The Venus of Vector

Posted on September 25, 2019 by admin

After four weeks of analog illustration, our Graphic Design and Communications students opened Adobe Illustrator today — many for the first time.

I remember my first time launching the program — 28 years ago. Just a few things have changed about Illustrator since its inception in 1987. For one, the splash screen.

The unofficial covergirl of this vector workhorse was always a creative incarnation of Botticelli’s famous painting ‘Birth of Venus’. She graced the launch of the app up until Adobe went the way of the Creative Suite in 2003.

If you’re a designasaur like me, you probably remember these images.

Groovy movies

Posted on March 1, 2017 by admin

One of the best parts of being a teacher in the Graphic Design and Communications Department is watching students grow.

The sophomores are only a couple months from graduation and they have really figured out how to apply all of the pieces of their education. The movie posters they created based on real or fictional films are exceptional. The main photo for each piece was shot by the student and they handled the design as well.

History in the making

Posted on May 5, 2010 by admin

Sophomore group photo shot on the fourth floor of the National Energy Center of Excellence building on the Bismarck State College Campus.

Sophomore group photo at Steamboat park in Bismarck.

The final photo project for the sophomore Graphic Design and Communications classes was to shoot a group photo. All students were expected to be involved and to work together to create a product everyone was happy with. It will be a record for the students and the instructors for years to come.

Stop and see us

Posted on April 12, 2010 by admin

The end of the school year is in sight. Around the Graphic Design and Communications Department, we call this time of year spring regardless of what the weather might be doing.

Sticking with the GDC spring tradition, the annual Spring Show will be held April 19-22 at Kirkwood Mall. The show will feature digital design, illustration and photography along with 35mm film photography.

The show has become part of the campus-wide ArtsQuest which features a variety of events. This year, GDC will be hosting nationally-known designer and speaker Jeff Fisher. He will be speaking at 7:30 p.m. April 21 in the National Energy Center of Excellence Auditorium on the BSC campus. The event is free and open to the public.

Check out the posters below advertising the events.

Spring Show poster designed by sophomore GDC student Bree Malingen.

Spring Show poster designed by sophomore GDC student Jordan Erickson.

Check out Jeff Fisher – the presentation is free and open to the public.

The Mandan Campus

Posted on March 21, 2010 by admin

Mechanical Maintenance Technology students discuss how to overcome a challenge with the Rube Goldberg-style machine.

Students prepare the machine for another test run.

Shortly before spring break, the freshman Graphic Design and Communications students visited the Bismarck State College Mechanical Maintenance Technology program in Mandan. The class was working on creating a Rube Goldberg-style machine to raise a flag.

The GDC students photographed the machine in action and under construction. Everyone was surprised by the complexity of the machine that featured tiny cars cutting strings and mouse traps popping balloons.

The instructor, Norlyn Swenson, devised the assignment to help students understands the six basic machines, to enhance problem solving skills and to help students learn to work in a group atmosphere.

The GDC students learned about shooting photos in conditions they cannot control and around people they are not familiar with. Their goal was to document the machine and the people that worked on the project.

Thanks to Norlyn Swenson for allowing us to shoot photos in your lab.

It’s about the process, not the product

Posted on November 23, 2009 by admin

Blueprint-effect was generated with an action created by the instructor and students. It can be repeated quickly and accurately with only a couple clicks.

Much of the fall semester imaging classes focus on working with a particular effect, trying to achieve a specific look.

Today the discussion was about Photoshop Actions, tiny scripts that allow automation of tasks from simple to fairly complex. Nearly any operation can be automated and stopping points can be inserted to allow human interaction. Graphic Design and Communications students started with simple actions and worked up to more complex pieces.

Many designers use actions to automate tasks like converting photos to black and white or creating thumbnails for photo galleries. Another suggestion is to automate complex processes to speed them up and reduce the chances of error.