Wednesday 10/8
Assignments Due
Start of Class:
- Movie Poll
- Look through the 10 movies and sampled characters (just to help spur some ideas) listed on the Movies List page.Write a post with your vote for a choice in movie, and 3 preferred characters to have a class vote on what we will decide! Better yet, like anyone else’s post you’d like to do too!
Post Copy Template (Copy & Paste)
Movie Name
Favorite line if you have one
3 preferred characters (this is NOT calling dibbs!)
- Look through the 10 movies and sampled characters (just to help spur some ideas) listed on the Movies List page.Write a post with your vote for a choice in movie, and 3 preferred characters to have a class vote on what we will decide! Better yet, like anyone else’s post you’d like to do too!
End of Class: None
In Class:
- Brand Readings and Response Posts
- Movie selections confirmed! Watch over the weekend and be sure to complete the movie analysis post for Monday’s “book club”!
- Lecture – commonalities in effective brands
01 | Watch, Read and Respond
Category: 04 Intro the Brand
Read and watch the materials below and respond:
-
- What did you learn about brand you did not know?
- What excites you about designing a brand?
- Choose a brand not in the materials that you have a relationship with. How does it touch your life in different ways? How successful is the logo to represent it? What do you want it to do that it doesn’t?


Monday 10/13
Assignments Due
Start of Class:
- Brand Readings and Response Posts
- Movie Analysis + Who is Wendy?
End of Class: None
In Class:
- Movie analysis “Book Club” review
- Assignment of characters – Yankee Swap
- Brand Lecture and discussion /KSC Fall 2024 – Brand Ideals
- Worksession – What are the opportunities in the characters?
Presentation Links:
Class Character Picks – Final Assignments
Wednesday, 10/15
Assignments Due
Start of Class:
End of Class:
- Project folder made
In Class:
- Business concept research – ideation post
- Brand Archetypes
- Build at least a page worth of thumbnail sketches related to your character and potential businesses – with at least 10 unique thumbnail concepts (not iterations)
- Place inside a folder labeled Thumbnails,
File name: FLast Name_04_Movie Brand_Thumbnails
- Place inside a folder labeled Thumbnails,
Create a Project Folder
Create a new folder in your shared Dropbox folder for this project. Please label it: 04_Movie Brand Identity
Monday, 10/20
NO CLASS! Josh @ a wedding
Choose your top 3 thumbnails to vectorize and be ready to share on Wednesday
Assignments Due
Start of Class:
- Business concept research – ideation post
- Brand Archetypes
- Thumbnail pages
End of Class: None
Wednesday, 10/22
Assignments Due
Start of Class:
- Original Thumbnails + Top 3 Vectorized
End of Class: None
In Class:
- Thumbnail + top 3 Vector (speed date) critique
- Lecture – Choosing type
- Watch video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgVnMw8HTrU&t
- Type Treatment + Name Exploration
- Narrow down to final logo choice + Build a kit of parts
Monday, 10/27
Assignments Due
Start of Class:
- Polished Vectorized logos
- Type Treatment + Name Exploration
End of Class: None
In Class:
Wednesday, 10/29
Assignments Due
Start of Class:
- Polished Vectorized Logos with Lockups
- Logo Lockup Exploration
End of Class:
- Business strategy one pager
In Class:
- Logo Lockup (Speed Date) Critique
- Finalize business concept and name.
- Business Strategy One‑Pager (PDF, 1 page):
- Problem | Audience | Offer | Category | Why now
- Positioning statement (For X who… our Y is… unlike Z… because…)
- Character → Brand Archetype link & 3 Proof Points
- Business Choice (final) + 3 reasons it wins over alternates
- Upload to Dropbox folder – “Last Name_BusinessStrategy_1page“
- Business Strategy One‑Pager (PDF, 1 page):
Monday, 11/03
Assignments Due
Start of Class:
- Strategy One‑Pager (locked business)
Homework (due 11/05):
- Draft Purpose (why we exist) • Core Values (3–5) • Personality spectrum
In Class:
• Business Ethos Sprint, Pt. 1:
uncover purpose, values, personality • Character → brand behavior mapping • Voice warm‑ups (tone sliders)
Wednesday, 11/05
Assignments Due
Start of Class:
- Purpose/Values/Personality drafts
- Competitor & category scan
- Audience persona draft
Homework (due 11/10):
- Statement + POV paragraph
- Message House v0 (Promise, RTBs, Proof)
In Class:
- Ethos sprint 2:
- Positioning frameworks, category definition
- Persona sharpening
- Message House workshop
Monday, 11/10
Assignments Due
Start of Class:
- Complete Ethos Packet (due): Purpose, Values, Personality, Positioning, Primary Audience Persona, Voice & Message House, Character→Brand mapping
Homework (due 11/10):
- Ethos signed off • Combination mark (mono) constraints set (spacing grid, small‑use spec)
In Class:
- Ethos review & approvals • Begin design phase: combo mark mono lock tests, type roles, grid • Micro legibility tests (24px→poster; reverse on dark)
Wednesday, 11/12
Assignments Due
Start of Class:
- Locked mono combo mark
- Type system draft
- Applications list (3–5) with success metrics & primary message
Homework (due 11/17):
- • Low‑fi layout wireframes for applications
In Class:
- Color strategy (accessibility targets)
- Finalize type roles
- Application planning + low‑fi wires
Monday, 11/17
Assignments Due
Start of Class:
- Color R1 palettes
- Type system refinement
- 3 application wireframes
Homework (due 11/19):
- One application at high‑fidelity
In Class:
- Crit on system tiles
- Image/illustration style board
- Move 2 brand applications to hi‑fidelity; others to mid‑fi
Wednesday, 11/19
Assignments Due
Start of Class:
- Applications R1 (hi‑fi)
- Imagery style board
- Copy Kit v1 (tagline + 3 headlines + 75‑word story)
Homework (due 11/24):
- Deck outline (slide list + narrative beats)
In Class:
- Brand deck architecture: character → business → brand
- Information hierarchy + storytelling
- Time-boxed slide writing
Monday, 11/24 – DECK BUILDING
Assignments Due
Start of Class:
- Mockups (25-30 ideally)
Homework (Soft due 11/26 – Hard due 12/1):
- Deck Section 1 complete (Character & Insight)
In Class:
- Presentation Deck Outline / Skeleton
- Production workday + rolling 1:1s
Wednesday, Nov 26
01
Write a Post (No Class, Enjoy Thanksgiving)
• Online progress post: 2 slide spreads + 1 application before/after
Category: 04 Movie Business Application
Monday, Dec 1
Assignments Due
Start of Class:
- Character and Character business sections nearly finished
- Applications R3 (near‑final)
Homework (due 12/03):
- Character and Character business sections completed
In Class:
- Table reads + narrative tightening
- Sections 1-3 worked on.
- Rehearsal drills
- Accessibility & color (https://coolors.co/contrast-checker/112a46-acc8e5) to confirm which colors can work together for readability – be sure to include this in your brand guidelines!
Wednesday, December 3
Assignments Due
Start of Class:
- Character and Character business sections completed
- (03) Business Identity section nearly finished
Due end of class (12/03):
- Course Evaluation surveys (please and thank you!)
In Class:
- Mock final presentations
- Sections 04 – 05 of deck
- Polish checklist (bleeds, exports, alt text, mockups)
Monday, Dec 8
No class – finals prep
Optional office hours if needed
Wednesday, December 10
Final Critique
- Final Pitch book
- Final Archive of all final project PDFs