Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Digital Tools (Face-to-Face)

ART 2210-02

Course: ART 2210-02
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: ARTD
CRN: 30708

Course Description

This course introduces students to foundational digital tools and visual communication software used in contemporary design practice. Through hands-on projects in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign, students will learn essential workflows for digital illustration, image editing, layout, and creative visual storytelling. Emphasis is placed on creative exploration, technical fluency, and developing a personal design voice.

ART 1120 - Prerequisite Min. Grade: C 

Required Texts

Graphic Design: The New Basics
Authors: Ellen Lupton and Jennifer C. Phillips

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will have a foundational understanding of how to use Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign. They will learn how to create basic vector graphics, photo composites, and multi-page layouts, while gaining experience with visual elements like type, color, and composition. Students will also learn how to properly prepare and export files for both print and digital use, building the technical skills needed to begin working across different types of media.

Course Requirements

This course is all about learning the tools, exploring creatively, and building confidence as a designer—so the biggest requirement is that you show up with curiosity and a willingness to try. You don’t need to be perfect (or even experienced) with these programs to do well. What matters most is that you stay engaged, take creative risks, and keep an open mind as you learn. We'll be moving through Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign, and each program has its own quirks and possibilities. Some days will feel frustrating as you work through technical challenges, but that’s all part of the process. Ask questions, try things out, make mistakes, and then try again.

Attend and Actively Participate in Class
This course relies on in-person instruction, demonstrations, and collaborative discussion. Regular attendance and active participation are essential to your progress. You are expected to arrive on time, contribute to critiques and discussions, and engage respectfully with peers.

Course Outline


Part 1: Adobe Illustrator (Weeks 1–5)


Assignment 1:
Veg Out! Basic Shapes
Due Friday Sep 9, 2025

Assignment 2: Stylized Character Portrait
Due Friday Sep 12, 2025

Project 1: “City Love” Postcard
Due Friday Sep 26, 2025


Part 2: Adobe Photoshop (Weeks 6–9)


Assignment 3: Double Exposure Poster
Due Friday Oct 3, 2025

Assignment 4: “Pieces of Me” Personality Collage
Due Friday Oct 10, 2025

Project 2: Building Worlds Composite Image
Due Friday Oct 17, 2025


Part 3: Adobe InDesign (Weeks 10–13)


Assignment 5: Artist/Designer Bio Page
Due Friday Oct 24, 2025

Assignment 6: Magazine Spread
Due Friday Oct 31, 2025

Project 3: Trifold Brochure
Due Friday Nov 14, 2025


Part 4: Final Project (Weeks 14–16)


Project 4: Multi-Page Zine



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

Late assignments will be accepted with a penalty of 3% deduction per day, up to a maximum of 7 days. Makeup work will be considered on a case-by-case basis for legitimate and documented reasons.

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

$19.00 per credit

Course Fees

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.