Course Description
An overview of the foundational language, principles, and skills utilized in graphic design for non-majors. Students learn to analyze and apply basic principles and elements of visual communication such as hierarchy, typography, imagery usage, systems of visual structure and organization, basic messaging, and skills in relevant software.
Athena Title
Foundations of Graphic Design
Semester Course Offered
Offered every year.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
An overview of the basic tools, techniques, and concepts that graphic designers use to create effective visual communication, including combining typography and imagery, composing graphic elements, understanding how design decisions affect the communication of messages, basic image preparation, and competency in relevant design software. This class is intended for students who are curious about graphic design but not graphic design majors. Through lectures, demonstrations, and applied exercises students will: - Understand that graphic design is a creative and strategic process with the goal of communicating ideas and messages. - Utilize the fundamentals of visual structure and the formal elements and principles of design to develop and execute basic graphic design solutions. - Develop and apply foundational skills with relevant design software in the execution of visual designs. - Learn about and employ the creative development process: ideation, concept generation, prototyping, evaluation, and refinement.
Topical Outline
Class structure includes time devoted to lectures, demonstrations, discussion, and applied learning. Relevant topics will be introduced in conjunction with the development and execution of applied visual explorations and problems that introduce the principles, media, and relevant tools of graphic design in various media including: - Basics elements and principles of design and visual organization (color, composition, gestalt, hierarchy). - Fundamental typographic classification, taxonomy, and basic digital typesetting. - Introduction to relevant software used for image editing, vector image creation, layout, and typography. - Integrating textual content and imagery using an organizational system to compose elements and establish visual hierarchy. - Image usage: cropping, scaling, and composing in a given space. - Creative ideation methodologies for concept building. - Designing for multiple media and platforms.
Syllabus