Some sites about icon

Mini icons

icon finder

Anatomy of a visual message presentation

Dear students you can find lecture for the first project here

Project 1: Icon Design

Portray an action (Verb) abstractly in black and white.

Pictograms and icons have one thing in common: they both pictorial signs. However, they have very different functions. Pictograms are used to warn, guide or protect and need to be immediately decipherable. They must get right to the heart of the matter by visually conveying a vital piece of information in such a way that it cannot be misunderstood, and they should a vital piece of information in such a way that it cannot be misunderstood, and they should therefore be internationally recognizable and independent of culture. Consequently, in terms of design they are bound by much stricter, formal constraints that demand great discipline.

Icons in contrast are primarily used to communicate message in a fun way and therefore enjoy much greater freedom of design. Icons have increasingly undergone a shift in character from informative to entertaining.

.Your first task is to create an abstract image that is a REPRESENTATION of a issue that you feel passionate about. See the issue list.

It should fall into one or more of the following categories:
Social, Political, Economic, Religious and/ or Cultural.
.With your topic in mind, make a list of words
(verb’s work best) that exemplifies your topic.
For example you may feel passionately about “WAR” a list of words might include things such as: shooting, killing, defending, attacking, occupy, bleeding, burning, etc.
Choose three of these words and draw four sketches for every word. You will have 12 drawings. From these drawings evolve your design into one refined  symbol which should some how represent the ethos of the original word that it is derived from. 


FORM
MEANING
CULTURE
Hunger
Illiteracy
Iran
Iraq
Israel
Marijuana
Minimum Wage
Peace
Poverty
Prayer in the Schools
Privacy
Racism
Recycling
Religious right
Terrorism
Tobacco
Unions
War
Women’s Rights
Workers Rights

Course Syllabus:

The purpose of this course is to explore the languages and functions of logos, symbols and sign systems in visual communication. Projects will examine social and cultural context of visual codes in relation to designed works. Various applications on different media will be studied to create alternative and new design solutions.

Projects:
Each class you are expected to bring necessary material to work. I am expecting you to use class time effectively. Projects will be evaluated on the basis of concept, design, use of tools, and craftsmanship.

Due Dates:
All work is expected to be completed by the due dates at the announced hours. Late projects will lower your grade. All assignment are due at the beginning of the class.
.Late assignments lowered by one full grade.
.Assignments will not be accepted for grading at all after two days of the submission.

Class Participation:
Class participation is important in learning process. Classroom interaction is very helpful to everybody.
Students will be expected to participate in all class activities. Lectures, discussions and critiques will take place regularly. I am expecting you to speak up.

Attendance:
Attendance to all class meetings is required. There will be something new taught every class meeting.
So you will come to class and be prepared to work!
According to department policy  students who miss more than 20% the classes (3 classes) will get ‘F’ from attendance grade. (If you miss 4 classes you will fail from the course).  Attendance will be taken in each class. Missed classes will lower your final grade.

Grading :
Grading will be based on assigned projects, craft, concept, exploration, sketching, class participation and involvement.


01) Sep.18: Introduction. Shaping content and context with visual forms.(Representation through abstraction and symbolism) Project 1: Action word (Creation of abstract image: Icon design)
02) Sep.25: Work in process
03) Oct.02:Work in process
04) Oct.09: Presenting Project 1/ Project 2: Icon design with deconstructed square.
05) Oct.16: Deconstructing a square, choosing one of the square diagrams and breaking it into 8 pieces. Designing a set of 5 icons using designed pieces. Repetition or overlapping is ;permissible, scale change is not allowed. Icons can represent anything you like: people, animals, food, emoticons, etc. They should make sense together as a series.
06) Oct.23: Work in process
07) Oct.30: Presenting Project 2 /Project 3: Letter sign assignment
08) Nov.06: Work in process
09) Nov.13: Presenting Project 3 / Project 3: You are an animal. (Designing Signs and Symbols.) Understanding contrasting visual characteristics of Marks.
10) Nov.20: Work in process
11) Nov.27: Work in process
12) Dec.04: Presenting Project 4/ Project 5: Sign system design
13) Dec.11: Work in process
14) Dec.18: Work in process
15) Dec.25: No classes