Bonus Points

The system of bonus points is to encourage and reward students’ extra-curricular activity to further their graphic design awareness and skills, and to contribute to everyone’s education. (I admit that it’s modeled after what goes on in Hogwarts in the Harry Potter books.) Fulfilling the specific project at hand is the minimum requirement both in class and in the ‘real world’ of graphic design. A student or employee or free-lancer who goes beyond what’s required will be more prized. In the workplace, it means promotion, raises, and continued, more challenging work. In school, our reward can only be better grades.

The number of points that will be awarded at any time will range between 1–10. This may not seem like much at the short end, however, two points will increase a grade by a step (B to a B-), while five will raise you an entire grade.

What’s eligible for points? In class, it can be bringing articles, stories, ideas, and work related to typography generally, or the assignment at hand, to our attention, by posting it to this blog. It can be an in-depth critique of work or keeping an excellent, thorough notebook/sketchbook. You might look into some of the books listed on the “In Our Library” page and post a ‘review.’ It might be an insightful question or answer in a critique. Outside of class, it could be attending an AIGA lecture by a visiting designer, or (for more points) joining the AIGA. Ultimately, it’s demonstrating in some way that this is more than a class to you.