Date
5-22-2024
Department
School of Communication and the Arts
Degree
Master of Fine Arts in Graphic Design (MFA)
Chair
Rachel Dugan
Keywords
analog, digital age, traditional formats of analog design, letterpress printing, pedagogical tools, collegiate level online instruction, design fundamentals, elements of design, principles of design, graphic design, graphic design students, curriculum and methods, online learners, remote learners, desktop publishing revolution, manual typesetting, hands-on experiences
Disciplines
Art and Design
Recommended Citation
Metzger, Gabriel O., "Bringing Analog into the Digital Age: How Traditional Formats of Analog Design—Such as Letterpress Printing—Can Be Used as Pedagogical Tools for Collegiate Level Online Instruction" (2024). Masters Theses. 1132.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/masters/1132
Abstract
This thesis investigates a strategy for incorporating traditional formats of analog design—such as letterpress printing—into collegiate level online instruction as pedagogical tools, increasing the effectiveness of the curriculum and methods used in the instruction of design fundamentals. While the instruction in design fundamentals is applicable to both analog and digital design formats, there has been a definitive change in how these design fundamentals are perceived and understood by the graphic design students of today’s digital age—especially online/remote learners. Prior to the desktop publishing revolution of the 1980s, the curriculum and methods used in the instruction of design fundamentals at the collegiate level had a direct, tangible correlation with the analog technology of the time. Unfortunately, the graphic design students of today’s digital age—especially online/remote learners—have a disadvantage when it comes to their perception and understanding of design fundamentals as the correlation between design fundamentals and digital technology is less tangible than it had been with analog technology. Since collegiate level online instruction is digitally based and lacking in analog engagement, online/remote learners are at a greater disadvantage than residential students without access to physical studio spaces, labs, and the materials and tools necessary for engaging in hands-on experiences with traditional formats of analog design—such as letterpress printing. As a result, online/remote learners are not able to see the correlation between design fundamentals and digital technology as easily without opportunities for hands-on experiences. The objective of this thesis is to improve the perception and understanding of design fundamentals by online/remote learners through opportunities for hands-on experiences with traditional formats of analog design—such as letterpress printing. As a result, online/remote learners will gain a better understanding of the tangible correlation between traditional formats of analog design and design fundamentals and how this additional knowledge can be incorporated into the digital age.
