VA217 Graphic Design II
VA217 Graphic Design II
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Mar 03, 2026
Visual Arts and Visual Communications Design
Branko Vekić
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
1 Deepen and apply the knowledge about Creative process 2 Test the skills in traditional and newer techniques 4 Better understand the principles of Graphic Design 5 Try out being 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 Desing Basics, Amy Arntson, Cengage, 2003
Additional Literature
Getting it right in print, Mark Gatter, Laurence King Publishing, 2005Teaching Methods
Lectures
Presentations
Discussion
Analysis of the assignments
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction | disscussion |
| 2 | Reaction 1 | disscussion / Assig. Review |
| 3 | Reaction 2 | disscussion / Assig. Review |
| 4 | Building upon existing - transformation vs exploitation 3 | disscussion / Assig. Review |
| 5 | Building upon existing - transformation vs exploitation 2 | disscussion / Assig. Review |
| 6 | MIDTERM PROJECT Serialized design - Poster series | disscussion / Assig. Review |
| 7 | Good practices - Book and cover layout 1 | disscussion / Assig. Review |
| 8 | Good practices - Book and cover layout 2 | exam |
| 9 | Trademarks 1 | disscussion / Assig. Review |
| 10 | Trademarks 2 | disscussion / Assig. Review |
| 11 | Added value - step ahead of the competition 1 | disscussion / Assig. Review |
| 12 | Added value - step ahead of the competition 2 | disscussion / Assig. Review |
| 13 | Trends 1 | disscussion / Assig. Review |
| 14 | Trends 2 | disscussion / Assig. Review |
| 15 | FINAL FINAL PROJECT PRESENTATION - Book | exam |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VA217.1 | Course | Monday 12:00 - 14:50 | B F1.10 Class/ART Studio | - | - |
| VA217.2 | Course | Wednesday 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 Project
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3
Assignments
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4 5
Midterm Project
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
15 hours ⏳ (15 week × 1 h)
Assignments
60 hours ⏳ (10 week × 6 h)
Lab
30 hours ⏳ (15 week × 2 h)
Midterm Project
18 hours ⏳ (2 week × 9 h)
Final Project Preparation
27 hours ⏳ (3 week × 9 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 [VA217] 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
Print Syllabus
Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| VA217 | Graphic Design II | 0 | 3 | 6 | Mon 12:00-15:00, Wed 09:00-12:00 | |||||
| Prerequisite | Junior Standing | It is a prerequisite to | VA347, VA348, VA408 | |||||||
| 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 | 1 Deepen and apply the knowledge about Creative process 2 Test the skills in traditional and newer techniques 4 Better understand the principles of Graphic Design 5 Try out being a part of a team, so they can carry out projects as a part of a team as well as independently |
|||||||||
| Textbook | Graphic Desing Basics, Amy Arntson, Cengage, 2003 | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
|||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | Lectures, presentations, discussion, analysis of the assignments | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Introduction | disscussion | ||||||||
| Week 2 | Reaction 1 | disscussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Reaction 2 | disscussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Building upon existing - transformation vs exploitation 3 | disscussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Building upon existing - transformation vs exploitation 2 | disscussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 6 | MIDTERM PROJECT Serialized design - Poster series | disscussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Good practices - Book and cover layout 1 | disscussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 8 | Good practices - Book and cover layout 2 | exam | ||||||||
| Week 9 | Trademarks 1 | disscussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Trademarks 2 | disscussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Added value - step ahead of the competition 1 | disscussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Added value - step ahead of the competition 2 | disscussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 13 | Trends 1 | disscussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Trends 2 | disscussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 15 | FINAL FINAL PROJECT PRESENTATION - Book | exam | ||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Project | 1 | 25 | 1, 2, 3 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Assignments | 5 | 60 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 | Not Allowed | |
| Midterm Project | 1 | 15 | 1, 2, 3, 4 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture Hours | 1 | 15 | 15 | Assignments | 6 | 10 | 60 | |||
| Lab | 2 | 15 | 30 | Midterm Project | 9 | 2 | 18 | |||
| Final Project Preparation | 9 | 3 | 27 | |||||||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 16/03/2026 | |||||||||
