Course Outline

Click here to download the course outline as a PDF.

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FORM AND STRUCTURE

GDES 1B25
FALL 2009

Jesse Colin Jackson
jjackson@faculty.ocad.ca
647.201.4255

Section 15
Mondays 4:30PM-7:30PM
September 14 – December 7
Room 166

Office Hours:
Mondays 10:00-4:00
(by appointment)

http://ocad-gdes1b25-f09.blogspot.com/


COURSE DESCRIPTION

In Form and Structure, students will develop a visual language capable of shaping and expressing clear and creative ideas in three-dimensional forms. The course introduces students to the conceptual elements, organizing principles and processes used in the development of form. Using a variety of materials and processes, students examine the meanings and association of forms, along with the underlying structural principles affecting their creation. Central, too, are the relationships among concept, idea, form material and process. Through questioning and a developing awareness of contemporary design practice, students develop the confidence to produce meaningful forms in three dimensions.

The course load for the course consists of three hours per week of class time, and an average of six hours per week of out-of-class time to complete the assigned Projects.


COURSE DELIVERY

Classes
September 14: Introductions, Project One Launch
September 21: Project One Presentations and Critique, Project Two Launch, Project Three Launch
September 28: Project Two Support
October 5: Project Two Support
October 12: No Class (Thanksgiving)
October 19: Project Two Presentations and Critique
October 24 (Saturday): Field Trip (tentative), Project Three Presentations
October 26: No Class
November 2: Project Four Launch, Project Five Launch
November 9: Project Four and Five Support
November 16: Project Four and Five Support
November 23: Project Four and Five Support
November 30: Project Four and Five Support
December 1 (Tuesday): Project Four and Five Support
December 7 (4:30-9:30): Project Four and Five Presentations and Critique

Projects
Project One: Linear Form
Project Two: Planar Artifact
Project Three: Form and Structure Case Study
Project Four: Found Structure
Project Five: Functional Construction

Classes and Projects are subject to change as the course progresses.


EVALUATION

Evaluation Scheme
Project One: 10%
Project Two: 20%
Project Three: 10%
Project Four: 25%
Project Five: 25%
Participation: 10%

Evaluation Criteria for Projects
A diverse variety of methods will be used to evaluate student progress, and criteria will depend on the method in question, but will always include the following elements: an analysis and understanding of the project brief; the pursuit of original thinking and research from a variety of different resources; an appropriate level of questioning and inquiry into the issue under scrutiny; and the content, craft, quality and impact of the deliverable. Specific evaluation criteria will be detailed when the Projects are launched.

Evaluation Criteria for Participation
Participation may include some or all of the following: arriving on time; listening to lectures and instruction; being prepared and working in class time; sharing and co-operating, and listening to and being an active participant in critique and discussions.

Evaluation Criteria for Projects and Exercises
A diverse variety of methods will be used to evaluate student progress, and criteria will depend on the method in question, but will always include the following elements: an analysis and understanding of the project brief; the pursuit of original thinking and research from a variety of different resources; an appropriate level of questioning and inquiry into the issue under scrutiny; and the content, craft, quality and impact of the deliverable. Specific evaluation criteria will be detailed when the Projects and Exercises are launched.

Evaluation Criteria for Participation
Participation may include some or all of the following: arriving on time; listening to lectures and instruction; being prepared and working in class time; sharing and co-operating, and listening to and being an active participant in critique and discussions.

Grades
Grades will be assigned to each element of the evaluation scheme in accordance with OCAD policy.

Available letter grades and their numerical and descriptive equivalents are as follows:

A+ (90-100%): Exceptional
Exceeded expectations in demonstrating knowledge of concepts and/or techniques, and exceptional skill in their application in satisfying the requirements of the course.

A (80-89%): Excellent
Demonstrated a thorough knowledge of concepts and/or techniques, and with a very high degree of skill in their application in satisfying the requirements of the course.

B (70-79%): Good
Demonstrated a good knowledge of concepts and/or techniques, and considerable skill in their application in satisfying the requirements of the course.

C (65-69%): Satisfactory
Demonstrated a satisfactory level of knowledge of concepts and/or techniques and competence in their application in satisfying the requirements of the course.

C- (60-64%): Low Satisfactory
Demonstrated a level of knowledge of concepts and/or techniques and their application to the requirements of the course that was minimally satisfactory in an elective or non-major subject, but unsatisfactory in a core course of the student’s major subject.

D (50-59%): Pass
Demonstrated minimal knowledge and ability to apply concepts and/or techniques in satisfying the requirements of a course.

F (0-49%): Fail
Failure to meet minimum course requirements.

Grades at the level of C (Satisfactory) are anticipated to be the average for this course. An evaluation of your work to date will be provided at least one week prior to the final deadline to withdraw from the course without academic penalty.


POLICIES

Attendance
Since you benefit from an active involvement with faculty and with their fellow students, you are required to attend and participate fully in classes on a regular basis. A student with three or more unexcused absences may be assigned a failing grade for that course at my discretion. Arriving late for a class may, at my discretion, constitute an unexcused absence.

A student who foresees a conflict between a religious obligation and any scheduled class activity must notify me in writing within three weeks of the first class.

Late Work
Late work will not be accepted without prior permission, and permission must be requested before the beginning of the class in which the deliverable is due. Late work as a result of documented illness will be without penalty; late work as a result of other extraordinary circumstance, accepted at my discretion, will be subject to a penalty of 25%, and will be due at the beginning of the following class. No late work will be accepted beyond the beginning of the following class, and no make-up work will be permitted.

Please contact me right away if you are having trouble meeting a deadline for any reason.

Student Policies
Every OCAD student has final responsibility for his or her conduct. Students are expected to be aware of and abide by the regulations established by OCAD's current academic and non-academic policies. These policies outline the responsibility of students to conduct themselves appropriately. All allegations of misconduct will be reported and investigated as per the current policies. Please visit www.ocad.ca/students.htm and click on Student Policies for more information.

Note in particular that plagiarism or misrepresentation of any kind is unacceptable.

Health and Safety Policies
All members of the OCAD community are required to abide by the OCAD Health & Safety policies. Please visit www.ocad.ca/about_ocad/health_safety.htm for more information.


THE COURSE BLOG
The course blog, which will be introduced in the first class, is integral to all aspects of the course. All course materials will be made available on the blog, and all Projects and Exercises will require submissions to the blog. Your contributions to the blog will be a key component of your Participation evaluation.


DISCLAIMER STATEMENT
This course outline may be amended as the course proceeds. The class will be notified and consulted about all changes.