Graphic design course one big mess
Students raise concerns on tech problems, professor
Dan Skahen
Issue date: 5/1/08 Section: News
As the demand for graphic design increases in professional media, the graphics production minor at Geneseo is devolving. According to several students, inconsistent technology and an incompetent professor have put a hold on real-world preparation.
Graphics production is exclusively a minor, and there is no graphic design major at Geneseo. According to School of the Arts Dean Jack Johnston, "While some of our students would like to see a professional graphic design program here, Geneseo, at the present time, is dedicated to pursuing national recognition as a leading public, liberal arts college rather than as a professional institution."
The only course within the minor that teaches graphic design is the introductory ARTS 204, taught by Dr. Michael Teres, who holds a master's and a master of fine arts degree in photography and has taught graphic design since 1988.
According to senior Ivan Cash, "The graphic design education here at Geneseo has done little to prepare me for a future working as a graphic designer or art director."
Some students attribute this frustration to the professor, while others feel that technology is the primary hindrance to learning. Students have reported that Teres shows up late, doesn't keep track of assignments and fails to keep students informed of their grades. According to Teres, he keeps an updated record of grades on the class server and is open to consulting with students outside of class.
Senior Andy Pareti withdrew from the course after Teres sent a class-wide e-mail to inform students that most were failing midway through the semester. According to Pareti, "If no one was handing things in on time, the only one who knew that was him."
Senior Mike Baker also withdrew from the class, "due to a lack of organization, knowledge and interest on the behalf of the professor."
Although he has had extensive experience teaching graphic design, Teres admits that he lacks the training necessary to provide the best education in this area of knowledge. While he was trained in early computer programs at the Rochester Institute of Technology in the '80s, Teres isn't specialized in the more advanced technology of new media, with programs like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign that now replace traditional methods of graphic design.
Graphics production is exclusively a minor, and there is no graphic design major at Geneseo. According to School of the Arts Dean Jack Johnston, "While some of our students would like to see a professional graphic design program here, Geneseo, at the present time, is dedicated to pursuing national recognition as a leading public, liberal arts college rather than as a professional institution."
The only course within the minor that teaches graphic design is the introductory ARTS 204, taught by Dr. Michael Teres, who holds a master's and a master of fine arts degree in photography and has taught graphic design since 1988.
According to senior Ivan Cash, "The graphic design education here at Geneseo has done little to prepare me for a future working as a graphic designer or art director."
Some students attribute this frustration to the professor, while others feel that technology is the primary hindrance to learning. Students have reported that Teres shows up late, doesn't keep track of assignments and fails to keep students informed of their grades. According to Teres, he keeps an updated record of grades on the class server and is open to consulting with students outside of class.
Senior Andy Pareti withdrew from the course after Teres sent a class-wide e-mail to inform students that most were failing midway through the semester. According to Pareti, "If no one was handing things in on time, the only one who knew that was him."
Senior Mike Baker also withdrew from the class, "due to a lack of organization, knowledge and interest on the behalf of the professor."
Although he has had extensive experience teaching graphic design, Teres admits that he lacks the training necessary to provide the best education in this area of knowledge. While he was trained in early computer programs at the Rochester Institute of Technology in the '80s, Teres isn't specialized in the more advanced technology of new media, with programs like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign that now replace traditional methods of graphic design.
Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 8
Michael
posted 5/02/08 @ 9:32 PM EST
If you can't get a graphic design degree here, why would you come to this school? If a school only offered one class in the field I wanted to study in, I probably would've looked at other schools. (Continued…)
Mari
posted 5/03/08 @ 3:06 PM EST
Well, the best graphic design schools, Michael, are usually not public new york schools. for me personally, distance and price basically determined that I would be at Geneseo or Binghamton. (Continued…)
Fredrick
posted 5/04/08 @ 6:57 PM EST
Mari has nothing to do but listen to herself wax idiotic. I went to the same HS as Mari. HUGELY WEALTHY town full of people who wipe their asses with money. (Continued…)
Ben
posted 5/04/08 @ 11:21 PM EST
Teres is a good teacher. Ive taken two classes w him and enjoyed them. I dont value teaching ability on phd or masters or whatever since so many of our instructors here with phd's couldnt teach their way out of a paper bag. (Continued…)
Mari
posted 5/07/08 @ 2:17 PM EST
Dear "Sick and Tired":
"Is there any subject that you are not an expert on Mari? You must have seen the whole world and studied countless years to have amassed such a wealth of knowledge on EVERY SINGLE ISSUE that arises. (Continued…)
JB
posted 5/10/08 @ 4:21 PM EST
Guys, this is the Lamron, not TMZ.com. Keep the comments relevent.
All I know is that I was originally interested in the graphics minor here, but after seeing widespread disgust with the program by graphics minors and hearing everything you do in the course (things I had already learned and mastered in much more advanced high school graphics courses) I decided against it. (Continued…)
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