Intro to Graphic Design

Design in the digital era

New media has created a serious need for talented graphic designers. Explore the history of graphic design, learn how it has evolved, and discover what the future holds for one of the fastest growing careers in the world.

This course will give you thorough understanding of the field and a good idea of how you can make your mark in it.

You'll read lectures, review case studies, develop your critiquing skills, and get feedback from your instructor in three intensive lessons. The course provides an introduction to design software, but owning or having access to such software is optional.

Tuition: $200 US

Course Instructor(s):

Sessions graphic design instructor Claire Boger
Claire Boger  is an interactive designer and founder of ImaginationAlley.com.
Course content developed by Morten Sohlberg.
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Requirements:

To take this course you'll need:
  • Computer with Internet connection (56 Kbps modem or faster).
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Course Objectives:

Students learn how to:
  • Identify landmarks in the history of printing and design and how they apply to today’s visual communication.
  • Develop effective design ideas through creative thinking and problem solving.
  • Identify the four basic design elements—composition, color, type, and imagery—and how they communicate a message.
  • Brainstorm words and images to develop a creative design concept for a client.
  • Develop effective design concepts for specific types of print media.
  • Identify the use of humor, drama, or realism to attract attention and associate a product with an emotion.
  • Choose appropriate equipment and software for a design project.
  • Provide thoughtful commentary on existing design pieces with understanding of design elements, communication, audience, and tone.
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Course Outline

LESSON 1 Fundamentals of Graphic Design

The course begins with a survey of the history of graphic design and typography—from its inception in Mesopotamia 4,000 years ago to current design movements. The lesson continues with a look at modern creativity and case studies in creative problem solving.

LESSON 2 Principles of Graphic Design

We'll cover the fundamental divisions of graphic design: typography, visual identity, publishing and delve into a case study about outdoor media, which is an exploding field due to advancements in large format printing. We will also look at each element that makes up a complete design: composition, type, imagery, and color.

LESSON 3 The Future of Graphic Design

No visual communication occurs without direction, and in this lesson we will explore the different expressive modes a design project can utilize. We'll take a tour of the hardware and software technology critical to the graphic designer as well as potential career directions.

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