In this course, each week’s project builds on the previous, moving from basic graphic design ideas working in any medium, to working in InDesign, then Illustrator, then Photoshop, to finally putting it all together in the last project. Note that the Adobe Creative Suite, although preferred, is not freeware; you may substitute any learning program or handskill for the skills used in the projects.
Weeks 10-14 are process-oriented working towards a final portfolio of work made during the semester. Note that students give feedback/critique throughout.
Textbook can be on the Supplies page, and samples of projects can be found on the Assignments page.
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.
(note that links open in new tab)
| CLASS | IN CLASS ACTIVITIES | READING | PROJECT DUE | CRITIQUE DUE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | INTRODUCTION TO GRAPHIC DESIGN Intro to Graphic Design Lecture Line, Shape, Color, Pattern Analysis/crit format DIER (Describe/Interpret only) | Information sheet Project 1: Design Your Name (or similar starting project in any medium) | Critique/Comment on 2 students’ project | |
| 2 | DESIGN AS SYMBOLIC COMMUNICATION Type from Cave to Gutenberg DIER (emphasis on Evaluate/Recommend) DESIGN MOVEMENT: Russian Constructivsm | Textbook pages 7-11 Russian Constructivism reading (instructor choice) | Project 2: Design Your Theme (or similar project where students do mostly the same idea/content in any medium). INSTALL INDESIGN and FONTS for CLASS 3 | Critique/Comment on 2 students’ project |
| 3 | TYPOGRAPHY & TYPOGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION DESIGN GOING DIGITAL Type from Garamond to Helvetica Type Identification (5 fonts) Points and Picas Intro to Indesign | Textbook pages 23-60 Textbook pages 12-22 | Exercise: design something together in InDesign (instructor-led) Project 3: Design Your Phase (or any simple inDesign project) | Critique/Comment on 2 students’ project |
| 4 | TYPE CONTRAST Type Contrast Lecture and Exercise More inDesign (basics) DESIGN MOVEMENT: Bauhaus | Carl Dair reading on Contrast, or similar (instructor choice) Bauhaus reading (supplied, instructor choice) | Project 4: Design Your Phrase (revise it) | Critique/Comment on 2 students’ project |
| 5 | PUTTING IT TOGETHER InDesign major help In class Design/Build | Exercise: Design/Build Together (inDesign, advanced techniques, instructor choice) Project 5: Pub Prep (prepare for a 2-page spread with your own text and photos) | Critique/Comment on 2 students’ project | |
| 6 | PUBLICATIONS: LAYOUT Work on pubs in class. InDesign demo for pubs Grids | Textbook: Grids Page 80-82 | Exercise: Design/Build: InDesign spreads from Designing with Type textbook Project 6: Pub 1 (create your own) | Critique/Comment on 2 students’ project |
| 7 | PUBLICATIONS: REFINEMENTS Body type (legibility etc), Display Type DESIGN MOVEMENT: Swiss Grid/Intrn’l Style | Textbook: Legibility Alignments, Leading 61-79 + Display Type 83-89 | Project 7: Pub 2 (revisions, enhancements) INSTALL ILLUSTRATOR for CLASS 8 | Critique/Comment on 2 students’ project |
| 8 | LOGOTYPES Logotype lecture Illustrator Demo | Logotype reading (instructor choice) | Exercise: Design/Build: Illustrator simple Project 8: Logotype (or other Illustrator project) | Critique/Comment on 2 students’ project |
| 10 | YOU THE DESIGNER DESIGN MOVEMENT: Design against Convention Shirts and book covers lecture Photoshop demo (basics) | movement reading (instructor choice, suggest Democratic Design/Design Against Convention about the democratization of design tools after 1960) | Project 10: Autobiography cover or wearable | Critique/Comment on 2 students’ project |
| Weeks 11-14 | Lead up to final portfolio: cover, intro page, organization of projects from semester. Final presentation Week 14. |
