CT200
Content Design and Research
Spring 2025
Section
101
Date & Time
Tuesday 2:10 pm - 5 pm
Professors
Christie Shin
Classroom
C304
Co/Pre-requisite(s)
NA
Credits/Hours
2 credits; 1 lecture and 2 lab hours
School
School of Art & Design
Major
NA
Minor
Creative Technology
Office Hours
Monday 1 to 3, Tuesday 12 to 1, Wednesday 4 to 6
Office at FIT
D317 (email to schedule a remote meeting)
christie_shin@fitnyc.edu
Course Description
This course introduces the fundamentals of content design principles, design research and integration, and the skills necessary to effectively communicate content. The primary goal is to empower students to develop meaningful content and transform it into impactful presentations through visual communication. Creative outcomes will include both print and digital designs, with a strong emphasis on the seamless integration of content development and creative processes.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
Demonstrate an understanding of content development and design research.
Create professional visual and textual content to communicate effectively.
Utilize basic image editing techniques to create impactful layouts.
Apply fundamental typography and layout principles.
Prepare and optimize digital files for both print and screen-based media.
Project 1: Deck of cards
Develop a set of cards that integrate textual and visual content based on a chosen topic.
[Specification]
Subject: Recipes, fitness, yoga, artist, musician, how-to guides, etc.
Format: Cards
Dimension: 6” x 9”
Duration: 4 weeks
Deliverable: 3 cards (front and back) per student
Project 2: Biography
Write a personal biography and design a slide incorporating text and a self-portrait (photo, drawing, or painting).
[Specification]
Subject: Biography
Format: Presentation deck
Word Count: 150–200 words
Dimension: 1920 x 1024 Pixel
Duration: 2 weeks
Deliverable: 1–2 slides.
Project 3: Artist Statement
Write an artist statement describing influences, inspiration, and vision, and create a slide with accompanying visuals.
[Specification]
Subject: Artist Statement
Format: Presentation deck
Word count: 150–200 words
Dimension: 1920 x 1024 Pixel
Duration: 1 week
Deliverable: 1–2 slides
Project 4: Resume (Highlighted Key Points)
Design a visually engaging resume focusing on key highlights.
[Specification]
Subject: Resume
Format: Presentation deck
Dimension: 1920 x 1024 Pixel
Duration: 1 week
Deliverable: 1–2 slides
Project 5: Portfolio
Create a comprehensive portfolio presentation deck that showcases your professional identity and creative work. This project integrates biography, artist statement, CV, selected artwork, descriptions, and the creative process, with the option to include multimedia elements if applicable.
[Specification]
Subject: Personal portfolio
Format: Presentation deck
Dimension: 1920 x 1024 Pixel
Duration: 6 weeks
Deliverable: Minimum 10 pieces of artwork, and description. The process is encouraged.
[Components]
Biography
Artist Statement
CV
Selected Artwork (minimum of 10 pieces)
Descriptions of each artwork
Process work (sketches, iterations, or behind-the-scenes insights)
Multimedia elements (e.g., videos, animations, or interactive components) if applicable
Grade Breakdown and Evaluation
Project 1: 25 points
Project 2: 10 points
Project 3: 10 points
Project 4: 5 points
Project 5: 40 points
Professionalism (attendance, participation, presentation, etc.): 10 points
* You must submit all your projects for the final grade no later than the last day of class
A/A-: 90% or above (A- 90-94 points, A 95 points above)
B+/B/B-: 89% – 75% (B+ 89-85 points, B 84-80 points, B- 79-75 points)
C+/C/C-: 74% – 60% (C+ 74-70 points, C 69-65 points, C- 64-60 points)
D: 59% – 51%
F: 50% or below
Course Weekly Outline:
Weekly outline is subject to change according to the pedagogical needs.
Week 1
Introduction - syllabus
Project 1 introduction (examples)
Slack, Figma
Figma basics
In-class: Icebreaker activity
– Homework –
Project 1 planning
Sketch
Textual content
Week 2
Project 1 : Show and tell
Figma basics: Typography, type specimen, text styles
Document setup
– Homework –
Week 3
Typography, type specimen, text styles
Printing
– One-on-one –
– Homework –
Week 4
Figma basics: Imagery, layout grid
– One-on-one –
– Homework –
Week 5
Singapore Conference
Week 6
Project 1 due. Presentation.
– Homework –
Biography
Week 7
Project 2 introduction (examples)
– Homework –
Biography design
Week 8
Project 2 due
Project 3: Artist Statement
– One-on-one –
Week 9
Project 3 due
Project 4: Resume (Highlighted Key Points)
– One-on-one –
Week 10
Project 4 due
Project 5: Portfolio
– One-on-one –
– Homework –
Minimum 10 pieces of artwork, and description
Week 11-14
– One-on-one –
Week 15
Final Presentation
Creative Technology & Design (CT&D) Attendance Policy
Attendance is not optional. If you are going to miss a class, you must contact me via email ASAP. Due to the quantity of material covered in the course, I will not be able to spend class time explaining missed assignments or redo lectures. If a class is missed, it is your responsibility to get information regarding missed assignments and lectures from one of your classmates.
Students are required to attend all classes, be on time, and remain for the entire class.
Students who miss three classes for classes meeting once a week or four classes for classes meeting twice a week will receive a grade of “F.”
The student who arrives 10 minutes after the start of the class will be considered late.
Two late occurrences = one absence
A student who arrives over 30 minutes late or not returning from the break will be considered absent from the class.
Working on projects for another class or using digital devices for socializing (texting, social media…etc.) or gaming during class time will be recorded as an absence.
An excused absence is still recorded as an absence. The difference is an excused absence won’t impact your grade for professionalism and class participation.
Additional Course Information:
Grade Appeals: Include information on the grade appeal process. See Grade Appeal for more information.
Department Policy on Plagiarism
Plagiarism and other forms of academic deception are unacceptable. Each instance of plagiarism is distinct. A plagiarism violation is an automatic justification for an “F” on that assignment and/or an “F” for the course. A student found in violation of FIT’s Code of Conduct and deemed to receive an “F” for a course may not withdraw from the course prior to final grade assignments.
Use of AI tools
It is permissible to utilize AI tools in your creative process. However, you must identify which AI tool is being used at each stage of the process. You are required to fact-check AI output and avoid stereotyping and bias in your work. Finally, you are responsible for ensuring that the final creation is unique, ownable, and without any copyright issues.
Fact-checking AI output
AI tools are not infallible. They often generate incorrect or misleading information. It is your responsibility to fact-check any AI output before using it in your work. This includes checking the source of the information, evaluating the quality of the information, and considering the context in which the information was generated.
Avoiding stereotyping and bias
AI tools can be trained on data that contains stereotypes and biases. This can lead to AI output that is also biased. It is your responsibility to avoid the potential for bias in AI output. You should also be mindful of your own biases when using AI tools and take steps to mitigate them.
Ensuring the uniqueness and ownership of your work
You are responsible for ensuring that the final creation of your work is unique and ownable. This means that you must not plagiarize the work of others, including submitting works done solely by AI tools without meaningful improvement and input from you.
Penalty for violation
Violation of this policy may result in a grade reduction or suspension from the class.