VA216 Graphic Design I
VA216 Graphic Design I
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Sep 09, 2025
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Visual Arts and Visual Communications Design
Branko Vekić
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
Studens will: • learn about creative process • acquire skills in traditional and newer techniques • understand the principles of Graphic Design • learn how to be a part of a team, so they can carry out projects as a part of a team as well as independently
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Graphic Design Basics, Amy Arntson, Cengage 2012
Additional Literature
Graphic Design: The New Basics; Ellen Lupton, Jennifer Cole Phillips; Princeton Architectural Press; 2nd edition (July 14, 2015) Grid systems in graphic design: A visual communication manual for graphic designers, typographers and three-dimensional designers; Josef Muller-Brockmann; Niggli Verlag; Bilingual edition (October 1, 1996)Teaching Methods
Ex cathedra lectures
Class discussions
Practical exercises
Screenings
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to the course, policies and course material | disscussion |
| 2 | Creative Process I | disscussion / Assig. Review |
| 3 | Creative Process II | disscussion / Assig. Review |
| 4 | Perception I | disscussion / Assig. Review |
| 5 | Perception II | disscussion / Assig. Review |
| 6 | Toward a Dynamic Balance I | disscussion / Assig. Review |
| 7 | Toward a Dynamic Balance II | disscussion / Assig. Review |
| 8 | MIDTERM EXAM | Exam |
| 9 | Good Gestalt I | disscussion / Assig. Review |
| 10 | Good Gestalt II | disscussion / Assig. Review |
| 11 | Trademarks I | disscussion / Assig. Review |
| 12 | Trademarks II | disscussion / Assig. Review |
| 13 | Layout I | disscussion / Assig. Review |
| 14 | Layout II | disscussion / Assig. Review |
| 15 | FINAL PROJECT PRESENTATION | Exam |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VA216.1 | Course | Thursday 09:00 - 11:50 | B F1.10 Class/ART Studio | - | - |
| VA216.2 | Course | Tuesday 09:00 - 11:50 | B F1.10 Class/ART Studio | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
| Day | Time | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday | 12:00 - 14:00 | B F2.7B | |
| Thursday | 09:00 - 13:00 | B F2.7B |
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
Assignments
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
Midterm Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2
Final Project
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture Hours
30 hours ⏳ (15 week × 2 h)
Assignments
50 hours ⏳ (10 week × 5 h)
Lab
15 hours ⏳ (15 week × 1 h)
Midterm Exam Study
9 hours ⏳ (1 week × 9 h)
Final Exam Study
16 hours ⏳ (2 week × 8 h)
Final Project Preparation
30 hours ⏳ (3 week × 10 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [VA216] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Sep 09, 2025 | International University of Sarajevo
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Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| VA216 | Graphic Design I | 1 | 2 | 6 | ||||||
| Prerequisite | Junior Standing | It is a prerequisite to | VA347, VA348 | |||||||
| Lecturer | Branko Vekić | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Wednesday: 12:00-14:00 Thursday: 9:00-13:00 |
|||||||
| bvekic@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | Studens will: • learn about creative process • acquire skills in traditional and newer techniques • understand the principles of Graphic Design • learn how to be a part of a team, so they can carry out projects as a part of a team as well as independently |
|||||||||
| Textbook | Graphic Design Basics, Amy Arntson, Cengage 2012 | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
|||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
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| Teaching Methods | ex cathedra lectures, class discussions, practical exercises, screenings | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Introduction to the course, policies and course material | disscussion | ||||||||
| Week 2 | Creative Process I | disscussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Creative Process II | disscussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Perception I | disscussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Perception II | disscussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Toward a Dynamic Balance I | disscussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Toward a Dynamic Balance II | disscussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 8 | MIDTERM EXAM | Exam | ||||||||
| Week 9 | Good Gestalt I | disscussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Good Gestalt II | disscussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Trademarks I | disscussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Trademarks II | disscussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 13 | Layout I | disscussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Layout II | disscussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 15 | FINAL PROJECT PRESENTATION | Exam | ||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 20 | 1,2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Assignments | 5 | 45 | 1,2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Midterm Exam | 1 | 15 | 1,2 | Not Allowed | |
| Final Project | 1 | 20 | 1,2,3 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture Hours | 2 | 15 | 30 | Assignments | 5 | 10 | 50 | |||
| Lab | 1 | 15 | 15 | Midterm Exam Study | 9 | 1 | 9 | |||
| Final Exam Study | 8 | 2 | 16 | Final Project Preparation | 10 | 3 | 30 | |||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 19/09/2025 | |||||||||