HELLO INSTRUCTORS!
Welcome to this open Commons course, Basic Graphic Communication, available for reuse and remixing across CUNY campuses and beyond. This site was created as an inspirational template/timeline to inspire you to design a course that teaches visual thinking and vocabulary, historical and contemporary design movements, and introduces students to working with type and images with Adobe Creative Suite: inDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop. (Note that the Adobe Creative Suite, although preferred, is not freeware; you may substitute any learning program or handskills for the skills used in the projects.)
Is this the course for you?
Read through this page and the course goals, and then look at the sample syllabus page which shows how you can lead students through a 14-week studio course that culminates in a final student portfolio. To copy any or all parts via the Commons, contact Suzanne Dell’Orto for access to a clone of this course.
About this course
This studio course introduces the graphic design process and methodology. Conceptual and creative thinking is stressed and understood through problem-solving assignments based on research, readings, and classroom demonstrations. The student is introduced to graphic design principles and exposed to historical and contemporary models and current standards of advertising and design. The Macintosh computer is included as the primary graphic design environment. This class is a prerequisite for all advanced Graphic Communication courses.
4 hours; 3 credits
This course primarily uses digital design tools. You will use Adobe InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop to create deliverables.
The discipline and craft of graphic communication puts order to the visual and informational world, working to organize and visually communicate ideas and everything that surrounds us. And it’s fun!
Class Modalities
Synchronous Online or in-Person:
ART2050: Introduction to Graphic Design & Advertising . Class meets together weekly, with scheduled due dates to complete 14 lessons. Each week’s module includes a lecture, software and design tutorials, readings, design exercises, and design assignments. Each week students will also participate in sharing and critiquing each other’s work on our class blog or in-person critique.
Asynchronous Online:
ART2050: Introduction to Graphic Design & Advertising is an asynchronous, paced online course. Asynchronous means students work on their own time for each week’s module, with scheduled due dates to complete 14 lessons. Each week’s module includes a lecture, videos lectures about software or design, readings, design exercises, and design assignments. Each week students will also participate in sharing and critiquing each other’s work on our class blog. There is also a Blackboard discussion board to enable you to communicate with classmates.
