Learn Graphic Art and Design Skills

A course for:

• Anyone passionate about art and design
• Aspiring artists
• Computer, Marketing and Design Professionals

Course Structure and Content

1.  Scope and Nature of Graphic Design

• Scope of Graphic Design
• Where Do Designers Work?
• Careers in Graphic Design
• Skills Required
• General Roles of a Graphic Designer
• Nature of the Work
• Art Director
• Graphic Designer
• Brief History of Graphic Design
• The Language (Graphics Terminology)
• Application Software
• Examples of Software

2.  Design Fundamentals - line, tone, colour, etc.

• Design Elements
• Design Criteria
• Theories of Composition
• Practical Devices of Composition
• Gestalt Principles of Perception
• Choosing Images
• Choosing Computer Formats

3.  Colour Theory and Applications

• Colour Formats
• Hex Colours
• The Difference between Coloured and White Light
• Differences in Colour
• The Meaning of Colours - Emotional Response

4.  Typography

• How Much of an Impact?
• Typography (Lettering) Size
• Typography Weight
• Typography Colour
• Typography Location
• Typography Styles
• Choosing Fonts

5.  Illustration - methods & techniques

• Traditional Illustration
• Illustration Today
• Illustration - Methods & Techniques
• Processing Images
• Tonal Zone System
• Sketching an Initial Design
• Digital Illustration
• Raster Graphics
• Vector Graphics

6.  Logotype Design

• What Is A Logo?
• Creating Logos
• Designing Business Cards
• Designing Letterheads
• Designing Banners
• Layout Design
• Getting the Message Across
• Effective Organisation
• Attract Attention
• General Guidelines
• Key Elements & Principles of Layout
• The Design Process
• What Software Does A Graphic Artist Use?

7.  Design Systems and the Design Industry - design briefs, how to bid for jobs, etc.

• Significant Design Sectors
• Primary Design Areas
• Scope and Nature of the Graphic Design Industry Today
• Design Systems
• Designing to Persuade
• Design to Inform
• Design to Educate
• Design to Entertain
• What Is A Design Brief?
• Example Layout of a Design Brief
• Web Page Design

8.  Comparative Design - lessons from other designers (lots of research)

• Important People in The History Of Graphic Design

9.  Design Project - a practical project applying everything prior to this.

• Important People in the History Of Graphic Design
• What Is PBL?
• Problem Definition
• People you work with and Mode of Interaction

WHAT COMPUTER SOFTWARE IS BEST FOR GRAPHIC DESIGN?

The best software to use depends on many things -from the job being done, to the skills of the person doing the work and the budget you are operating under.

Most, if not all design work is now done with a computer, and most designers have access to all sorts of programs that can be used to complete a wide range of projects.

Software is Only a Tool
Some people assume that buying the right software is the first step toward becoming a graphic artist. There is nothing further from the truth though!
Software is a tool, in the same way that a pencil, pen or paint can be tools for an artist.

Learning to be an artist is far more than just having the right tools; or even knowing how to use those tools.

Unless you learn the principles that underpin design, and understand the nature and scope of imagery; you will never be able to visualize what you are wanting to create. Being able to visualize an image is the most important step, and one that must always precede the actual physical creation of that image.

Don't Buy Software Prematurely
The software that you need to use will depend upon the jobs you are undertaking. This course (or something similar), is best started, and in some cases completed, before making decisions about the software you should get. Your choices for software, will be affected by what you learn here.

Application software refers to these specific programs and may be in the form of a single program or a collection of programs (software package) which can be used to perform particular tasks. In some cases a group of related programs may be sold as a software suite.
 
Given that different application software is used to do different things, a part of what a designer does is to decide upon which software will be used for which tasks. 

There are a number of different categories of application software used in graphic design. 

• Photo manipulation software – colour correction, re-touching, re-sizing and composing images.
• Illustration software – logo design, pattern creation, font manipulation, drawings, etc.
• Desktop publishing software – layout of pages, brochures, posters, magazines, books etc.
• 3D rendering software – creating three dimensional images for still images or animation.
• Animation software – animating for web, billboards, movies or mobile devices.
• Web design and development software – creating web pages, online advertising etc.
• Video editing software – creating and editing videos for presentations, creating elements to be used in advertising, creating short films for clients.
• Architectural software - computer-aided design (CAD) and drafting.

Typically, each piece of software that a graphic designer uses is created for a specific purpose, however a lot of software these days can go beyond this. 

SOFTWARE IS CONTINUALLY CHANGING AND A DESIGNER NEEDS TO ABOVE ALL, BE ADAPTABLE.

• It is a mistake to think that you can learn to use a particular software product, and will then have all the skill and knowledge needed to be a designer for years to come.
• Different design companies work with different types of software; and even different clients may require a designer to work with different types of software.
• The most appropriate software for you to use today, may often become redundant and inappropriate in a few months time.
• Industry standard software can change overnight and sometimes disappear without warning; simply because something new and better has been released; or because one company has bought out and closed down it’s competition.
  
  

Your aim as a student of graphic design should be to understand several different types of software, and develop a reasonable level of competency with using computer technology. At this stage of your education, it may be a mistake to devote too much time and energy to learning any one particular software product.