VA347 Graphic Design III
VA347 Graphic Design III
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Sep 09, 2025
Visual Arts and Visual Communications Design
Branko Vekić
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
• Deeper study the rules of grid, layout etc. for more complex publications. • Focus on the elements of serialized design, compelling but consistent visual identity, and balance between unity and tension in such works. • Familiarize with the ways to avoid costly mistakes in the printing process and geting more familiarity with it. • Develop insight in the fusion of Graphic design and other arts and modern techniques (pop-up books, motion graphics).
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Grid Systems in Graphic Design, Mueller Brockmann Josef Niggli Verlag; Bilingual edition (October 1, 1996)
Additional Literature
Getting it Right in Print: Digital Prepress for Graphic Designers, Mark Gatter, Harry N. Abrams (April 5, 2005); Type in Motion I&II Jeff Belantotny, Matt Woolman, Thames and Hudson, 2005.Teaching Methods
Ex cathedra lectures
Class discussions
Practical exercises
Homework
Screenings
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction | disscussion |
| 2 | Grid and design philosophy assignment 01 | disscussion / Assig. Review |
| 3 | Grid and design philosophy 2 | disscussion / Assig. Review |
| 4 | Elements of a composition / (Group) assignment 02 | disscussion / Assig. Review |
| 5 | Elements of a a composition 2 | disscussion / Assig. Review |
| 6 | Tone, style and movements / assignment 03 | exam |
| 7 | Tone, style and movements 2 | disscussion / Assig. Review |
| 8 | MIDTERM PROJECT Serialized design - tabletop game | disscussion / Assig. Review |
| 9 | Photography, illustration and solid tint in the grid / assignment 04 | disscussion / Assig. Review |
| 10 | Photography, illustration and solid tint in the grid 2 | disscussion / Assig. Review |
| 11 | Consistency in design through different formats in a campaign - prep for final project | disscussion / Assig. Review |
| 12 | Pop-up Books - step in the third dimension 1 / assignment 05 | disscussion / Assig. Review |
| 13 | Pop-up Books - step in the third dimension 2 | disscussion / Assig. Review |
| 14 | Pop-up Books - step in the third dimension 3 | disscussion / Assig. Review |
| 15 | Offset and other printing methods | disscussion / Assig. Review |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VA347.1 | Course | Monday 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 4
Assignments
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
Midterm Project
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2
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 ⏳ (12 week × 5 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 [VA347] 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 Sep 09, 2025 | International University of Sarajevo
Print Syllabus
Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| VA347 | Graphic Design III | 1 | 2 | 6 | Mon 09-12 | |||||
| Prerequisite | VA216, VA217 | It is a prerequisite to | VA348 | |||||||
| 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 | • Deeper study the rules of grid, layout etc. for more complex publications. • Focus on the elements of serialized design, compelling but consistent visual identity, and balance between unity and tension in such works. • Familiarize with the ways to avoid costly mistakes in the printing process and geting more familiarity with it. • Develop insight in the fusion of Graphic design and other arts and modern techniques (pop-up books, motion graphics). |
|||||||||
| Textbook | Grid Systems in Graphic Design, Mueller Brockmann Josef Niggli Verlag; Bilingual edition (October 1, 1996) | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
|||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | ex cathedra lectures, class discussions, practical exercises, homework, screenings | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Introduction | disscussion | ||||||||
| Week 2 | Grid and design philosophy assignment 01 | disscussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Grid and design philosophy 2 | disscussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Elements of a composition / (Group) assignment 02 | disscussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Elements of a a composition 2 | disscussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Tone, style and movements / assignment 03 | exam | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Tone, style and movements 2 | disscussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 8 | MIDTERM PROJECT Serialized design - tabletop game | disscussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 9 | Photography, illustration and solid tint in the grid / assignment 04 | disscussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Photography, illustration and solid tint in the grid 2 | disscussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Consistency in design through different formats in a campaign - prep for final project | disscussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Pop-up Books - step in the third dimension 1 / assignment 05 | disscussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 13 | Pop-up Books - step in the third dimension 2 | disscussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Pop-up Books - step in the third dimension 3 | disscussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 15 | Offset and other printing methods | disscussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Project | 1 | 25 | 1,2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Assignments | 5 | 60 | 1,2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Midterm Project | 1 | 15 | 1,2 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture hours | 1 | 15 | 15 | Assignments | 5 | 12 | 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: 19/09/2025 | |||||||||
