I. General Information

1. Course Title:
Packaging

2. Course Prefix & Number:
GDES 2120

3. Course Credits and Contact Hours:

Credits: 3

Lecture Hours: 2

Lab Hours: 2

4. Course Description:

The purpose of this course is to provide an understanding of designing in three dimensions for a wide variety of products and preparing the design for different target markets. Students will also organize and plan a new product launch and create materials to aid the success of the launch.

5. Placement Tests Required:

6. Prerequisite Courses:

There are no prerequisites for this course.

9. Co-requisite Courses:

There are no corequisites for this course.

II. Transfer and Articulation

3. Prior Learning - the following prior learning methods are acceptable for this course:

• Advanced Standing
• Demonstration
• Portfolio

III. Course Purpose

1. Program-Applicable Courses – This course fulfills a requirement for the following program(s):

Graphic Design A.A.S.
Graphic Design Diploma

IV. Learning Outcomes

1. College-Wide Outcomes

College-Wide Outcomes/Competencies	Students will be able to:
Demonstrate oral communication skills	Present final designed project to the class.
Analyze and follow a sequence of operations	Produce high quality mock-ups.
Apply abstract ideas to concrete situations	Create a new product design for an already established product.

2. Course Specific Outcomes - Students will be able to achieve the following measurable goals upon completion of the course:

• Identify key elements of packaging composition;
• Identify the production process of packaging design;
• Apply an understanding of presenting product design to clients;
• Communicate ideas to other designers and photographers;
• Create effective product packaging designs on multiple surfaces;
• Measure effective package designs being used today;
• Create mock-ups using proper tools and techniques;
• Distinguish among different professional printing techniques; and
• Formulate multiple concept options for package design project.

V. Topical Outline

Listed below are major areas of content typically covered in this course.

1. Lecture Sessions

1. Researching different types of packages
   
   • Discuss packages that appeal to you and those that don’t
   • Discuss differences between different types
2. Structures and materials
   
   • Types of packages
   • Container vs. packages
   • Structural design
3. Planning for production
   
   • File management
   • The packaging die
   • Color and printing
   • Special processes
4. Creating mock-ups
   
   • Tools and techniques
   • Demonstrate use
   • Producing printer flats
   • Reproducing special processes
5. Designing for package design
   
   • Packaging design principles
   • Typographic principles for package design
   • Communicating with color
   • Communicating with imagery
6. Defining packaging design
   
   • Reaching the target market
   • Package design objectives
7. Understanding legal issues
   
   • Laws and regulations
   • FDA
8. Point of purchase displays
   
   • Customer influences
   • Types of displays

2. Laboratory/Studio Sessions

1. Mapping a package template
• Communicate across multiple surfaces
• Establish hierarchy
2. Creating mock-ups
• Apply use of tools
• Create printer flats
3. Designing packaging for new product
• Plan and research
• Understand target market
• Design product packaging
• Create mock-up
4. Re-designing packaging for existing product
• Plan and research
• Understand target market
• Design product packaging
• Create mock-up
• Understand and produce changes
• Create final print ready piece
5. Designing point of purchase display
• Plan and research
• Understand target market
• Design product packaging
• Create mock-up
• Design marketing piece
• Present to client
• Understand and produce changes
• Create final piece
• Present to class