VA202 Visual Language II
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Mar 03, 2026
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Visual Arts and Visual Communications Design
Roman Sulejmanpašić
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
"Aims of this course are to: • To provide the fundamentals of three-dimensional concepts. • To comprehend form and structure, including materials, methods and production techniques. • 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
Visual Language for Designers: Principles for Creating Graphics that People Understand Paperback – October 1, 2011 by Connie Malamed Visual Storytelling: Inspiring a New Visual Language Hardcover – September 7, 2011 by Robert Klanten (Author), S. Ehmann (Author)Teaching Methods
Student desimination
Activity in 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 | FAQ, Course manual |
| 2 | Introduction - My inspiration / student presentation | presentations / discussions |
| 3 | Describing the space with basic design element -Line, 3-dimensional form | Drawing from observation, Brian Curtis |
| 4 | Assignment 1 | Lecture |
| 5 | Review basic concepts of 2 dimensional design, and then translate 2 dimensional designs into 3 dimensional forms. | presentations / discussions |
| 6 | Assignment 2 | Creative workshop, David Sherwin |
| 7 | Understanding and appreciation of form, surface texture and color through the process of replicating and interpreting a natural object | Lecture |
| 8 | Assignment 3 | Visual Workbook, Robin landa, Rose Gonnella |
| 9 | MIDTERM SUBMITION | |
| 10 | Working with Found Objects, Unity | Alan pipes,“ Introduction to design“, Pearson |
| 11 | Assignment 4 | Lecture |
| 12 | Problem solving | Color: A Course in Mastering the Art of Mixing Colors by Betty Edward |
| 13 | Form / Material studies | Alan pipes,“ Introduction to design“ |
| 14 | Assignment 5 | Lecture |
| 15 | Final Assignment / Final Exam / Final review of the course | presentations / discussions |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VA202.1 | Course | - | - | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
| Day | Time | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 13:00 - 16:00 | B F2.23 | |
| Thursday | 10:00 - 13:00 | B F2.23 |
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam / Final Assignment
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 3 4
Attendance / Activity / Critique
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 2 3 4
Readings and Discussions, Sketchbook
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 3 5
Student Disseminations and Reviews
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 2 4
Assignments / Presentations
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 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
15 hours ⏳ (15 week × 1 h)
Assignments / Presentations
30 hours ⏳ (15 week × 2 h)
Attendance / Activity / Critique
15 hours ⏳ (15 week × 1 h)
Readings and Discussions, Sketchbook
30 hours ⏳ (15 week × 2 h)
Student Disseminations and Reviews
30 hours ⏳ (15 week × 2 h)
Final Assignment / Final Exam
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 [VA202] 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 Mar 03, 2026 | 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 | |||||||||
| VA202 | Visual Language II | 1 | 2 | 6 | Thursday 13:00-16:00 | |||||
| Prerequisite | Junior Standing | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Roman Sulejmanpašić | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Monday: 13:00-16:00 Thursday: 10:00-13:00 |
|||||||
| rsulejmanpasic@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | None | Assistant E-mail | ||||||||
| Course Objectives | "Aims of this course are to: • To provide the fundamentals of three-dimensional concepts. • To comprehend form and structure, including materials, methods and production techniques. • 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 | Student desimination, activity in 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 | FAQ, Course manual | ||||||||
| Week 2 | Introduction - My inspiration / student presentation | presentations / discussions | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Describing the space with basic design element -Line, 3-dimensional form | Drawing from observation, Brian Curtis | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Assignment 1 | Lecture | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Review basic concepts of 2 dimensional design, and then translate 2 dimensional designs into 3 dimensional forms. | presentations / discussions | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Assignment 2 | Creative workshop, David Sherwin | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Understanding and appreciation of form, surface texture and color through the process of replicating and interpreting a natural object | Lecture | ||||||||
| Week 8 | Assignment 3 | Visual Workbook, Robin landa, Rose Gonnella | ||||||||
| Week 9 | MIDTERM SUBMITION | |||||||||
| Week 10 | Working with Found Objects, Unity | Alan pipes,“ Introduction to design“, Pearson | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Assignment 4 | Lecture | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Problem solving | Color: A Course in Mastering the Art of Mixing Colors by Betty Edward | ||||||||
| Week 13 | Form / Material studies | Alan pipes,“ Introduction to design“ | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Assignment 5 | Lecture | ||||||||
| Week 15 | Final Assignment / Final Exam / Final review of the course | presentations / discussions | ||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam / Final Assignment | 1 | 30 | 1,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Attendance / Activity / Critique | 2 | 10 | 2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Readings and Discussions, Sketchbook | 1 | 10 | 1,3,5 | Not Allowed | |
| Student Disseminations and Reviews | 2 | 10 | 2,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Assignments / Presentations | 6 | 40 | 1,2,4,5 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture Hours | 1 | 15 | 15 | Assignments / Presentations | 2 | 15 | 30 | |||
| Attendance / Activity / Critique | 1 | 15 | 15 | Readings and Discussions, Sketchbook | 2 | 15 | 30 | |||
| Student Disseminations and Reviews | 2 | 15 | 30 | Final Assignment / Final Exam | 10 | 3 | 30 | |||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 27/03/2026 | |||||||||