This document outlines the requirements, schedule, and expectations for a senior project course. Students will develop and complete an independent thesis project over the course of the semester. They must attend lectures and meetings, maintain a weekly journal of their process, and meet interim deadlines. The final project will be presented at an exhibition, along with supporting documentation and materials. Learning outcomes include practical problem-solving skills, effective planning, and the ability to incorporate feedback to refine work.

1. Senior Project
Organization, Rules and Procedures
Outcomes and Expectations

2. Time
 8:15 Attendance (will be retaken at 12:30)
 8:30 Lectures/Tutorials to Larger Group
(may be in auditorium)
 8:30 Advisor Meetings
(scheduled weeks 2, 3, 5, 7, 10 12, 14)
 11:30 BREAK
 12:30 Resume class – Exhibition Group WEEK 2 - 11
 2:30 Lab time – individual work/tutorials
 4:00 End of class

3. AdvisorMeetings
Advisor Meetings Points Full Half 0
Group Meeting Week 2 1
AsRequired-Journaluptodate.
Ontime.
Workattempted,hasissues/Journal
notuptodate.Late.
Rescheduledwithadvancenotice
butnoofficialexcuse.
Noworktoshow/Journalmissing.
Notpresent/noadvancenotice.
Meeting 1, Week 3 2
Meeting 2, Week 5 (Alternate 1) 2
Peer Assesment Week 6 1
Meeting 3, Week 7 2
Meeting 4, Week 10 2
Meeting 5, Week 12 (Alternate 2) 0.5
Meeting 6, Week 14 0.5
Must Bring Journal & Show
Progress

4. Thesis Project
Overview of Project and Brief

5. ThesisProject:
Learning
Outcomes
Knowledge
 1.1 Describe the target, audiences, and contexts, in
which the communication solutions must be addressed
 1.2 Recognize the physical, cultural, and social factors
that shape their research subject and design solutions

6. ThesisProject:
Learning
Outcomes
Cognitive Skills
 2.1 Interpret research into visualized work that is
realistic and relates to the local culture and market
 2.2 Create visual solutions in response to
communication problems, including an understanding
of principles of visual organization/composition,
information hierarchy, symbolic representation,
typography, aesthetics, and the construction of
meaningful messages.
 2.3 Produce a reflective document that encapsulates
the research, process, and design.

7. ThesisProject:
Learning
Outcomes
Interpersonal Skills and Responsibility
 3.1 Show the ability to accept feedback to refine design
concepts by engaging in individual meetings, group
critiques, and juries.
 3.2 Demonstrate effective time management and
planning skills of goals and expectations.

8. ThesisProject:
Learning
Outcomes
Communication, Information Technology, Numerical
 4.1 Demonstrate professionalism and structure in their
communication and presentation of the thesis project
to engage in professional practice.
Psychomotor
 4.1 Produce a complete final exhibition display that
includes their work and the work of their classmates.

9. ThesisProject
Brief
Senior Design Studio: Thesis Project 2017/2018
 Thesis Project: In this project students will develop systems
and methodologies for solving real-world, pragmatic design
problems. Self-motivated projects demonstrate individual pro-
cesses and problem-solving capabilities. Students will develop
and deliver a Thesis Project based on the Thesis Paper
written the previous semester and supporting research.
 The idea of “designer as author” is emphasized. Students will
address social, environmental, political, linguistic,
philosophical, and cultural issues through an independent,
self-authored graphic design project that requires
experimentation, adaptability, and specialization. Upon
graduation students are expected to have developed a refined,
intelligent, and professional, body of work.

10. ThesisProject
Brief:
WeeklyJournal
 The project process must be documented in a Weekly Journal
that includes all benchmarks and any/all meetings with
instructors and must be brought current to each benchmark
meeting.
 The journal should be in a binder that is organized by week
and includes process from every step of the project – all drafts
and corrections to written work MUST be printed and saved.
Students will be expected to write weekly progress reports for
each week including those when they have no advisor meeting
– Students can have as many individual tutorials with any of
the instructors as necessary; but all such meetings must be
requested ahead of time and held during lab hours or
according to the instructors office hour (Summaries of these
meetings must be written by both student and instructor and
included with the journal documentation).

11. ThesisProject
Brief:
WeeklyJournal
Contents:
 Weekly Progress Reports – by student
 Advisor Meetings – Synopsis of feedback with bullets
 Timeline with benchmarks
 Drafts of written work with corrections
 Research results from any (new) surveys or focus
groups
 Printed Thesis Paper from last semester
 MUST BE ORGAINZED WITH DIVIDERS, minimum
as listed here.

12. ThesisProject
Brief
Assessments:
 Benchmarks at advisor meetings Weeks 3, 5, 7, 10, 12
 Benchmarks will include Journal checks.
 Peer Assessment Week 6 (feedback only)
External Jury
 Project Proposal: Midterm Jury Thursday Week 8
 Presentations will be evaluated for suitability to the community,
cohesiveness and professionalism.
 Final Project: Final Jury - Final Exhibition Thursday Week 16
 Presentations will be evaluated against the thesis statement, creativity,
craftsmanship and suitability to the community.
Process Documentation submitted Monday Week 17
 Media (CD/USB). Documentation and process throughout project,
Outcome/Deliverables including photos of final presentation for jury.
High Resolution (print 300ppi) PDF A4 including Research Thesis as
Appendix + Digital Files. An index of all files is required. Proper
naming and directories are required or the submission will not be
evaluated.

13. ThesisProject
Brief:
Requirements
Deliverables will include:
 Project Proposal with Art/Design Statement. Final
statement should be 500 words minimum - maximum 750
words in length.
 Completed project, mocked up at 100% of actual size – any
digital applications must be able to run in simulation on
the device they are intended for – presented as an
installation at the Senior Exhibition.
 Presentation Graphics for the Exhibition (including info
graphics that explain the project)
 Documentation of Thesis Project Brief, Digital copy of the
Final thesis paper, Digital files from the project, Process
documentation including all versions from
benchmarks/presentations (process) and photo
documentation of exhibition space and final project.

14. ThesisProject
Brief:
Requirements
Language:
 Thesis art/design statement, proposal, design
guidelines and all presentations and presentation
graphics must be in the English language, or bilingual
(English primary - Arabic secondary) and/or include an
Arabic summary. Info Graphics can be bilingual but
must be entirely comprehensible as presented in
English.
 Thesis Project language can be English, Arabic or
Bilingual based on the target audience for the project.
(must be supported)

15. ThesisProject
Brief:
Requirements
 Project Concept must show clear evidence and
application of the thesis in a PRACTICAL
BELIEVABALE project suitable for a GRAPHIC
DESIGN project.
 You MUST have approval for your project proposal by
week four, if you do not have approval at this point a
meeting will be scheduled with all of the course
instructors to resolve the issue. NO ONE will be allowed
to present a project to the Midterm Jury that has not
followed the approval process.

16. ThesisProject
Brief:
Requirements
 Projects must rely on topics/media/methods developed
in the IAU curriculum
 Projects must address Communication Design problems
focusing on specific end result such as single and multi-
page documents using print or digital media, Multimedia
including web and time-based media.

17. ThesisProject
Brief:
Requirements
 Projects must be useful and suitable on a local and
regional level, and be grounded in evidence-based
research regarding targeted markets. All claims
regarding demographics MUST be directly supported
with research.
 Research to support the practical components of the
project must include case studies of projects of the same
type, any design standards or techniques needed for the
development of the project.
 Additional research such as surveys, and focus groups
may be needed to support the project.
 All projects must address issues of distribution and may
need to include a marketing plan or promotional concept
to support the project.

18. ThesisProject
Brief:
Requirements
 Projects must be comprehensive in scope and include
as many supporting elements as necessary to deliver
the project. Depth is important – the final project
should relay multiple levels of consideration.
 All projects must be Branded and graphically
organized with a brand guidelines/design manual
produced to support the project.
 All manuals/guidelines must include a research
supported analysis and justification of the elements used,
including but not limited to colors, typography, images.

19. ThesisProject
Brief:
Requirements
 App/web centered projects must include fully detailed
maps and descriptions of the content and interactions.
 Minimum requirement is a working prototype that has
buttons and screens with placeholder information.
 Creating a true working version is NOT necessary but
interviews with qualified IT or CS professionals to
support the viability of the project are required for the
proposal to be accepted.

20. ThesisProject
Brief:
Requirements
 Final Thesis Project MINIMUM REQIREMENTS
 Brand Marketing/Packaging for Exhibition
 Style Guide
 Project Logo
 Color Guidelines
 Type Guidelines
 Business Card for project
 Exhibit Graphics – Info graphic explaining project
 Final Outcome for thesis Project as determined by
Project Proposal

21. ThesisProject
Proposal
 Title of Project: Thesis name and philosophy behind the name
 Logo for your products’ identity (in digital or final sketches)
 Working art/design statement of how the project addresses the thesis
statement (250-750 words) Topic background, problem statement, and
your core message
 Description of scope of project: Thesis project outcome(s)
 Primary audience/market by demographic criteria
 Outline of projected components/deliverable of project. For example: are you
designing an awareness campaign, kit, book, etc.? Or, are you designing a
website, book, kit and then creating a promotional campaign?
 Present your outcome components as a list (minimum), flowchart, or any
other visual way as long as it is clear to the jury exactly what you are doing.
 Visual studies: color, type, illustration/photography. In addition to graphics,
sounds, style, and anything else that is applicable to your thesis project.
 Case studies (minimum of 3 from Research Methods – target 10 to 15) visual
reference of projects in the same medium or format as your proposal
 List of applicable standards: Web, packaging, targeted user etc.
 Outline of deadlines and development goals for project based on the
semester calendar and remaining benchmarks.
Midterm Requirements