Your behavior and success in graphic design classes

professional behavior:

Think of this class as if I am your employer and I have hired you to do some great design work for me. You should therefore behave in a professional manner and be prepared for your “client meeting” with me in every way each time I see you. Clients expect you to arrive at meetings on time and fully prepared so you do not waste their time [or yours.] Time is money and it should be treated that way during this class.

every day in class I expect from you:

• preparedness (arriving on time having clearly devoted significant time to outside-of-class work and with the correct materials on hand to work during class) 

• assignments that are announced to be due and 

• a great work ethic and professional behavior during class  (i.e.: how well/enthusiastically  you apply yourself during class to the assigned task) 

For example, if you have been asked to bring in 5 sketches and you arrive to class with only 4, you will have created a very negative impression on your client [me].  Also, if you have been asked to work on a project during class and do not approach this task seriously and in a professional manner, your reputation with me begins to erode. These impressions add up over time and affect your credibility [i.e.: I don't trust you anymore. Said in another way, I won't trust that your goals for the outcome of the class, and my goals for your learning match up anymore]. Your overall work habits, classroom participation, attendance, professional attitude and willingness to accept constructive criticism will be taken into consideration when assigning your final grade for the course. This impression, bad or good, can potentially override the numerical calculations of your final grade at the end of the semester.

consistent work inside and outside class:

Regardless of specific assignments, you will ALWAYS be expected to arrive to EACH class with work that demonstrates significant progress since the last class meeting. You must be self-motivated and resourceful; don’t not wait on me to tell you everything. There is a direct relationship between the amount of time you put in, the work you do and the quality of your final projects, thus your final grade will be strongly affected by the quantity and quality of your homework. On days when you do not have specific instructions for homework, simply keep in mind  the above. Your ultimate success on any given project or this class as a whole depends on a consistent, enthusiastic work ethic, and not being self-motivated will ultimately work against you.