Fundamentals of Graphic Design Course

Graphic Design from a Historical Perspective

• Why design is important
• Influence of Art Nouveau, Cubism, Bauhaus, German and Swiss design in modern art
• Understanding the International Typographic Style
• Review of major influencers in modern design
• Origins of function determines form and fierce reduction of unnecessary elements

Understanding the importance of sketching

• Low fidelity methods
• Developing innovative concepts
• Creating flexibility in early stages of design
• Focusing on ideas, not tools

Understanding space in graphic design

• Understanding and using negative space
• Creating designs that utilize white and non-white space

Balance in your designs

• Understanding types of balance
• Experimenting with symmetrical and asymmetrical designs
• Experimenting with weight in order to create more dynamic designs

Adding rhythm and harmony to your design

• Discovering how patterns and repetition can lead the eye
• Create more effective designs using these principles

Typography: effective use of type

• Typeface scenarios.
• Understanding which typefaces are best to use in different situations
• Type terminology and what it means
• Basic typography rules that help improve viewer’s experience
• Building an effective and successful information hierarchy with a type ramp
• Understanding how to maximize design with a typographic grid
• Type as an art form

Understanding design proportions

• Building a beautifully proportioned layout for your design
• How positioning can affect aesthetics of your design
• Incorporating the golden mean into your designs

Influence of color on graphic design

• Understanding HSL (Hue, Saturation and Luminosity)
• Designing with color
• Understanding and using harmony rules