on their own schedule at home or in our Design Lab.

Due to changing administration directives and state regulations, beginning in the Fall 2011 semester many of our core classes will be scheduled with a required scheduled Lab section with the instructor.

As an example, our current Beginning Photoshop class is scheduled as a weekly 2 hour Lecture class, for which the student is expected to complete approximately 3 hours of assigned Lab work per week on their own.

In the Fall, the 2 hour Lecture will be immediately followed by a 1.25 hour in-class Lab. The students will be expected to attend and use that time to produce class work, along with an additional 1.75 hours of TBA Lab time.

Some of these classes may be scheduled in a “hybrid” modality, which means the instructor may be choose to make some Lab time flexible or online.

However, not all GCOM courses will change to the scheduled Lab. Some of our advanced, principles, and distance ed courses will continue to only have unscheduled TBA lab.

The GCOM faculty believes that offering scheduled Lab classes with the instructor, especially for our core introductory courses, will provide a more engaging and enriching educational experience for our students.

NEW DEGREE / CERTIFICATE INFO
The Fall 2011 semester will also bring changes to the requirements of our GCOM A.S. Degree and our Career Certificates. If you began taking GCOM classes before Fall 11, these changes may not directly effect you. 

More information about the degree and certificates will be coming soon, as soon as they are fully approved.

Monday, April 12, 2010

Brainstorm Student Showcase - May 17


GCOM@SCC and the GCOM Club present Brainstorm: the 2009-2010 Design Showcase featuring Student Awards and Face-off competition.

Stop by to view all the award-winning Student Design Competition entries and see which design will pick up "Student Design of the Year" and the "Popular Choice Award" during the Awards Reception. You will hear more about the competition next week so stay tuned.

Brainstorm will also feature an "Iron Chef-like" design competition in which four students will be challenged to create an original design in 30 minutes. There will be four different Face-off competitions: one for design, 3D modeling, motion and a faculty Face-off competition.

May 17, 2010
2pm - 7pm
SCC Student Center

Schedule
(may be subject to change)
2pm Welcome
3:00pm Student Graphic Design Face-off
3:45pm Faculty Design Face-off
4:30pm Student 3D Design Face-off
5:15pm Student Motion Design Face-off
6:00pm Student Design Awards/Reception


Monday, December 7, 2009

GCOM + PHOTO Clubs Second Saturday Show in January


The GCOM Club (GCOM 490: Studio + Club) students will be featured in a Second Saturday Show, January 9, 2009, from 6-10pm at Beatnik Studios.

Joint projects will be featured by showcasing GCOM and PHOTO Club students' collaborative efforts to reproduce iconic advertising.

Local art directors, designers and photographers are welcome to see what these up-and-comers can do.

Visit gcomclub.com/ransom for more info.

Friday, September 25, 2009

Call for Outreach Schedule Designs

This is your chance to get a published and printed design for your portfolio. All GCOM students are welcome to submit designs.

Sacramento City College’s Davis and West Sacramento Outreach Centers need your design and artistic skills (The Downtown center is closing). Using Photoshop, Illustrator and/or Modo, create a cover concept or illustration for one of the outreach location's Spring 2010 class schedule and submit it for consideration by Friday, October 30.

Each cover needs to follow a specific theme. All the important details are on THIS FLYER (click to download), which is also posted in the Design Lab and T-100 classroom.

You can also see examples of past student-designed published covers HERE.

For West Sacramento, HERE are some images of the new building you can download.
You can use these for reference, use the large rendering as is, or adapt the rendering to your design.

Any questions about this can be directed to Don at buttond@scc.losrios.edu or Tom at cappelt@scc.losrios.edu

Friday, June 19, 2009

Three New GCOM Classes Available

The Graphic Communication has some great NEW & RETURNING 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

GCOM490: Graphic Communication Studio
Graphic Communication Studio will introduce career-driven design students to producing, creating, and completing real-world graphic design and Web design projects. Students will have the opportunity to develop a portfolio of completed projects. Students will also experience deadlines, the client-designer relationship, and strategies for presenting concepts and design work. This class meets Mon/Wed 3:00 - 5:10, schedule includes some supervised lab time and is flexible credit. For more info, contact Andrea Diaz-Vaughn: diazvaughn@gmail.com


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


Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Call for Outreach Schedule Designs

This is your chance to get a published and printed design for your portfolio. All GCOM students are welcome to submit designs. 

Sacramento City College’s Davis, West Sac and Downtown Outreach Centers need your design and artistic skills. Using Photoshop and/or Illustrator, create a cover concept or illustration for one of the outreach location's Summer/Fall 2009 class schedule and submit it for consideration by Monday, MARCH 23.

Each cover needs to follow a specific theme. All the important details are on THIS FLYER (click to download), which is also posted in the Mac Lab and T-100 classroom.

You can also see examples of past student-designed published covers HERE.

Any questions about this can be directed to Don at buttond@scc.losrios.edu or Tom at cappelt@scc.losrios.edu

Monday, January 5, 2009

Sign up for Newspaper Design this Spring


GCOM 319: Newspaper Design needs talented and creative students!

In this unique, real-world class, you will work with student writers, editors, photographers to design and produce the bi-weekly Express student newspaper. Learn page layout and design, typography, and project planning from professor Don Button, an art director with over 20 years of publication design experience. We use InDesign and Photoshop, so this is a great alternative to Advanced InDesign. The Express is a highly-regarded and award-winning newspaper — this course and the job experience you gain will look great on your resume, and the published designs you create will stand out in your portfolio.

GCOM 319 is a 3 unit, class transferable to CSU. Prerequisite: GCOM 313 or 316 with a grade of C or better, or page layout experience.

GCOM 319 meets Monday and Wednesday, 1:30–4:10 pm.
This includes the lecture and lab components.
If you have a schedule conflict with another class, it may be possible to get a waiver.

Sign up now!! If you have any questions, please e-mail Don or call him at 396-1134.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Info Graphics Master to Speak...


Don't miss a great opportunity to see this special GCOM guest speaker presentation:

Nathaniel Levine
Sacramento Bee
visual journalist, graphic artists and digital illustrator
Friday, December 5
1pm in T-100

Nathaniel is an award-winning visual journalist who uses Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash, and 3D applications to create 2D and 3D art, maps, charts, and interactive animations for both the printed newspaper and the Sac Bee web site.

This presentation will be very informative for all students interested in graphics, 3D, publication and journalism. There will also be plenty of time for question and answers.

See some of Nathiel's work here:

Monday, October 13, 2008

GCOM 's new baby!


Adjunct Instructor Heather Hogan has announced the birth of her daughter Novella Skye Van der Mei at  2:46 am on 10/7, weighing in at 6 lbs 12 oz, 19 3/4 inches long. Heather, her husband, and Novella are all doing great.

You can send your congrats to her at chiefcrazyhair@hotmail.com.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Photojournalist Guest Speaker - Sept. 18


The SCC Photography department invites all interested GCOM students to join them for a multimedia presentation and Q&A session with Pulitzer Prize winning photographer Renee C. Byer of the Sacramento Bee.

Renee's photo feature "A Mother's Journey" won the 2007 Pulitzer for feature photography.

Sept. 18, 2008
SCC Main Auditorium
6:30pm, doors open at 6.
FREE event

Monday, September 1, 2008

MEET THE GCOM TEACHING FACULTY...


This Fall the number of Graphic Communication Department faculty professors has doubled in size from last year, so I thought it might be a good idea to introduce you to all of us.

First off, Tom Cappelletti, a former adjunct and long-term temporary instructor is now a full-time professor. He teaches Dreamweaver (361) and Illustrator (340) and always keeps the class entertained with his frenetic energy and fast-paced lessons. Tom is a former GCOM student, successful freelance designer, and he is also our multi-modality master, teaching in class, online and interactive TV classes. 

Next, it was a long time coming, but we finally have a full-time Animation instructor—Patrick Crandley. Pat has been a professional animator on a number of exciting TV and advertising projects and is new to teaching profession. He also has a ton of energy and will keep you on your toes in three of our core animation courses (400, 401, and 402).

Last, but not least, is our 1-year long term temporary instructor, Andrea Diaz-Vaughn. She goes by "Dre" and has been an adjunct here for a couple years. She has a background as a very successful designer and creative director at places like SN&R, Sol Design Group, and California Restaurant Association. Dre will be sharing her expertise in InDesign (314), Adv. Illustrator (341), Photoshop (330), and GCOM Studio + Club (490). 

And, if you didn't know, I'm Don Button. Third year full-time prof, five-year adjunct prior to that, and long time SN&R Creative Director and freelance designer. I teach QuarkXPress (316), Newspaper Design (319), Photoshop (330), Adv. Photoshop (331) and Fireworks (360). I'm also department chair, and usually try to cram 2 hours of teaching into every 1.6 hour class.

Here's to a good semester for all!

Saturday, July 5, 2008

Fall Classes Are Filling Up – Sign Up Now!!

Fall 08 registration is in full swing so if you haven't signed up for your GCOM classes yet, you better get on it soon. The most popular classes Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, and InDesign, but there are some other great classes you may not know much about:

GCOM316, Intro to Page Layout using QuarkXPress 7
Quark is an excellent graphics layout program for both print design and web sites and has been an industry standard for nearly 20 years. It's not as well known as InDesign these days, but it is still used by many design professionals and SCC is the only school teaching it in Northern California.

GCOM319, Newspaper Design
This class works directly with journalism and photography students to learn about news media design for both printed newspapers and web sites. But it is also one of our most important  "real-world" experience classes because the students design and produce the campus newspaper The Express and the E-press web site every 2 weeks. It's a great chance to put your page layout skills to the test, work in a team atmosphere, and produce some excellent portfolio work—not to mention the boost a class like this gives your resume. (Note: this class includes both lecture and lab and is scheduled for Mon/ Wed, 1:30-4pm, but there is some flexibility and the time required can vary depending on the production schedule)

GCOM363, Advanced Creative Web Page Design using Adobe Flash
GCOM383, Interactive and Motion Design using Adobe Flash
If you've learned Dreamweaver and have an interest in more advanced Web sites and motion, Flash is the way to go. And if you've already taken 363, this Fall will be the first chance to take 383 in over 2 years. We don't offer this advanced course every year, so you don't want to miss it! Plus, both classes are taught by Flash Guru, Phuong Nguyen, considered by many local design firms to be the top Flash designer in all of Sacramento. (Note: regardless of the what the SCC catalog says, we are teaching Adobe Flash CS3, not Macromedia Flash)

GCOM420: Intro to Video Game Design
Our long awaited Game Design courses finally begin this Fall with the first class of the program. This will be an exciting and dynamic theory and concepting class that will lead to an intermediate and advanced class to be offer in later semesters. And it's already filling up, so get in quick.

GCOM490: Graphic Communication Studio
This is another one of our very unique and exciting "real-world" experience classes. This class doubles as the GC Club and operates like a working design studio where students work in teams on actual design projects for actual paying clients. This is one of the best opportunities in our curriculum for you to put your skill to the test and develop actual work for your portfolio. It will also look great on your resume! This class includes lecture and lab and meets 2 days a week—Tues/Thurs, 3-5pm.

If you have any questions about these, or any other GCOM classes, feel free to contact Don Button at buttond@scc.losrios.edu.


Monday, June 9, 2008

Summer's Here And The Time Is Right...


For Dancing in the ...  no, wait... the time is right for DESIGNING in the streets! 

Welcome to GCOM@SCC — The Summer Sessions. It's a great place to cool off at the end of a long, hot summer day in Sac. We've got beginning classes in Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver and InDesign. We've got the best Mac Lab in NorCal. And we've got the best instructors in Sac to teach you what's up: Heather Hogan, Jodi Adkins, Angela Jackson, and your's truly, Don Button.

Welcome to where it's at for the next 8 weeks!

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Report From The Animators Ball...



We had a Big Orange Ball last night!

They were shiny, bouncy, funny and creepy... the animations, not the balls. We nearly filled the Student Center to capacity with college and high school students, friends and family, and creative professionals.

We ate some great food and watched some truly entertaining student animation reels. 

And we saw and heard an excellent keynote speech from Pixar animator Austin Madison—that's him in the photo hugging his own big orange ball and holding court with a bunch of very excited animation groupies.

We'd like to express our deep gratitude to all the students who participated, as well as ADAC, and Elara Systems and Wirestone, who donated the bucks for the free grub!

Tom has created a quicky photo gallery of shots he took at the event. CLICK HERE TO SEE.

Until next year....

Monday, May 12, 2008

COME TO THE (big orange) BALL!


The Animators Ball 2008 is this Tuesday, May 13th!

TOP 6 REASONS TO ATTEND:
6. It's free!
5. It's right here on campus at the Student Center!
4. It features the 2D and 3D work of SCC, ARC and area high school students!
3. There will be professional members from ADAC there that you can shmooze with!
2. The keynote speaker is Pixar animator Austin Madison!
1. FREE FOOD, FREE FOOD, FREE FOOD! (and beverages!)

6:30 - 9:00... don't miss it, bring your friends, don't be late!

Friday, May 9, 2008

Meet Our New Prof!


GGOM and the SCC are proud to announce that Tom Cappelletti has been hired as our new full-time, tenure-track Graphic Design and Web Design Assistant Professor. 

Tom has been teaching as an adjunct here for several years and spent the 07-08 school year as a temporary full-time instructor, and has made a great impact on the students and program.

So, beginning in the Fall, we'll be looking forward to seeing a lot more of his smiling face around here. Congrats Tommy-Boy!