Publishing Program
Program Overview:
The certificate in Publishing unites the creative forces of Palazzi institutions Apicius, FUA, and FAST in a single program of study in the field of publishing. The year-long program begins with a study of the fundamentals and moves onto a concentration in the advanced skills necessary to design, edit, produce, publish and market published media. Particular focus is given to magazine and book publishing and the unique structure of the program allows students to partake in ongoing publishing projects of Ingorda for Florence Campus Publishing. The unique course structure develops foundation skills and knowledge while developing specific areas of interest in specialized fields. Each semester includes core classes and intensive weekend seminars. The six core courses of a single semester provides a solid foundation and are integrated by five intensive seminars that focus on related specialized areas of study. In the case of publishing certificate seminars, students will also choose one of three concentrations offered: publishing in the art world, gastronomy, or fashion.
Program Objectives:
The program provides the professional training necessary for the student interested in the publishing world. Students will gain familiarity with the publishing industry, its processes, and procedures from both an Italian and international perspective. The program strives to challenge students from an industry, production, and post production marketing points of view and the theoretical-practical aspects of each throughout the program duration. At the end of the program the students will have worked on a tangible published product that will be inserted into real book markets. Exposure to different types of published products is offered by this program through the magazine product, which takes place throughout the program in addition to the final book project.
Duration and Certification:
Certificate Programs may be taken for one semester, one year or two years. Each year consists of two semesters that offer a set of core classes and intensive weekend seminars. Students can attend one single semester and obtain a transcript for credits, or complete the full year program and receive a Certificate in Publishing.
Practicum/Internship:
The final project is a student and faculty produced book that is intended to be marketed in both mainstream and specialized markets. The program also includes collaboration on a semester lifestyle magazine that is produced in house with students.
Concentrations:
Students who enroll in this program will select one out of three offered concentrations, which will determine the nature and subject of the final book project:
Art Communication Concentration
Fashion Communication Concentration
Food Communication Concentration
Food Concentration:
The concentration aims to immerse the student within the food culture of Florence, Tuscany, and Italy.
The immediacy of Florence’s food scene and its rich variety of food and wine establishments is utilized and experienced first-hand in order to establish contact with the professionally creative and traditional ways food is presented in the city. Students will gain an insider’s perspective through food professionals in order to better express the medium through publishing. Students will apply the principles and foundations of publishing gained in core courses and apply them through specialized techniques offered by the concentration – writing about food, techniques of food styling, and food photography in particular. The concentration strives to cultivate new representations of Italy’s unique gastronomies through the fresh perspectives of students and creative approaches to print and electronic media.
YEAR 1 SEMESTER 1 (Fall)
The aim of the beginning level is to provide students with a basic comprehension of publishing.
Students will be moreover introduced to basic classic and digital photographic techniques, visual communication concepts and web designing, they will be taught to be aware of the concept of publication and to test their abilities. The Italian language class is fundamental to understand the original terms that will be used during lessons and to acquire the minimum conversation skills required for attending the internship. (*) All students enrolled in Certificate Programs are required to take a three week course of Italian language before the start of the Certificate Program or an Italian language class during the semester.
CORE COURSES
Italian Language (*)
3 semester credits (45 lecture hours)
The language course is offered in different levels according to the student’s knowledge. All students enrolled in Certificate Programs are required to take a three week course of Italian Language before the start of the Certificate Program.
DI PH ID 180 Introduction to Digital Photography
3 semester credits (90 hours: 45 lecture hours + 45 studio hours with T.A.)
This course will introduce students to the digital photography world with particular focus on updated techniques and how they can be incorporated into classic fine art photography. The course will explore the use of state-of-the-art computer software and techniques. The instructor will guide the student in learning to master photo computer software and how to control the scanning of a picture, transparency and negative to make a good quality digital print. Elements of photo composition and graphic design, photo history, and relationships with other art mediums will also be addressed during the course.
DI VC CG 150 Introduction to Computer Graphics
3 semester credits (45 lecture hours)
This computer graphics introductory course will cover the following topics: computer generated art, Adobe Photoshop, photo adjustments and effects, computer drawing, morphing and modeling in Photoshop and editing. Students will compile a personal portfolio, presenting it to the class at the end of the semester or session.
CP PU FE 300 Fundamentals of Publishing and Editing
3 semester credits (45 lecture hours)
This course examines the fundamental aspects of the publishing industry with an emphasis on book publishing. Issues such as editorial brainstorming and manuscript selection, layout processes, production, interior and exterior design, marketing, and financial factors are explored on a hands on level with examples and collaborations drawn from ongoing publication projects. The emphasis on editing focuses on evaluating manuscripts, fact checking, copy cutting, editing, rewriting, proofreading and writing captions, titles and subtitles.
LA CW CW 300 Creative Writing
3 semester credits (45 lecture hours)
This is an introduction to fiction writing. It covers the technical elements of fiction writing through in-class writing exercises that develop dialogue, voice, plot, image, character development, point of view, scene, structure and other prose skills. The in-class work will be augmented with homework assignments which students will use in writing larger pieces of fiction. Students will learn to critique work from a writer's perspective.
CP PU LM 330 Lifestyle Magazine Project I
3 semester credits (90 hours: 45 lecture hours + 45 studio hours with T.A.)
The first of a two part series on magazine production, Lifestyle Magazine I gives students a professional magazine production experience in an academic course. Students, under the supervision of faculty members, will curate every phase of production – brainstorming, design, writing, photos, editing, layouts, production and distribution – of a full color lifestyle magazine produced by the institution. The magazine and its semesterly format will represent the student’s approach to living in Florence and topics such as the arts, gastronomy, travel, style, city scenes, etc from a cutting edge perspective that seeks to challenge and go beyond the surface of a city. This project requires additional hours outside of regularly scheduled class times.
SEMINARS
FT FC CP 200 Art Media: Introduction to the Creative Process
1 semester credit (15 lecture hours)
Aimed at students interested in visual, plastic arts and creative writing. This course will help each student to define and find his or her own personal style and strengths, which they can then apply to their other art classes. Students will be assigned writing assignments to develop personal thought processes in order to realize their own creative nature and apply it to the media of their own concentration.
IS IS MI 250 Made in Italy
2 semester credits (30 lecture hours)
This course explores the extraordinary phenomenon of the renowned excellence and distinctive characteristics of Italian style from the Unification of the Italian Nation to the present day. The course focuses not only on particular products and brands but also on the distinctive Italian character, way of living, attitudes and peculiarities. This historical study of Italian taste will be set within the context of social, artistic, economic, political, technological and scientific issues. Particular emphasis will be given to the Florentine environment. Consideration will be given to all aspects of industry, craftwork and product design from ceramics to textiles, from cuisine to showbiz, from automobiles to furniture, from fashion to household objects
CP FC FW 380 Professional Food Writing I
1 semester credits (15 lecture hours)
In this course, students will write a variety of pieces for professional food and beverage publications and general interest magazines. They will develop research skills with an emphasis on examining trends in the foodservice and hospitality industry, as well as analyzing publications for reader profile, voice, content, structure, and style. Students create a portfolio of works, including feature and news articles, personality profiles, book and restaurant reviews, recipes, and food narratives.
FW CA SC 300 Local Restaurants and Wine Bars: Signature Chefs and Sommeliers
1 semester credits (15 lecture hours)
Industry professionals come together in a series of seminars covering their personal and professional experiences as well as offering insight and advice to participating students.
FW WC IW 300 Leading Italian Winemakers
1 semester credits (15 lecture hours)
This course will introduce the student to the Italian wine industry with a focuses on top producers. The historical and cultural traditions of this art will be examined in depth as well as the contemporary wine industry in the age of globalization.
YEAR 1 SEMESTER 2 (Spring)
The aim of the Intermediate level is fully immerse the student in publishing with studies in Photography and Marketing. Students study digital and magazine editing and will receive detailed information on the Public Relations. Continuing students works on special projects and develop their skills in specific concentration area. The final semester project will be a book published by Ingorda for Florence Campus Publishing.
CORE COURSES
DI PH ID 300 Intermediate Digital Photography
3 semester credits (90 hours: 45 lecture hours + 45 studio hours with T.A.)
This course is for those students who have experience in the digital photography world and who would like to broaden their knowledge to a more advanced level. A deep focus on up-to-date techniques and technologies will be a major topic in the course, in addition to the refinement of visual and conceptual aspects of digital photography. The instructor will guide students in gaining advanced skills in photo computer software. The objective of the course is to create a mature visual expression in the digital photographic world.
CP PU PB 310 Professional Book Production
(3 semester credits 45 lecture hours)
The topics of this course cover the areas of professional book production in both the digital and standard print sectors. Students will learn all processes involved in designing and producing books: font characters, colors and images, graphic manipulation, pagination, layouts, printing, and binding. Hands on experience offered through the possibility of collaborating on ongoing publishing projects of the institution.
CP PU PR 350 Public Relations, Communications and Marketing in Publishing
3 semester credits (45 lecture hours)
The course covers the ever-changing practices of public relations, communications, and the marketing aspects of the publishing industry. Advertising, promotional materials, launches, press releases, distribution, and industry networking will be examined as necessary factors for the optimization of sales and distribution for all types of published works. Through a specialized study of communications and PR relations, students will learn the ins and outs of establishing, maintaining, and communicating with contacts whether press and marketing-related or with external contributors/collaborators of publications.
CP PU LM 430 Lifestyle Magazine Project II
3 semester credits (90 hours: 45 lecture hours + 45 studio hours with T.A.)
The second level of the Lifestyle Magazine course is aimed to developing and producing the second magazine project after the first semester’s edition. Students, having gained already 1 semester’s worth of experience, will be challenged to explore deeper and more hidden topics in Florence as well as act as critics by writing about the end of the year initiatives of Palazzi institutions such as art and fashion shows as well as gastronomic events. This project requires additional hours outside of regularly scheduled class times.
PS SP BP 510 Special Project in Book Publishing
3 semester credits (150 contact hours)
This course is designed as a full immersion in the world of publishing. The final semester project is a book published by Ingorda for Florence Campus Publishing. Students will choose from three editorial areas – the arts, gastronomy, and fashion – and work in groups on one specific publication. All areas of book publishing will be covered, from concept creation to research, writing, photography, graphic layout and design, production, and marketing and distribution.
SEMINARS
CP FC FS 340 Food Styling I
1 semester credits (15 lecture hours)
he course will help students understand food presentation on an aesthetic and technical level, learning the basics of food presentation for professional and media use or for personal pleasure, and learning to select the right objects/props/tableware/accessories to make a fine food presentation. Students work in a fully equipped kitchen classroom with occasional opportunities for assistance from professional cooking students and for having works photographed by students enrolled in Food Photography courses.
CP FC FP 320 Food Photography I
1 semester credits (15 lecture hours)
This course will be the gateway to the world of food photography. Students will learn the technical and compositional basis of this specific field of photography, which is becoming one of the most commercially successful for the photo professional. The course will explore the most updated techniques in digital photography, as well as traditional ones, the study of basic food lighting in the studio and outdoors, special effects techniques, picture scanning and introductory graphic manipulation on computer. The course will be mainly geared toward digital camera shooting with elements of color transparency/peripherals within a kitchen set-up; prepared dishes/recipes to be photographed will be provided.
CP FC FW 480 Professional Food Writing II
2 semester credits (30 lecture hours)
This course is the advanced level of Food Writing and open to students who have already covered the writing styles and approaches covered in Food Writing I. FW II students will work closely with a simultaneous course, the Cookbook Project, and carry out the research and textual components of the final project of the Food Communications Department. Therefore in addition to the upper level coursework and concepts, students will work on a hardcover publication (topic will be announced on the first day of class) that will be published at the end of the semester.
FW WC PF 335 Pairing Food and Wine
1 semester credits (15 lecture hours)
The capacity to offer the best wine as a combination for chosen dishes is a very important task. The course includes an analysis of the "Combination Technique" used today by the Italian Association of Sommeliers, sensory and quality evaluations, practical workshops on the most successful matches as well as the creation of new flavor combinations.
HP FB MS 370 Food and Wine Marketing Strategies
1 semester credits (15 lecture hours)
This course gives students the fundamentals of marketing beyond the conventions of advertising and promotion. Concepts and practices in marketing food and wine will be deeply analyzed in order to give students the technical skills to formulate their own marketing campaign. In the second part of the term, students will be working on individual and group assignments in order to plan and organize a marketing strategy for a new product or market re-positioning. This course closely follows current events and trends to illustrate contemporary marketing techniques.