See how a Course Works: Intro to Online Learning
Description
Our introduction to graphic design course is 100% online and instructor supported to provide students and professionals the knowledge they need to start their careers in the exciting field of graphic design.
Graphic designers are in high demand. They must be ready to tackle a varitey of projects, ranging from identity design to editorial design to product and packaging design and more.
In our 6-lesson introduction to graphic design course, you'll gain the knowledge and skills you need to take on professional design work. You'll also gain insights from experts in the design industry and explore the challenges of designing art posters, CD covers, corporate logos, magazine covers, 3D designs, and much, much more.
Get the skills you need to advance your career in the exciting and lucrative graphic design industry with the introduction to graphic design course from Gatlin International.
Looking to establish a career as a freelance designer? The course also provides you opportunities to hone your design process, as you research each project, develop concepts, work with iterative feedback, and begin to develop quality pieces for your portfolio.
Outline
LESSON 1 The Process of Design How does a designer approach a project and develop a killer visual concept? In Lesson One, you'll gain insights into the professional design process, learning the importance of research, concept development, and critique. A case study explores the evolution of an award-winning design concept, before you explore eight strategies for developing original visual ideas of your own. In the second part of the lesson, you'll learn about the tools and paste-up production methods used by many great designers of the 20th century. This will provide a historical context for how classic graphic design styles evolved into today's digital techniques. In the exercise, a retro layout project challenges your composition skills.
LESSON 2 Text and Typography Actions may speak louder than words, but typography screams design. Skillful handling of text including choice of typeface, type size, and alignment is critical for any designer working today, in print or online. In Lesson Two, you will review some typography fundamentals and evaluate how typography is used in composition. You'll examine important issues in selecting a typeface, including style, tone, and expression. Case studies explore the important role of visual identity for any publication. In the exercise, you'll design a logo for an Internet magazine.
LESSON 3 The Shape of Design Page layout skills are crucial for any graphic designer. Lesson Three addresses some essential concepts for magazine layout. You'll learn key issues in using a grid to plan layout and text treatment, looking at how to research and plan the structure of a page or spread. A case study analyzes how a famous designer created a magazine layout, teaching you important terms in text treatment. You'll pick up rules of thumb for effective layout design for magazine covers and spreads, looking at highly effective examples along the way. It's your turn in the exercise, where you create a magazine cover utilizing the "one message rule", as well as a two-page spread.
LESSON 4 Paper and Publishing The objective of Lesson Four is to give you an insight into the nature of the publishing industry, that exotic world of full-bleed images, embossed jacket designs, and pre-press checking. You'll begin with an overview of publishing for old media and new media and learn about book design through an in-depth case study. You will explore important paper terminology including embossing, die cutting, and more. In the exercise you will design a book cover and chapter pages for a coffee table book that blends imagery with strong typography.
LESSON 5 Products and Packaging Why do some products sell while others simply gather dust on the shelves? Once a product hits the market, packaging design can make or break it. Lesson Five explores how visual messages are used to shape consumer perceptions. You will learn how typography, color, and imagery work together to convey a message to consumers. In the exercise you'll use Illustrator and Photoshop to create a package for a trackball manufacturer, and then assemble the 3D artwork for display.
<LESSON 6 Business and Production Lesson Six offers essential preparation in the business and production aspects of design. You'll begin by exploring some options for a graphic design career, whether you are freelance or in-house. You'll learn tips for promoting yourself, working with clients, and managing your design jobs professionally. In the second part of the lesson, you'll learn principles for working with printers and get an overview of the ten steps in the print production process. You'll also learn pointers for designing and developing your portfolio of work. In the final exercise, you'll attempt a portfolio-worthy project. From concept to production and presentation, you'll design a series of olive oil bottles for a client.
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
Joss Parsey likes to describe herself as a graphics nomad. In the past two decades she has traveled through the diverse world of graphics working full-time and freelance for a varied crowd. The work has gone from designing fabrics for Liz Claiborne, logos for various institutions or for individuals, marketing pieces for photographers or corporations and posters for publishing houses. She worked in-house at Adobe Illustrator and was the graphic communication leader at Smart Design working on projects for Copco, Serengetti Sunglasses and Kepner Tregoe. She worked behind the scenes at the Art Institute in Chicago coordinating Design and Architecture programs and makes a point of never specializing within a media to be labeled a certain type of designer. Diversity and timeless solutions are keys to her approach.
- Prerequisites/Audience
Courses are 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.
- Requirements/Materials Included
To take this course you'll need Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, and InDesign or equivalent layout program optional. Basic experience in graphic design and the software packages needed for this course.
- 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.
