VA101 Visual Language I
VA101 Visual Language I
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Dec 12, 2025
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Visual Arts and Visual Communications Design
Roman Sulejmanpašić
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
The aims of this course are to: • Provide students with ways of thinking/talking about, looking at, questioning, and finding value in art/design forms. • Have enhanced their ability to think visually, and communicate ideas in visual ways. • Be familiar with the components of design and fine arts, and be able to use design language to discuss and evaluate designed objects and artwork.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Alan Pipes, “ Introduction to design“, Pearson
Additional Literature
Universal Principles of Design, William LidwellTeaching Methods
Guided students' activities: reviews
Presentations - assignments
Sketches
Midterm submition
Final assingment
Self-evaluation
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to the course, policies and course material. Homework 1 | FAQ, Course manual |
| 2 | Introduction. Homework 1 presentations | Presentations/Discussion |
| 3 | Elements of Design: Point and Line | Lecture/Discussion |
| 4 | Elements of Design: Shape and Form. Assignment 1 | Lecture/Discussion |
| 5 | Elements of Design: Value and Color | Lecture/Assignment 1 review |
| 6 | Elements of Design: Texture and Pattern. Assignment 2 | Lecture/Discussion |
| 7 | Elements of Design: Space and the Illusion of Depth. Midterm exam preparation | Lecture/Assignment 2 review |
| 8 | MIDTERM EXAM | Exam |
| 9 | Principles of Design: Unity and Harmony | Lecture/Midterm exam review |
| 10 | Principles of Design: Balance and Alignment. White Space. Assignment 3 | Lecture/Discussion |
| 11 | Principles of Design: Scale and Proportion. Contrast and Emphasis. Assignment 4 | Lecture/Assignment 3 review |
| 12 | Principles of Design: Movement and Rhythm | Lecture/Assignment 4 review |
| 13 | Quiz. Final exam preparation | Quiz/Discussion |
| 14 | Final exam preparation | Discussion |
| 15 | FINAL EXAM PRESENTATION | Exam |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VA101.1 | Course | Wednesday 15:00 - 17:50 | B F1.10 Class/ART Studio | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
| Day | Time | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | 14:00 - 16:00 | B F2.9 | |
| Thursday | 10:00 - 12:00 | B F2.9 |
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 3 4 5
Homework
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3
Assignments
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4 5
Quiz
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 4
Midterm Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 3 4 5
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
45 hours ⏳ (15 week × 3 h)
Midterm Exam Preparation
12 hours ⏳ (1 week × 12 h)
Quiz Study
7 hours ⏳ (1 week × 7 h)
Home Study
30 hours ⏳ (15 week × 2 h)
Homework
2 hours ⏳ (1 week × 2 h)
Assignments
24 hours ⏳ (4 week × 6 h)
Final Project Preparation
30 hours ⏳ (2 week × 15 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 [VA101] 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 Dec 12, 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 | |||||||||
| VA101 | Visual Language I | 1 | 2 | 6 | ||||||
| Prerequisite | None | It is a prerequisite to | VA303, VA352, VA415 | |||||||
| Lecturer | Roman Sulejmanpašić | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Tuesday: 10:00-12:00 , 14:00-16:00 Thursday: 10:00-12:00 |
|||||||
| rsulejmanpasic@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Ermina Ušanović | Assistant E-mail | eusanovic@ius.edu.ba | |||||||
| Course Objectives | The aims of this course are to: • Provide students with ways of thinking/talking about, looking at, questioning, and finding value in art/design forms. • Have enhanced their ability to think visually, and communicate ideas in visual ways. • Be familiar with the components of design and fine arts, and be able to use design language to discuss and evaluate designed objects and artwork. |
|||||||||
| Textbook | Alan Pipes, “ Introduction to design“, Pearson | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
|||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | Guided students' activities: reviews, presentations - assignments, sketches, midterm submition, final assingment, self-evaluation | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Introduction to the course, policies and course material. Homework 1 | FAQ, Course manual | ||||||||
| Week 2 | Introduction. Homework 1 presentations | Presentations/Discussion | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Elements of Design: Point and Line | Lecture/Discussion | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Elements of Design: Shape and Form. Assignment 1 | Lecture/Discussion | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Elements of Design: Value and Color | Lecture/Assignment 1 review | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Elements of Design: Texture and Pattern. Assignment 2 | Lecture/Discussion | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Elements of Design: Space and the Illusion of Depth. Midterm exam preparation | Lecture/Assignment 2 review | ||||||||
| Week 8 | MIDTERM EXAM | Exam | ||||||||
| Week 9 | Principles of Design: Unity and Harmony | Lecture/Midterm exam review | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Principles of Design: Balance and Alignment. White Space. Assignment 3 | Lecture/Discussion | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Principles of Design: Scale and Proportion. Contrast and Emphasis. Assignment 4 | Lecture/Assignment 3 review | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Principles of Design: Movement and Rhythm | Lecture/Assignment 4 review | ||||||||
| Week 13 | Quiz. Final exam preparation | Quiz/Discussion | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Final exam preparation | Discussion | ||||||||
| Week 15 | FINAL EXAM PRESENTATION | Exam | ||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 30 | 1, 3, 4, 5 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Homework | 1 | 5 | 1, 2, 3 | Not Allowed | |
| Assignments | 4 | 40 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 | Not Allowed | |
| Quiz | 1 | 10 | 4 | Not Allowed | |
| Midterm Exam | 1 | 15 | 1, 3, 4, 5 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture Hours | 3 | 15 | 45 | Midterm Exam Preparation | 12 | 1 | 12 | |||
| Quiz Study | 7 | 1 | 7 | Home Study | 2 | 15 | 30 | |||
| Homework | 2 | 1 | 2 | Assignments | 6 | 4 | 24 | |||
| Final Project Preparation | 15 | 2 | 30 | |||||||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 02/12/2025 | |||||||||