Description

Online Graphic Design Course from Gatlin International

The online graphic design course from Gatlin International makes learning more convenient and affordable.

Graphic design is the art of visual communication, the visual representation of ideas or concepts.
In this advanced online graphic design course, you'll engage in hands-on excercises as you build skills for the toughest graphic design projects.

How do you succeed as a graphic designer? Study the movements that shaped today's visual world, and learn how to conceptualize projects, reinvent clichés, create balanced layouts, distill complex information, and motivate your audience.

 The focus of this class will be on creating 2D digital design projects. Class assignments include postage design, annual report layout, poster and book design, an art poster, and a direct mail piece.

Take your skills to the next level with the online graphic design course from Gatlin International.

Outline

LESSON 1 Movements in Design What is this thing called graphic design? Lesson One explores the economic, cultural, and political context of today's graphic design styles. The lesson begins with an analysis of graphic design: its role in visual communication, cultural influence, political origins, role in business innovation, and governing aesthetic principles. Then you'll take a journey through some of the major 20th century movements that shaped today's visual landscape, including Expressionism, Art Nouveau, Avante Garde, Modernism, Bauhaus, Futurism, Surrealism, and Post-Modernism. In the assignment, you'll tackle a retro stamp design project to demonstrate your understanding of a design style.
 
LESSON 2 Thinking Design At a fundamental level, design is about problem-solving: finding a solution to a client or employer's problem. Lesson Two examines concepts, principles, and working strategies for thinking through your designs to ensure that your projects start out on the right track. Global design principles and the role of consistency, constancy, and the exposure effect are discussed, as well as how the creative process fits into professional working practices. In the assignment, you'll tackle an annual report design that enables you to put the principles of consistency and constancy into practice.

LESSON 3 Constructing Creativity Graphic designers as the blue-collar workers of the art world. Lesson Three looks at the building blocks of a design project: investigating the nature of creativity, mapping out stages in the design process, and looking at how cliches can be transformed to create something new. You will study some tried-and-true methods used and reused to orchestrate design elements into a distinctive and memorable message. In the assignment, you'll tackle a book cover design that demands a creative, playful approach.

LESSON 4 Color and Composition Every graphic designer's skillset should include a mastery of color and composition. Lesson Four focuses on proportion, balance, and perspective, looking at examples of geometrical composition that have stood the test of time and are considered design classics. Architects and engineers utilize geometry throughout the planning and organization of projects, so you'll borrow a leaf from their book. Also discussed are some major concepts in effective color usage. In the assignment, you'll tackle a poster design that stretches your composition skills.
 
LESSON 5 Envisioning Design The true test for any graphic designer is the ability to condense a mass of complex information and graphic content into a simple message. Maps, diagrams, posters, and advertisements all require designers to "envision information" by creating a clear, aesthetically balanced communication. Lesson Five examines techniques for effective information design: catching the eye, highlighting, type design, layering, closure, figure-ground relationships, and more. In the assignment, you'll tackle a map design that involves some information design decisions.
 
LESSON 6 The Context of Design Graphic design derives meaning from its context. As a designer, you must apply everything you know about the physical, cognitive, social, and cultural world to create your communications. Lesson Six examines how to use social/political messages in your media environment politics, satire, and wit to shape your work. The course closes with a design veteran's thoughts on the core competencies for a career in graphic design. In the assignment, you'll tackle a direct mail piece that requires some passionate, off-center design approaches.

Additional Info

Languages

English

Course Length

60.00 hours

Duration of Access

Enrolled students have access to the class for six months. During this period, questions or assignments may be submitted at any time to the instructor. Each course lesson requires an average of 10 hours of study time.

Instructor

Thom McKenna is the Owner/Senior Creative Director of Flatiron Industries, a graphic design/multimedia firm based in the New York area. Thom has over 18 years experience in the graphic design industry, including multimedia and television work within the advertising, design and, publishing world. Thom earned a BA in Political Science at the University of Maryland. As Art Director of Emerging Markets, an international daily newspaper covering the major IMF/World Bank and Regional Bank meetings, Thom has published on-site in the following countries: Argentina, Bulgaria, China, Ivory Coast, England, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Kenya, Mexico, New Zealand, Nigeria, The Philippines, Portugal, Russia, and Spain. Flatiron Industries recent clients include: AIG, Albert Einstein Healthcare Network, American College of Physicians, American Express, Berlitz International, Citibank, Computer Associates, JP Morgan Chase, J. Wiley & Sons, ING Bank, Morgan Stanley, Sports Illustrated, Thomson Financial, and The United Nations.

Prerequisites/Audience

To take the online graphic design course you'll need Adobe Photoshop or equivalent digital imaging program, Adobe Illustrator or equivalent vector-based drawing program, and basic experience in graphic design and the software packages needed for this course.

Requirements/Materials Included

Our online graphic design course is designed for adult learners interested in building skills and portfolio for a design career. To take the course, students simply require a computer (PC or Mac), an Internet connection (56 Kbps modem or faster), and any required software. For courses with software requirements, computers must meet software manufacturers' system requirements.

Certification

3 CEU's

Sessions College is accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC). Certificate programs are accredited by the Middle States Commission on Secondary Schools.