CORE 111 /112 Communication Design
SATIRIZED FOR YOUR PROTECTION: AN EXERCISE IN THE CREATIVE PROCESS
Definition of Satire:
"SATIRE is a chiefly literary and dramatic form in
which vices, crimes, follies, abuses, or shortcomings
of individuals or institutions are held up to exposure
by means of ridicule, derision, burlesque, irony, or
caricature, often with the intention of encouraging
improvement, targeting pretense, falsity, deception, or
arrogance, its effects sometimes emphasized by an
outward appearance of serious work."
The Design Problem to be Solved:
Create two satirical design pieces based on research.
Your research should include actual events and/or
observable behaviors of individuals or institutions.
As we view the artworks in class, we will attempt to
define what distinguishes satire from other comedic
forms such as farce and slapstick.
You will investigate the use of satire as a tool for the
development and the communication of concept.
Through satire, you will explore concepts of visual
literacy and concept development.
Your grade will be based EQUALLY on your research,
your brainstorming, your development, and your final
product.
Assignment Objectives:
• exploring visual literacy
• applying ideation/concept development
• applying sign, symbol, and metaphor within a
composition
• using synectic triggers of parody, prevaricate,
symbolize, analogize
• applying Gestalt grouping, and principles and
elements of design within a composition
Assignment Components:
RESEARCH - Look at a wide variety of events that can be satirized. What big themes are you interested in?
Politics? Media? These events may be related to a specific political person, or a cultural behavior, or they
could be aspects of media culture. Look for elements which can show up some vice or folly; some failing of the
human condition that might be ridiculed or scorned. (Think seven deadly sins: Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth,
Wrath, Envy, Pride.)
Within those themes, research at least THREE specific events that could be satirized. These
events/concepts must be specific; it is too broad to say that you are going to satirize President Obama. You
must find a specific event or policy of Obama’s presidency that incorporates vice or folly.
Collect at least TWO references for each of these instances. The reference may be a web site, a
newspaper clipping, a magazine ad or article, a video clip, or some other documentation. Try to find a wide
range of viewpoints.
Document the “source of your sources”. What makes this information valid? Make sure your source is not
an urban legend, or someone else’s satire. Look for academic and journalistic accuracy.
IDEATION - We will use a specific process for brainstorming with this project:
FORCED METAPHORS – We will conduct an in-class exercise on forced lists and the use of forced
metaphors. Who, what, where, when, why? Sight, sound, taste, touch, smell? Past, present, future? If
your idea were a ______, what would it be?
CONCEPT MAPS - One of the most useful initial brainstorming methods is the concept map. Concept
or mind maps are ways of non-linearly working through possibilities for an idea. Concept maps are a
great way to initially organize and find connections in your research.
WHAT IFS - With the concept maps in hand, now it’s time to hybridize. "What if" there was a board
game based upon the Kennedy assassination? The hybrids may result in combining an idea with a
parody (assassination/board game in "Scot Free"), or an idea with a symbolic object (the Doonesbury
Clinton/waffle or Bush/point of light, or the Death Star/waffle iron in "Hardware Wars) Make lists of
“what ifs” for each of your four events. (You may also do the “what-ifs” in concept map form.)
PROS AND CONS - Now take the “what ifs” and lists and carefully pick through the pros and cons.
Which hybrids work? Why? Which techniques are NOT successful? Why? Answering these questions
will help you to clarify and "get at" the satirical nature of your idea. Document your pros and cons.
THUMBNAILS - Based upon your "pros and cons", draw NINE thumbnails of your best ideas. The
thumbnails do NOT have to be based upon the human figure; using symbol and visual metaphor can
help accentuate the idea. If you are going to attempt caricature, you MUST do further research at this
point; you must have visual reference of the person being caricatured, AND visual examples of how this
person is caricatured by others.
Small Group Process Critique - This critique weighs the pros and cons of each thumbnail idea in order to
narrow down to THREE satirical ideas. Document your rationale for narrowing.
DEVELOPMENT – Create drafts of each idea in Photoshop before choosing and embarking on your final two
satirical pieces. Write out the satirical element in the form of a concept statement. Include a description of the
behavior being ridiculed or the event being satirized. Be complete in your description. You may scan in
sketches or photos if needed. Choose font styles that are integrated with your concept. These three drafts
must be printed out on the color laser printer. The three drafts should be printed on 8.5 x 11 paper regardless
of the proposed size of the final piece.
Small Group Process Critique - This critique weighs the pros and cons of each idea in order to narrow down
to your final TWO satirical ideas. Document your rationale for narrowing.
REFINEMENT AND PRODUCTION - Based upon in-class critique, refine your TWO ideas. Don't forget to give
your ideas titles, and integrate the title with the concept. Write your final concept statements and design
rationales. Highlight the sketches, references, and critique notes that really had an impact on the final idea.
Produce the final versions of the two ideas in the medium appropriate to the concept. Critique will be based on
effectiveness of research, brainstorming, and which idea contains the most effective satirical elements.
Calendar and Due Dates
st
rd
Tue Wed. Mar. 23
In Class: Introduce Satire
project plus “What is Satire?”
Lecture
Homework: begin your
research, document your
references
Thur. Mar. 24th
In Class: Introduce Satire
project plus “What is Satire?”
Lecture
Homework: begin your
research, document your
references
th
th
Tue Wed. Mar. 30
RESEARCH DUE
In Class: brainstorming day –
In-class exercise on forced
metaphors, work on concept
maps, what ifs.
Homework: do pros and cons,
begin work on thumbnails
Thur. Mar. 31th
Fri
RESEARCH DUE
In Class: brainstorming day –
In-class exercise on forced
metaphors, work on concept
maps, what ifs.
Homework: do pros and cons,
begin work on thumbnails
Mon. Nov. 01
Mon. Mar. 28
In Class: Research Day continue to work on research
and references
Homework: finish Research
Mon. Apr. 04
th
In Class: brainstorming day –
Work on 9 thumbnails of ideas
Homework: finish all
brainstorming, lists, and
thumbnails
Mon. Apr. 11
th
In Class: Development
Work in lab - Photoshop
One-on-one critique
Homework: finish drafts, type
up concept statements
Fri
th
Tue Wed. Apr. 06
Thur. Apr. 07th
Fri
BRAINSTORMING AND
BRAINSTORMING AND
THUMBNAILS DUE
THUMBNAILS DUE
In Class: small group critique, In Class: small group critique,
narrow down to 3 best ideas
narrow down to 3 best ideas
Homework: begin development Homework: begin development
of drafts in Photoshop
of drafts in Photoshop
Tue Wed. Apr. 13th
DEVELOPMENT - 3 DRAFTS
AND CONCEPT
STATEMENTS DUE
SMALL GROUP CRITIQUE
PICK 2 FINAL PROJECTS
Homework: gather materials
for final projects
Thur, Apr. 14th
Fri
DEVELOPMENT - 3 DRAFTS
AND CONCEPT
STATEMENTS DUE
SMALL GROUP CRITIQUE
PICK 2 FINAL PROJECTS
Homework: gather materials
for final projects
th
Tue Wed. Apr. 20
Thur. Apr. 21st
Fri
In class: Bring materials to work
In class: Bring materials to work In class: Bring materials to work
Work in class on final projects
Work in class on final projects Work in class on final projects
One-on-one critique
One-on-one critique
One-on-one critique
Mon. Apr. 18
th
th
Tue Wed. Apr. 28
In class: bring materials to work
LAST DAY OF CLASS!!
Work in class on final projects
ALL PROCESS AND TWO
One-on-one critique
SATIRE PROJECTS DUE!!
Homework: type up written
FINAL CRITIQUE design rationales, check to
EVALUATIONS
make sure your digital process
folder is complete
Mon. Apr. 25
th
Thur. Apr. 29th
LAST DAY OF CLASS!!
ALL PROCESS AND TWO
SATIRE PROJECTS DUE!!
FINAL CRITIQUE EVALUATIONS
Fri
TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR YOUR DIGITAL PROCESS DOCUMENT:
A single Microsoft Word PDF document containing the following, in order, clearly labeled, with page breaks:
TITLE PAGE
• Your Name
• Titles of your two final pieces
RESEARCH
• First Two Pages:
o Exhaustive list of themes for satire
o Short summary of at least three specific events (minimum) to be satirized
• Two pages of research (minimum) for each of your events:
o Name of the event to be satirized
o Quotations/references about the event to satirize that you found on the web, in the library, or
other sources
o The MLA format citation of the sources of the quotes/references
o Validation of the sources: What makes this information valid? Have you checked to make sure
this event is not an urban legend? Is your source academic, journalistic, or political?
o In your own words: Why is this event a candidate for satire?
• Last Page(s):
o Paragraphs summarizing what you think about the issues raised by your selections (three)
IDEATION
• Documentation of ideation:
o Forced lists and forced metaphors from the in-class exercises
o Concept maps of your research (scanned)
o A list of “what ifs” for each of your four concepts (that’s THREE lists of what ifs)
o Further research (mandatory for caricature)
o A list of pros and cons for each of your three concepts (that’s THREE lists of pros and cons)
• NINE thumbnails of your satirical ideas (scanned)
• Apr. 06th / 07th critique notes
• Rationale for selection
DEVELOPMENT
• Written descriptions of your satirical concepts (three paragraphs)
• Photoshop Drafts (three)
• Apr. 13th / 14th critique notes
• Rationale for selection
REFINEMENT AND PRODUCTION
• Final concept statements (two)
• Final design rationales (two)
• Photo and/or digital documentation of your final works (two)
• Apr. 28th / 29th final critique notes
NOTE: Save your final process document as a PDF file before copying to the webshare.