General Description: 

Your presentation should be a summary of your development as an artist/designer/art historian to this point in your education. Your focus should be on your most recent work and/or your upcoming Capstone Experience (Exhibition, Thesis, Portfolio). In making your presentation you should clearly demonstrate your command of the applicable theory, history and practice in your area as it pertains to your work. You should also be able to demonstrate that you have an understanding of your recent or projected work’s context within your degree area (design, art history, or a studio area). Your presentation should also demonstrate your verbal skills and your ability to summarize complex material in a suitable and effective manner. It should include a verbal presentation with accompanying visual material.

Suggestions for Various Degree Programs/Areas of Study

Art History: Art History students should be in the early stages of writing their Senior Thesis. Their presentation should include an historical background of the question or hypothesis chosen with any preliminary findings noted to this point. Images should be used to help the audience better understand the focus of the work. Although it is unlikely that research will have progressed enough to generate any conclusions, it is appropriate to project or anticipate them. Consider your audience to be one versed in both art and art history, but without expertise or depth of knowledge in specific sub-areas of art history.

Visual Communications: Two possible approaches are suggested for students in Visual Communications. One possible approach would be to answer the essential question,  “Who am I as a designer?” Here students may discuss pertinent and illustrative influences and show a range of work that helps define them as a designer. This approach is more of a discussion of a representative portfolio of work that demonstrates breadth, but also shows style and approach. The second option is to concentrate on an aspect or element of the student’s work. Students may choose to present a more developed focus within their body of design work. Examples of this approach might include Illustration, Typographic Poster Design, Identity Design, Information Design, Advertising Design,
Digital Graphics & Photography, Animation & Motion Graphics, or Web Design.

Studio: Students majoring in the studio areas may also want to choose one of two possible avenues for making their presentations. They may choose to approach their presentation as an accompany brief lecture similar to that which most artists would make to accompany a showing of their work. An alternative is to present themselves as artists by using a range of work from their student careers that helps define them as artists and connects them to the history of their chosen studio area (Printmaking, Ceramics, etc.). In both approaches, students should include references to influential artists – current and/or past – and to relevant theories, movements or styles that help inform their work.

Format/Time Frame

Presentations should be no more than 15 minutes. You should have timed your presentation to be sure you can complete it within this time limitation. Although time may allow questions, any questions for presenters should follow the completion of all of each session’s presentations.

You should use PowerPoint, Acrobat PDF, or your personal website for your visual references and to help organize and to show your presentation. If you have special technology needs, you should arrange those well in advance of your presentation.
Please bring a jump or travel drive and be ready to present at the beginning of class.

Email me a copy of your presentation file, or the link of your redesigned portfolio site prior to the class session scheduled for your presentation.

Audience

Your audience will include your Senior Seminar colleagues and students from the
New Majors Seminar. You are welcome to invite your major professor or any others
who may find interest in your presentation.