Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

2-D Design (Face-to-Face)

ART 1120-04

Course: ART 1120-04
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: ARTD
CRN: 33797

Course Description

A study of design fundamentals with an application in two-dimensional media. Presents the basic design principles and elements employed in all visual expression. Topics and skills taught are foundational preparation for students wishing to major in art and pursue careers within the film, art, and design industries. This course is for Filmmaking, Art, and Design majors and minors only. (Fall, Spring) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Registration Restriction(s): Filmmaking, Art, Design, and Theatre Design and Production majors or minors only; Intensive English Program majors may not enroll

Required Texts

Required texts will be provided by the instructor.

Learning Outcomes

Students will explore and apply fundamental skills and techniques in visual art; discuss and analyze important works of art using specialized terminology; synthesize established principles and styles with new ideas; create compositionally-strong, original works of art. 

Course Requirements


ASSIGNMENTS (500pts):
Visual Analyses (10 responses, 5pts each, 50pts total)         (10% of grade)
Students will complete 10 visual analyses throughout the semester in class. Analyses will require students to identify and apply terminology, elements, and principles of design. Students will have 30 minutes at the beginning of class to complete each analysis or can complete these on their own time online.

Projects (5 projects, 50pts each, 250pts total)         (50% of grade)
Students will complete 5 projects in class. Each project will explore an element of design, including line, shape, value/color, space, and texture. As part of the learning process, students will participate in critiques and complete self-assessments. 

Small Projects (2, 25pts each, 50pts total) (15% of grade)
Students will complete 2 small projects in class. Each project will explore a principle of design, including balance/weight, repetition/pattern, and rhythm/movement. As part of the learning process, students will participate in critiques and complete self-assessments. 

Final Project (100pts total) (20% of grade)
For the last two weeks of class, students will create an original, self-directed work of art. As a summative evaluation, the final project will measure a student’s understanding and ability to apply the elements and principles of design to create a strong composition. 

Participation (25 classes, 1pts each, 25pts total) (5% of grade)
Students are expected to attend in-person and participate in every class. As an intensive studio course, each day is critical and crucial. It is important for students to take advantage of in-class instruction, online resources, work time, and critiques, which means participating at an optimal, productive level. 

GRADING POLICY: Grades will follow Southern Utah University’s grading standards:

A | 90-100% | 450-500 pts | Excellent:  all course work was performed at a clearly outstanding level.
B | 80-89.9% | 400-449 pts | Good:  all course work was met at a level measurably above average.
C | 70-79.9% | 350-399 pts | Satisfactory:  all course work was met at a satisfactory level of competence.
D | 60-69.9% | 300-349 pts | Poor:  all course requirements are met, but the level is below average.
F | 0-59.9% | 0-299 pts | Failure:  did not meet all of the course requirements or did so inadequately.
 | Incomplete | May be given due to unusual circumstances with the permission of the course instructor. The instructor must submit an incomplete grade form outlining what the student must complete and when to receive a final grade.

Course Outline


COURSE CALENDAR*:
 Please do NOT submit any .HEIC files. I will not be able to see or open them!
*All due dates and projects are subject to change when necessary as deemed by the professor.

Week 1 
8.28. Thursday | Overview: Syllabus and Introductions
Elements and Principles

Week 2 
9.2. Tuesday | Visual Analysis #1 (first 15 minutes)
Elements and Principles                             
Composition: Framing, Angle, Proximity

9.4. Thursday | Line: Lecture, Analysis, and Exercises

Week 3 
9.9. Tuesday  | Visual Analysis #2 (first 15 minutes)
Line: Application work day.

9.11. Thursday | Line: Application work day.
HW: Complete Project 1, upload photo of completed project with
Self-Assessment to Canvas by 11:59pm.

Week 4 
9.16. Tuesday | Class Critique in class

9.18. Thursday | Shape/Form: Lecture, Analysis, and Exercises

Week 5 
9.23. Tuesday | Shape/Form: Application work day. 
HW: Complete Project 2, upload photo of completed project with
Self-Assessment to Canvas by 11:59pm.

9.25. Thursday | Application work day.
Complete Project 2, upload photo of completed project with Self-Assessment to Canvas by 11:59pm.

Week 6 
9.30. Tuesday | Project 2 Class Critique, then Value/Color: Lecture, Analysis, and Exercises

10.2. Thursday | Visual Analysis #3 (first 15 minutes)
Value/Color: Application work day. This can be done at home or in the studio space.

Week 7 
10.7. Tuesday | Value/Color: Application work day.
HW: Complete Project 3, upload photo of completed project with
Self-Assessment to Canvas by 11:59pm.

10.9. Thursday | Class Critique

Week 8 
10.14. Tuesday | Space/Scale: Lecture, Analysis, and Exercises

10.16. Thursday | Visual Analysis #4 (first 15 minutes)
Space/Scale: Application work day.

Week 9 
10.21. Tuesday | Space/Scale: Application work day.
HW: Complete Project 4, upload photo of completed project with
Self-Assessment to Canvas by 11:59pm.

10.23. Thursday | Class Critique

Week 10 
10.28. Tuesday | Texture: Lecture, Analysis, and Exercises
Application work day.

10.30. Thursday | Application work day.
HW: Complete Project 5, upload photo of completed project with
Self-Assessment to Canvas by 11:59pm. Complete Visual Analysis #5 online.

Week 11 
11.4. Tuesday | Balance/Weight: Lecture, Analysis, and Exercises
Balance/Weight application work day.

11.6. Thursday | HW: Complete Small Project 1 (Balance/Weight), upload photo of completed project to Canvas by 11:59pm. Complete Visual Analysis #6 online.

Week 12 
11.11. Tuesday | Rhythm/Movement: Lecture, Analysis, and Exercises
11.13. Thursday | Rhythm/Movement application work day

Week 13 
11.18. Tuesday | HW: Complete Small Project 2 (Rhythm/Movement), upload video of completed project to Canvas by 11:59pm.
11.20 Thursday | Class Critique

Week 14 
11.25. Tuesday | No Class, Happy Thanksgiving!
11.27. Thursday | No Class, Happy Thanksgiving!

Week 15 
12.2. Tuesday | Final Project work day

12.4. Thursday | Final Project work day

Finals Week 

12.10. Wednesday | FINAL IN-CLASS CRITIQUE (please bring your final projects to display) 3PM-4:50PM
Visual Analysis #7, 8, & 9 due at 11:59pm, submit on Canvas
Final Compositions due online by 11:59pm
Visual Analysis #10 due (submitted alongside Final Composition)

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

If a student anticipates needing more time to complete a project, they are to notify the instructor at least 24 hours before the due date.

Attendance Policy

Studio courses are experiential in nature and rely heavily on in-class instruction, collaboration, and critique. As such, attendance is mandatory.

A student who misses more than 25% of scheduled class time (including unexcused absences and tardiness) will receive a final grade no higher than a “C–”, and may fail the course, regardless of performance on assignments.

Excused absences—such as those due to documented illness, university-sponsored activities, or other legitimate circumstances—may be made up with appropriate documentation (e.g., a doctor's note or official university communication). It is the student's responsibility to inform the instructor before the absence when possible and to make arrangements to complete missed work promptly.

Consistent attendance and active participation are essential to your success in this course and in your development as an artist/designer.

Course Fees

ART courses have a $19.00 per credit fee.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.