Welcome to Digital Design with Illustrator! This orientation will provide a brief overview of the class and the learning tools I’ll use to facilitate the class. Your primary link to the class is Desire2Learn. Most students will be familiar with this learning portal but if you aren’t it will be your starting point for class learning material, discussion boards, dropboxes (where you submit work), quizzes and the gradebook. If you are registered for the class you will automatically have access to it through D2L. Our class D2L site will be active 2-3 days before the start of classes so check back then.

Once you are in D2L your first stop will be announcements, which I will update once or twice a week to keep you posted on key events. Our class is based on weekly modules..there are 16 modules in our semester. Each module will have learning objectives and links to content, files and assignments, which you must complete during each module. Click on Content for a quick view of weekly content. In conjunction with the content in D2L we have a class website that will have a detailed calendar with more specific details for each week with links. All required assignments will be listed in D2L Content to avoid any confusion.

Our website has a schedule, class syllabus, project description and gallery where you will see your work on display. Be sure to link to the schedule from the content and view this material…it’s very important that you view the syllabus which discusses my expectations for due dates, graded elements and grading criteria.

The class is based on Illustrator CC (creative cloud-based). We at ARC, take pride in the fact that we always teach to the latest version of software. If you have a different version of Illustrator, please let me know so I can determine if I can accommodate you.

Update on Adobe Cloud Software: Adobe is transitioning to a "cloud-based" distribution of their creative software. This has significant advantages for Adobe because they have more control over updates, distribution and piracy. For students, the cost is currently $19 per month with a one year subscription required. This may seem pricy but it does give you access to all of the creative software. You can check this out at Adobe or JourneyEd. They also sell the "subscription" at the Beaver Bookstore

The first couple weeks of class are designed to allow students time to get books and software while the class roster is finalized. You are welcome to work ahead if you wish. I will try to keep 2-3 weeks of content available.

I’m looking forward to a creative semester!