Course Description
Students gain the skills to design messages for particular audiences and to prepare designs correctly for print, digital, and social environments. Students learn to analyze and to use the principles of design, typography, layout, color theory, art and illustration, and copyright law. Adobe Creative software is used to produce a variety of projects for student portfolios.
Athena Title
Graphic Communications
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in ADPR 3520
Non-Traditional Format
This course will be taught 95% or more online.
Prerequisite
Permission of department
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
Since journalism students tend to think almost exclusively in verbal terms, a major goal of this course is to teach them the importance of the visual aspects of communication. By the end of the course, students should be aware of the visual elements in communications and how to use them to help get across their message. This course has been designed to familiarize students with type, color, art and illustration, basic principles of design, layout of various kinds of printed communications, paper and ink, the major printing processes and pre-press, as well as practical assignments in concepts and execution of design. Emphasis will be placed on honing their visual creativity while reaffirming basic design principles. They will be required to complete practical design problems in order to assist in the learning process. The class is a simulation of a real-world work experience in which attendance, participation, and discipline are stressed.
Topical Outline
Why Visual Communication? The Basis of Design Typography Integrating Design and Typography Art and Illustration Cropping and Scaling Color Advertising Design Designing the Magazine, Inside and Out Designing for Public Relations Designing Newsletters Printing Paper and Ink Pre-press
Syllabus