VA301 Project Studio 1
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Dec 12, 2025
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Visual Arts and Visual Communications Design
Branko Vekić
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
-Navigate the full creative project cycle, including research, conceptualization, production, and final presentation. -Apply visual arts and communication design methodologies to develop informed and intentional creative outcomes. -Articulate clear and meaningful design or artistic concepts grounded in research and critical thinking. -Create iterative prototypes that demonstrate exploration, refinement, and problem-solving within the design process. -Produce a high-quality final project that meets professional standards and is suitable for inclusion in a visual arts or communication design portfolio.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
-Visual Research: An Introduction to Research Methodologies in Graphic Design, by Ian Noble & Russell Bestley, 2011
Additional Literature
-101 Design Methods: A Structured Approach for Driving Innovation in Your Organization, Vijay Kumar, (John Wiley & Sons, 2012 M10) -Making and Breaking the Grid, Third Edition: A Graphic Design Layout Workshop, Timothy Samara, (Rockport Publishers, 2023 M06)Teaching Methods
Class discussions
Practical exercises
Case studies
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Course Introduction | discussion |
| 2 | Research Methods & Visual Inquiry | discussion |
| 3 | Concept Development : Idea Generation | discussion |
| 4 | Project Review and Refinement, discussion | discussion / Assig. Review |
| 5 | Thought process and Visualization | discussion / Assig. Review |
| 6 | Project Review and Refinement, discussion | discussion / Assig. Review |
| 7 | Midterm project preparation and discussion | discussion / Assig. Review |
| 8 | MIDTERM EXAM | Exam |
| 9 | Midterm Critique and review | discussion / Assig. Review |
| 10 | Original conceptualisation, discussion | discussion / Assig. Review |
| 11 | Project Review and Refinement, discussion | discussion / Assig. Review |
| 12 | Quality Check & Polishing | discussion / Assig. Review |
| 13 | Project Review and Refinement, discussion | discussion / Assig. Review |
| 14 | Portfolio Layout & Presentation Design | discussion / Assig. Review |
| 15 | FINAL PROJECT | Exam |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VA301.1 | Course | Friday 15:00 - 17:50 | A F1.18 - Computer Lab | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam/Project
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 2 3
Assignments/Projects
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3
Midterm Exam/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)
Practical Work
14 hours ⏳ (14 week × 1 h)
Midterm Exam Study
8 hours ⏳ (1 week × 8 h)
Final Exam Study
16 hours ⏳ (2 week × 8 h)
Final Project Preparation
32 hours ⏳ (4 week × 8 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 [VA301] 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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| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| VA301 | Project Studio 1 | 0 | 3 | 6 | Friday 15:00-17:50 | |||||
| Prerequisite | Junior Standing | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Branko Vekić | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Wednesday: 12:00-14:00 Thursday: 9:00-13:00 |
|||||||
| bvekic@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Dino Šahović | Assistant E-mail | dsahovic@ius.edu.ba | |||||||
| Course Objectives | -Navigate the full creative project cycle, including research, conceptualization, production, and final presentation. -Apply visual arts and communication design methodologies to develop informed and intentional creative outcomes. -Articulate clear and meaningful design or artistic concepts grounded in research and critical thinking. -Create iterative prototypes that demonstrate exploration, refinement, and problem-solving within the design process. -Produce a high-quality final project that meets professional standards and is suitable for inclusion in a visual arts or communication design portfolio. |
|||||||||
| Textbook | -Visual Research: An Introduction to Research Methodologies in Graphic Design, by Ian Noble & Russell Bestley, 2011 | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
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| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
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| Teaching Methods | class discussions, practical exercises, case studies | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Course Introduction | discussion | ||||||||
| Week 2 | Research Methods & Visual Inquiry | discussion | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Concept Development : Idea Generation | discussion | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Project Review and Refinement, discussion | discussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Thought process and Visualization | discussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Project Review and Refinement, discussion | discussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Midterm project preparation and discussion | discussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 8 | MIDTERM EXAM | Exam | ||||||||
| Week 9 | Midterm Critique and review | discussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Original conceptualisation, discussion | discussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Project Review and Refinement, discussion | discussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Quality Check & Polishing | discussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 13 | Project Review and Refinement, discussion | discussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Portfolio Layout & Presentation Design | discussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 15 | FINAL PROJECT | Exam | ||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam/Project | 1 | 30 | 2,3 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Assignments/Projects | 4 | 50 | 1,2,3 | Not Allowed | |
| Midterm Exam/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 | |||
| Practical Work | 1 | 14 | 14 | Midterm Exam Study | 8 | 1 | 8 | |||
| Final Exam Study | 8 | 2 | 16 | Final Project Preparation | 8 | 4 | 32 | |||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 11/12/2025 | |||||||||