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Unit of study_

CAEL3018: Design for Digital Publishing

Semester 2, 2023 [Online] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit of study explores the boundary between artwork, publication and portfolio. The unit acquaints you with the principal tools of InDesign, a software program that has become industry standard for designing digital and paper publications. Focusing on experimental magazines and other small scale artist's publications the unit explores the visual language of contemporary publishing from an artist's perspective. You learn about the complex interplay of text, image and sequence involved in producing multipage documents/artworks through the practical experience of creating your own InDesign publication. A series of lectures and in-class digital tutorials will equip you with the technical skills and critical framework to produce intelligent, engaging and innovative output.

Unit details and rules

Unit code CAEL3018
Academic unit Sydney College of the Arts
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
CAEL2052
Prerequisites
? 
12 credit points at 2000 level from CAEL or 12 credit points at 2000 level from CAST
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Rebecca Beardmore, rebecca.beardmore@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Adam Cruickshank, adam.cruickshank@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Creative assessment / demonstration Digital publication
Booklet submitted as a digital pdf document
60% Formal exam period
Due date: 13 Nov 2023 at 23:59
12-14 pages
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Digital booklet
12pg digital booklet (submitted as an InDesign file)
20% Week 06
Due date: 04 Sep 2023 at 23:59
12 pages
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Creative assessment / demonstration Typography design
Final design should be digitally combined.
20% Week 08
Due date: 18 Sep 2023 at 23:59
N/A
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO3 LO2

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Result Name Mark Range Description
High Distinction 85-100 Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Distinction 75-84

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Credit 65-74

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Pass 50-65 Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Fail 0-49 When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

 

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Course Introduction Online class (3 hr) LO1 LO4
Week 02 Principles of graphic design Online class (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5
Week 03 The grid Online class (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5
Week 04 Typography (part 1) Online class (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5
Week 05 Typography (part 2) Online class (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5
Week 06 Colour and design Online class (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5
Week 07 Constructing a presentation Online class (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5
Week 08 Prepress preparation Online class (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 10 Work presentations Online class (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 11 Project work and feedback Online class (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 12 Project work and feedback Online class (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 13 Project work and feedback Online class (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5

Attendance and class requirements

Additional requirements from Sydney College of the Arts

  • Students must attend a minimum of 90% of timetabled activities for this unit of study, unless granted exemption by the Unit Coordinator.
  • All assignments are compulsory and must be attempted. 
  • You must attend scheduled assessments to be eligible to pass. Non-attendance at assessment on any grounds insufficient to claim special consideration will result in the forfeiture of marks associated with the assessment. 

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. Engaged students with the creative possibilities of a range of publication formats.
  • LO2. Introduce students to the basic design principles that inform the layout and production of magazines and other small scale publications.
  • LO3. provide students with an introductory understanding of pre-press preparation for digital documents.
  • LO4. give students a conceptual understanding of the close links between the narrative imagination and the sequential structure of books.
  • LO5. enhance student's research skills

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Since this unit was last offered it content has been updated in regards to changes in the software being used and it has been adapted for online delivery.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.