Schedule

NB: Please tag all your posts with Design Systems so I can find them easily

PHASE 1: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

M 8/22

1. In Studio: Brief visual orientation of syllabus / Phase 1 Introduction / Discussion: What is a brand? / Verify blog access / Studio work: work in pairs, research 2 companies each and write out what you think is their Problem Statement, Vision and Mission - back them up with at least 5 images each - make a personal blog post on each.

2. Homework: Read Read 1-35 of the Brand Gap - Read 30-33 of Wheeler / Post a couple thoughts from each reading to the Course blog / Research 1 more company that you find interesting that is in a similar vain to what you want to brand - competitor. Determine Problem Statement, Vision and Mission for your chosen brand and your competitor - like we did in class, and post to Personal blog before start of next class. Don't forget to tag your posts with design-systems.

W 8/24

1. In Studio: Discuss Readings / Watch Simon Sinek / Review Brand Schematic Diagram / Verify company choice / Discussion: Values and Brand Attributes / Continue competitive research - 2 more companies similar to what you're doing / Refine Problem Statement, Vision, Mission and add Values and Brand Attributes to your own company / begin creating a schematic and brainstorming a name

2. Homework: Continue building brand schematic / Determine Competitive Advantage, Target Audience, and Key Service / Spider diagram brand names / post a visual representation of your schematic to your blog before start of next class.

M 8/29

1. In Studio: Discussion: What is a Brand Essence? / Determine own brands essence / Brainstorm and finalize brand name / build Keynote to present Brand Schematic and name

2. Homework: Read Reading 2 / Post thoughts on reading to Course blog / Build presentation on Brand Schematic - post to personal blog and class blog as PDF (with notes) for grading before start of next class.

W 8/31

1. In Studio: Discuss Reading / Student 5-7 minute Keynote presentation of brands / 5-7 minute feedback, group crit / Discuss mood board development - END OF FIRST PHASE

2. Homework: Create a mood board looking at image, type, color, and pattern and post to blog minimum 15 images on two 11x17 pages - also print and bring to next class.

PHASE 2: IDENTITY CREATION

M 9/5

Labor day - No Class

Homework: Read Reading 3 - I will email you these / Post thoughts on reading to Course blog / Sketch brand mark and logotype - post at least 40 designs to your blog before start of next class

W 9/7

1. In Studio: Discussion: Visualizing a Brand / Discuss Reading 3 / Desk crits / Refine mood board / sketch brand mark and logotype / Sketch brand and logo type / Refine 3 designs - create 6 iterations of each

2. Homework: Begin to build 3 case studies selecting one logo, three fonts and a color palette for each. Post progress to blog before class.

M 9/12

1. In Studio: Desk crit: Determine tighter direction on one logo, one set of typefaces and one palette of colors

2. Homework: Create a midway Keynote presentation ending in one visual brand choice

W 9/14

1. In Studio: Mid-way presentations of Visual Brand - 5-7 minute Keynote presentation / 5-7 minute feedback, group critique

2. Homework: Begin building collection of patterns/icons/images 

M 9/19

1. In Studio: Split group critique: refine patterns/icons/images

2. Homework: Refine patterns/icons/images and post progress to blog

W 9/21

1. In Studio: Design and layout visual and verbal style guide to incorporate brand schematic, and visual kit (logo, fonts, colors, patterns/icons and images). 

2. Homework: Complete style guide + design progress Keynote. Upload to course blog for grading.

M 9/26

1. In Studio:  Student 5-7 minute Keynote presentation of brands / 5-7 minute feedback, group crit / Discuss mood board development - END OF SECOND PHASE

2. Homework: Make any refinements to your brand/keynote and submit for grading.

PHASE 3: BRAND STRATEGY

W 9/28

1. In Studio: Discussion: Communicating to an Audience / Determine Audience for your brand / Group workshop in teams: brainstorm attitudes/behaviors/language/needs.

2. Homework: Read Reading 4 / Post thoughts on reading to Course blog / Continue research online and gathering of feedback

M 10/3

1. In Studio: Discuss Reading 4 / Continue research online and gathering of feedback / Design Audience Avatar / Create a Communication Rubric, timeline and list of assets - include print and delivery times and vendors as needed.

2. Homework: Build 3rd Keynote presentation defining Audience Avatar and upload to personal blog and Course blog.

W 10/5

1. In Studio:  Student 5-7 minute Keynote presentation of Audience Avatar / 5-7 minute feedback, group crit / END OF THIRD PHASE

2. Homework: Research Assets needed and post to personal blog finding 3 examples of each asset needed (totaling 3 different assets).

PHASE 4: ASSET CREATION

M 10/10

1. In Studio: Discussion: Designing Assets / Desk Critiques: Agree 3 chosen assets / Begin with mockup of 1st Asset - write content, construct design

2. Homework: Read Reading 5 / Post thoughts on reading to Course blog / Apply user testing to 1st Asset, document findings and post to personal blog. Refine and iterate design as needed.

W 10/12

1. In Studio: Discuss Reading 5 / Design, design, design!

2. Homework: Design and post progress and studio photographs of 1st Asset to your blog

M 10/17

1. In Studio: Mockup of 2nd Asset - write content, construct design

2. Homework: Apply user testing to 2nd Asset, document findings and post to personal blog. Refine and iterate design as needed.

W 10/19

1. In Studio: Design, design, design!

2. Homework: Design and post progress and studio photographs of 2nd Asset to your blog.

M 10/24

1. In Studio: Mockup of 3rd Asset - write content, construct design.

2. Homework: Apply user testing to 3rd Asset, document findings and post to personal blog. Refine and iterate design as needed.

W 10/26

1. In Studio: Design, design, design!

2. Homework: Design and post progress and studio photographs of 3rd Asset to your blog.

M 10/31

1. In Studio: Begin build of Keynote presentation on Assets / Desk crit

2. Homework: Refine assets / Refine presentation / Post final Pres to personal + course blog.

W 11/2

1. In Studio:  Student 5-7 minute Keynote presentation of Assets / 5-7 minute feedback, group critique / END OF FOURTH PHASE

2. Homework: Refine Assets as needed from group feedback and post to personal blog

PHASE 5: BUILDING CULTURE

M 11/7

1. In Studio: Discussion: Brand Culture/ Begin storyboarding narrative for final Culture piece to incorporate brand schematic language, visual kit, audience communication style and assets.

2. Homework: Read Reading 6 / Post thoughts on reading to Course blog / Refine storyboard for final piece and post to Personal Blog.

W 11/9

1. In Studio: Discuss Reading 6 / Desk Crits / Begin layout of final piece

2. Homework: Refine final piece

M11/14

1. In Studio: Design, design, design of final piece! / Desk Critiques

2. Homework: Refine final piece design

W 11/16

1. In Studio: If you’re sending a brand book to print then you’ll need to upload your book to print with Blurb by EOD today.

2. Homework: Begin work on narrative of final presentation and storyboard

M 11/21

1. In Studio: Desk critiques / Design of final presentation 

2. Homework: Design of final presentation and research sound mark. Post 3 sound mark solutions to your personal blog.

*** THANKSGIVING BREAK ***

M 11/28

1. In Studio: Desk critiques / Refinements to Sound mark

2. Homework: refinements to final presentation and sound mark.

W 11/30

1. In Studio:  Student 5-7 minute final presentations / 5-7 minute feedback, group critique / END OF FIFTH PHASE