Graphic Design Syllabus for 2026-2027
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Instructor Information

Course Information

AI Statement

Collusion is defined as “the unauthorized collaboration with another person or by any other means, including artificial intelligence (AI) and computer translators, in preparing work for fulfillment of course requirements.” Using AI like (ChatGPT or Google Gemini) to create a document is considered colluding. The use of Generative Artificial Intelligence on specific assignments is at the discretion of the instructor.

Title IX and Sexual Misconduct Reporting

Amarillo College prohibits discrimination and harassment based on sex, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking, under Title IX and Texas Education Code §51.253–255. Faculty and staff are mandatory reporters and must share any related concerns with the Title IX Coordinator at titleix@actx.edu. Reports and additional information are available at https://www.actx.edu/hr/title-ixtitle-ix. Confidential counseling and advocacy services are available through the Counseling Center and Advocacy & Resource Center.

Recording Policy

Disability Statement

If you have a disability (learning, mental, physical) that affects your ability to participate effectively and have access to any program or service at Amarillo College please contact Disability Services at (806) 345-5639 . Our offices are located in the Enrollment Center, Suite 700. More information may be found at www.actx.edu/disability.
Disability Services facilitates access to all programs and services according to the ADA, Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, as well as other federal and state laws.

Amarillo College Web Accessibility Policy Statement

Amarillo College is committed to providing equal access to all programs and services, including all working, learning, and service environments that affect equal access for persons with disabilities. This commitment to provide equal access and opportunity for persons with disabilities is in compliance with federal and state law. Amarillo College also strives to provide Electronic and Information Resources (EIR) that are accessible to all authorized users.

If you find you are unable to access material in an accessible format please contact the Disability Services Office at (806) 345-5639 . This office will work in conjunction with other campus resources to address and accommodate your issue in a timely manner.

Statement for Mental Health and Advocacy & Resource Center:

As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc

Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy:

Tutoring for Success applies to any student whose overall performance in the course falls below 75%. The instructor will create the task in the Student Engagement Portal (Watermark) to direct the student to the appropriate tutoring service, which may be faculty- or SI-led, discipline-specific, and/or general. The tutoring service assigned, the due date for when the tutoring must be completed, and the amount of tutoring required are at the discretion of the instructor. Additionally, the task will alert the student’s success team. Students who do not fulfill the assigned tutoring task may be subject to program- and course-specific penalties that could result in a grade reduction and/or in not being allowed to progress in the course until the tutoring requirement has been satisfied.

Administrative Drop Policy

Students who do not attend class on or prior to the census date will be administratively dropped. Effective Fall, 2016

Student Withdrawal Procedures

Students who wish to withdraw from a course must complete all steps indicated on the Academic Withdrawal Request form by the course withdrawal deadline.

NOTE: Students who are attending Texas institutions of higher education, for the first time fall 2007 and later, may not withdraw from more than six courses during their academic career. This withdrawal limitation does not include dual credit or developmental classes (Senate Bill 1231 Rule 4.10.) For more information on Drop and Withdrawal Policies, please visit the Registrar's Office Web site.

Privacy Statement

The Amarillo College Privacy Policy is found at https://www.actx.edu/-amarillo-college-privacy-notice , and applies to all Amarillo College students.  If you have questions about this privacy statement or you believe that your personal information has been released without your consent, send email to humanresources@actx.edu .

Statement on State-Authorized Courses at Amarillo College

For-credit academic and workforce education courses offered at Amarillo College are limited to the course options available in the statewide inventory for two-year public institutions. Courses in the state-authorized lower-division Academic Course Guide Manual and Workforce Education Course Manual have specific descriptions that prescribe course content and may include specific student learning outcomes. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) maintains and regularly updates these manuals. Amarillo College faculty and leaders ensure that these courses are aligned with THECB guidelines and evaluated based on student performance outcomes. Students enrolled in these courses are expected to engage with and learn course content. According to the AC Board of Regents Policy Manual, "faculty members are entitled to academic freedom in the conduct of research and teaching and are tasked with the associated responsibilities" (DGC). Students are entitled to academic freedom in the classroom, as well, and faculty "must not attempt to force on students a personal viewpoint and must at all times allow diversity of opinion" (Amarillo College Academic Affairs Manual).

Course

ARTS-2313-001 Graphic Design

Prerequisites

Course Description

Studio course that introduces basic objectives, principles, and methods used in graphic design. The course focuses on creativity, aesthetic judgment, and critical-thinking skills to expand conceptual solutions within the realm of contemporary graphic design.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

Occupational License Disclaimer

Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for preparation of issuance of certain occupational licenses:

Students enrolled in an educational program in preparation for obtaining certain occupational licenses are potentially ineligible for such license if the student has been convicted of an offense. For further information, please contact:

Melodie Graves
Justice Involved Advocate
Student Service Center 117
mgraves24@actx.edu
806-371-5995
Make appointment at https://melodiegraves.youcanbook.me

Hours

(3 sem hrs 2 lec 4 lab)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

No textbook is required for this course. All course materials and assignment instructions will be provided through Blackboard.

Supplies

Access to a reliable computer and reliable internet. You are encouraged to use the labs in Parcells Hall to complete your assignments. I understand that not everyone can afford the software required for this course. However, you have access to Adobe Creative Cloud on campus, so please plan to use the available labs outside of class time as needed to complete your assignments. 

Please be respectful of other classes using these spaces. If a class is in session, the lab is reserved for that class, even if there are open computers. Do not enter another class to use a computer unless you have received permission from the instructor.

If you have a computer or laptop with the software, be sure that your version is compatible with the versions installed in the labs. If there is a compatibility issue, you may be asked to complete assignments using the campus computers. Parcells Hall 220, 306, 308, and 312 have the current software installed.

• A USB 3 flash drive or external hard drive - 32 GB minimum recommended. You will be required to save each project in its original format and as a PDF for final submission. Please get in the habit of saving your work in more than one place. 
• Access to online services like Google Drive (AC Account) or some other cloud storage service to back up your project files. (Do not completely rely on flash drives or hard drives to back up your files - they get lost, stolen, and damaged) "I don't have my flash drive today" is not an acceptable excuse for turning in homework late. 
• Sketchbook  9x12 or smaller (it must fit on a scanner). Sketchbooks are used for thumbnailing. You will scan your images and turn in the digital file. 
• A pen or pencil for taking notes (black or blue) 
• A  pencil for sketching design ideas
• A good eraser that won't tear your paper or leave marks - a kneaded eraser is recommended 
• A ruler (a metal 18" ruler is preferred - can't cut through it when using exacto blades) 

Feel free to bring your own keyboard and mouse so you don't have to use  "community" equipment.

If you use a communal mouse and keyboard, you should have your own hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes. 

Cleaning supplies should be provided, but there may be times when we run out. This is why I recommend that you have some of your own available. Sadly, such items tend to grow legs and walk away. 

NOTE: Additional supplies may be needed as the semester progresses. You will be notified before any additional supplies are needed. 

In the case that your projects will need to be printed off campus, I recommend having a $100 printing and supplies budget available at all times. This will not be reimbursed. 

Student Performance

Throughout this course, you will develop both the creative and professional skills needed to produce effective visual communication. You will learn the importance of meeting deadlines, managing your time, giving and receiving constructive peer feedback, and collaborating with others. You will also become familiar with graphic design terminology and learn how to evaluate what makes a design effective, or ineffective, based on its purpose, audience, and message.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will demonstrate their knowledge and skills through the following:

Apply the elements of art and principles of graphic design, including color, typography, visual hierarchy, balance, contrast, alignment, repetition, proximity, and space.

Use industry-standard design software, including Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign, to create and prepare visual communication materials for print and digital use.

Develop visual solutions based on an identified purpose, audience, message, and set of project requirements.

Demonstrate the design process through research, brainstorming, thumbnail sketches, concept development, critique, revision, and final production.

Evaluate their own work and the work of others using appropriate graphic design terminology and constructive critique.

Demonstrate professional practices through file organization and management, meeting deadlines, preparing files correctly, responding to feedback, revising work, and presenting completed projects professionally.

Develop a professional visual identity and curate selected work into a digital portfolio appropriate for internship, transfer, or employment opportunities.

Apply skills across multiple design applications to produce cohesive visual communication materials for real-world or client-based projects.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

Communication Expectations

I will send class announcements and other important information through Blackboard. Please check Blackboard and your AC email regularly so you do not miss course information, schedule changes, or assignment updates.

If you have a specific question or need to contact me individually, please email me at mfowler@actx.edu - not through Blackboard. Please note that I do not respond to messages sent through Blackboard.

Please allow up to 48 hours for a response to email. Correspondence received on Fridays, weekends, or holidays may not be addressed until the next regularly scheduled business day. In circumstances where a longer response time is needed, students will be notified.

Please allow at least one week for feedback on graded assignments and projects.

When communicating through email, Blackboard, critiques, or other course-related spaces, students are expected to communicate professionally and respectfully.

Classroom Expectations

This course is designed to function as both a classroom and a creative workspace. Students are expected to contribute to a professional, respectful, and productive environment. The habits you develop in this course, including meeting deadlines, managing your time and files, communicating effectively, responding to feedback, and working with others, are also expectations you will encounter in professional media and design environments.

Be responsible. Come to class on time and prepared with the materials and files needed for that day's work. Participate actively in demonstrations, critiques, activities, and studio work. Approach assignments with resourcefulness and take the initiative to ask for help when you need it.

Be engaged. Phones and other personal devices should be silenced and should not interfere with class. Do not text, scroll social media, or engage in unrelated activities during lectures, demonstrations, critiques, presentations, or other classroom instruction. There may be times when phones, websites, or social media are appropriate tools for research and project development. Use them only when they support the work being completed in class.

Be respectful. Treat your classmates, faculty, clients, guests, and their work with respect. Classroom behavior should not interfere with another student's ability to learn, participate, or work.

Critique the work, not the person. Critique is an important part of the design process. Feedback should be specific, constructive, respectful, and based on the principles and vocabulary of graphic design. Students are expected to both give and receive feedback professionally. Disagreement is okay. However, cruelty and personal attacks are not.

Respect the lab and equipment. No food or drinks are permitted near lab computers or other equipment. Take care of the equipment and workspace you use and leave your area clean and ready for the next student. When using Parcells Hall labs outside of our scheduled class time, be respectful of other courses using those spaces. An open computer does not mean an open lab. Do not enter or work in a lab while another class is meeting without permission from that instructor.

Manage and protect your work. You are responsible for properly saving, organizing, and backing up your project files. Save your work frequently and maintain a backup in a separate location. Lost or corrupted files, forgotten storage devices, or failure to properly save or back up work are generally not grounds for an extension. File management is part of the professional practice taught in this course.

Use professional judgment. Many of the projects you create in this course may eventually become part of a professional portfolio that you show to internship supervisors, transfer institutions, clients, or potential employers. Creativity and experimentation are encouraged, but consider the audience, purpose, message, and professional context of the work you produce.

Meet your deadlines. Deadlines are an important part of professional practice in graphic design and media. Keep track of assignment deadlines, manage your time appropriately, and begin projects early enough to allow time for revision and technical problems.

Academic Integrity and AI

All work submitted in this course should represent your own ideas, design decisions, and execution unless collaboration is specifically permitted as part of an assignment. Plagiarism, cheating, unauthorized collaboration, or submitting another person's creative work as your own are violations of academic integrity.

The use of stock photography, templates, existing artwork, generative AI, or other outside resources may be permitted for some projects and prohibited for others. Specific requirements will be provided with each assignment. When outside materials are permitted, students are responsible for following the assignment guidelines and appropriately crediting or documenting those materials when required.

AI-generated work should not be presented as original student work unless the assignment specifically permits the use of AI. Because learning the design process and developing your own technical and creative skills are central to this course, AI should not be used to bypass required brainstorming, sketching, design, writing, or production work.

If I have questions about the authorship or creation of submitted work, you may be asked to meet with me and discuss your process, source files, sketches, drafts, design decisions, or other evidence of how the work was developed.

No form of scholastic dishonesty will be tolerated. Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, and collusion. Students are responsible for following the academic-integrity policies outlined in the AC Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook.

Late Work and Deadlines

Meeting deadlines is an important part of professional practice in graphic design and media. Throughout this course, you will be expected to manage your time, keep track of project deadlines, and allow yourself enough time to troubleshoot technical or design problems before an assignment is due.

Daily Design Challenges, in-class activities, project milestones, and critiques may not be submitted late. These activities are designed to support the work being completed in class and often contribute directly to the next stage of a project.

I understand that life happens and unexpected circumstances can sometimes interfere with even the best plans. If you believe you will be unable to meet a deadline, contact me at mfowler@actx.edu before the assignment is due. Depending on the circumstances, I may approve an extension.

Extensions are not guaranteed and must be approved in advance. Requests made after the deadline will generally not be considered. Communication is key, if something is going on, please reach out to me before the deadline rather than after it has passed.

Technical problems, lost or corrupted files, forgotten storage devices, or failure to properly save or back up work are generally not grounds for an extension.

If you do not understand an assignment or experience difficulty completing it, contact me promptly. Be realistic about the time available when requesting help and be as specific as possible about the assistance you need. Begin projects early so that, if you need help, there is enough time for you to receive it and still meet the deadline.

Grading Criteria

Daily Design Challenges - 20%
Short, hands-on assignments and tutorials designed to develop skills in design principles, typography, Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, file management, critique, and creative problem-solving. Some challenges may extend across multiple class meetings.

Branding Project and Presentation - 20%
Students will develop a complete visual identity based on a creative brief, including research, concept development, thumbnail sketches, logo development, typography, color, brand applications, revision, and a professional presentation.

Magazine Project and Presentation - 20%

Students will write and design an original magazine feature that combines strong reporting, writing, and visual communication. The story must be at least 400 words, follow AP style, and include information gathered from a minimum of three live sources. As part of the writing and revision process, students will be required to visit the Writers’ Corner for feedback on their story before completing the final magazine design.

Students will then design their story as a professional multi-page magazine feature using Adobe InDesign, incorporating effective typography, visual hierarchy, photography and/or other visual elements, and graphics created or prepared in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop as appropriate. Students will move through the complete editorial and design process, including story development, reporting, writing, Writers’ Corner feedback, revision, layout, critique, and final production. Completed projects will be presented to the class.

Final Portfolio Project and Presentation — 30%
Students will curate, revise, and professionally present selected work from the semester in a digital portfolio. The portfolio will include a personal visual identity, résumé, selected design projects, and appropriate descriptions of the student's work and design process.

Quizzes — 10%
Short assessments covering graphic design terminology, principles, software concepts, file preparation, and other course material.

You will receive a rubric for each project with further details in Blackboard.

Grading Scale:

A = 89.5 -100

B = 79.5 - 89.4

C = 69.5 - 79.4

D = 59.5 - 69.4

F = 59 and below 

Attendance

THIS IS A STUDIO COURSE. YOUR ATTENDANCE AND PROMPT ARRIVAL TO CLASS ARE ESSENTIAL FOR LEARNING AND EVALUATION.

If you miss a class, it is your responsibility to find out what you missed, including new assignments and due dates, and to make arrangements to obtain the materials dispersed (if applicable) and/or catch up on instruction. I will not repeat the lesson again. 

ABSENCES
Students will be allowed 2 unexcused absences without penalty. After the second unexcused absence, 1 letter grade will be deducted from the total class grade for each additional absence. Six absences will result in automatic failure of the course. A breakdown is presented below:

• Up to 2 Absences: No penalty

• 3 Absences: Loss of 1 letter grade

• 4 Absences: Loss of 2 letter grades

• 5 Absences: Loss of 3 letter grades

• 6 Absences: Failure of the course

Any exceptions to the above policy will be made at the discretion of the instructor. For an absence to be excused, the instructor may require appropriate documentation of the reason for the absence.

Late arrival of more than 30 minutes or early departure of more than 30 minutes will be counted as an absence. On days designated as Work Days or for individual consultation, leaving without first checking in with the instructor will result in an absence.

TARDINESS
3 tardies = no penalty
4 or more tardies = 1 point removed from final Activity grade per tardy after 3.

Calendar

Additional Information

Students are encouraged to follow the Matney Mass Media department and The Ranger on social media and read the college newspaper, The Ranger, at www.acranger.com.

Matney Mass Media Department on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ACmassmedia
Matney Mass Media Department on Twitter: https://twitter.com/acmassmedia
The Ranger: www.acranger.com
The Ranger on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/acrangerpaper
The Ranger on Twitter:https://twitter.com/acranger
The Ranger on Instagram: http://instagram.com/acranger

Department website: www.actx.edu/massmedia

AC offers many opportunities to explore the mass media. Ask your instructor how you can become a D.J. on FM90, join AC Student Media, the crew shooting live football video this fall. Don’t miss your chance to take photos for the College magazine or work as a videographer, graphic artist or web designer for the College’s news website. In addition, AC mass media faculty can help you find paid positions in the local media industry. Don’t just sit there, get involved!