VA438 Introduction to Visual Storytelling
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Feb 02, 2026
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Visual Arts and Visual Communications Design
TBA
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
This interdisciplinary course explores how people perceive, interpret, and create visual media across historical and contemporary contexts. Drawing from sociology, anthropology, psychology, media studies, and design theory, students examine how images shape global cultures and individual identity. Through critical analysis and hands-on design projects, students bridge theory and practice, developing visual literacy and storytelling skills across print, digital, and interactive media.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Paul Martin Lester, Visual Communication: Images with Messages, Lidwell, Holden & Butler, Universal Principles of Design, The Art of Visual Storytelling, Scott McCloud, Understanding Comics, Meredith Davis & Jamer Hunt, Visual Communication Design, DB Dowd, Stick Figures
Additional Literature
Storytellers: A Photographer's Guide to Developing Themes and Creating Stories with Pictures by Jerod Foster Visual Storytelling: Inspiring a New Visual Language by R. Klanten, S. Ehmann, F. SchulzeTeaching Methods
Attendance and participation
Midterm exam
Assignments
Presentation
Portfolio.
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to the course, policies and course material. | disscussion |
| 2 | Introduction to Visual Storytelling | Lester Ch.1–2 ; Block, Visual Story; |
|
What is visual storytelling? Visual componentsShape-to-meaning workshopSketch Exercise: Add meaning to shape
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| 3 | Visual Literacy & Semiotics | Lester Ch.4–5 ; Stanford SEP Semiotics; Universal Principles – Picture Superiority |
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How we see; semiotics; picture superiority effectImage scanning & describingReflection: Image meaning analysis
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| 4 | Composition as Narrative | Samara; Lupton & Phillips; Universal Principles – Hierarchy |
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Gestalt; hierarchy; balanceSunday Sketches workshopA01: Narrative Composition
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| 5 | Rules of Visual Storytelling | Ware; Weinschenk; Universal Principles – Affordance |
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Perception & UXCognitive load; usability; affordanceA01 presentation - discussion
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| 6 | Symbol & Meaning | Krippendorff; Universal Principles – Color |
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Semiotics; color theory; archetypesA02: Visual Conversation Series
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| 7 | Story Structure | Truby; Duarte; Storytelling |
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Narrative arc; selection; editingContact sheets review
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| 8 | MIDTERM EXAM | |
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Midterm: Persuasive Poster
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| 9 | Emotion & Character | Weinschenk; McClay |
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Mirror neurons; empathy; brain & story
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| 10 | Sequence & Rhythm | McCloud; Lester Ch.4 |
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Visual pacing; panels; movementA03: Data Visualization
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| 11 | Typography as Narrative, Color & Motion | Samara; Universal Principles – Red Effect |
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Type as voice; rhetoric of formPsychological color; visual dynamicsA03 presentation - discussion
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| 12 | Branding Story | Duarte; McKee |
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Archetypes; emotional brandingA04: Branding with character
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| 13 | Final project First Check | disscussion / Assig. Review |
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Unsung Hero – Phase 1
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| 14 | Final project Second Check | disscussion / Assig. Review |
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Unsung Hero – Phase 1
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| 15 | Final project submission | submission |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VA438.1 | Course | Friday 09:00 - 11:50 | A B.1 - VACD Multimedia Studio | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
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 3 4
Participation/Profesionalism
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
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)
Assignments
45 hours ⏳ (5 week × 9 h)
Individual Learning
12 hours ⏳ (12 week × 1 h)
Midterm Exam Preparation
12 hours ⏳ (2 week × 6 h)
Final Exam Preparation
36 hours ⏳ (3 week × 12 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 [VA438] 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 Feb 02, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
Print Syllabus
Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| VA438 | Introduction to Visual Storytelling | 0 | 3 | 6 | Friday, 9.00 - 12.00 pm | |||||
| Prerequisite | Senior Standing | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | TBA | Office Hours / Room / Phone | ||||||||
| TBA | ||||||||||
| Assistant | - | Assistant E-mail | nmulahmetovic@ius.edu.ba | |||||||
| Course Objectives | This interdisciplinary course explores how people perceive, interpret, and create visual media across historical and contemporary contexts. Drawing from sociology, anthropology, psychology, media studies, and design theory, students examine how images shape global cultures and individual identity. Through critical analysis and hands-on design projects, students bridge theory and practice, developing visual literacy and storytelling skills across print, digital, and interactive media. |
|||||||||
| Textbook | Paul Martin Lester, Visual Communication: Images with Messages, Lidwell, Holden & Butler, Universal Principles of Design, The Art of Visual Storytelling, Scott McCloud, Understanding Comics, Meredith Davis & Jamer Hunt, Visual Communication Design, DB Dowd, Stick Figures | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
|||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
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| Teaching Methods | Attendance and participation, midterm exam, assignments, presentation, portfolio. | |||||||||
| 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 | Introduction to Visual Storytelling | Lester Ch.1–2 ; Block, Visual Story; | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Visual Literacy & Semiotics | Lester Ch.4–5 ; Stanford SEP Semiotics; Universal Principles – Picture Superiority | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Composition as Narrative | Samara; Lupton & Phillips; Universal Principles – Hierarchy | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Rules of Visual Storytelling | Ware; Weinschenk; Universal Principles – Affordance | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Symbol & Meaning | Krippendorff; Universal Principles – Color | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Story Structure | Truby; Duarte; Storytelling | ||||||||
| Week 8 | MIDTERM EXAM | |||||||||
| Week 9 | Emotion & Character | Weinschenk; McClay | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Sequence & Rhythm | McCloud; Lester Ch.4 | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Typography as Narrative, Color & Motion | Samara; Universal Principles – Red Effect | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Branding Story | Duarte; McKee | ||||||||
| Week 13 | Final project First Check | disscussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Final project Second Check | disscussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 15 | Final project submission | submission | ||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 30 | 1, 2, 3, 4 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Assignments | 4 | 40 | 1,2, 3, 4 | Not Allowed | |
| Midterm Exam | 1 | 20 | 1, 2, 3, 4 | Not Allowed | |
| Participation/Profesionalism | 1 | 10 | 1,2, 3, 4 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture Hours | 3 | 15 | 45 | Assignments | 9 | 5 | 45 | |||
| Individual Learning | 1 | 12 | 12 | Midterm Exam Preparation | 6 | 2 | 12 | |||
| Final Exam Preparation | 12 | 3 | 36 | 0 | ||||||
| 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 23/02/2026 | |||||||||