Course Syllabus Basic Graphic Design

Instructors Katelyn  Brissey-­‐  kabrissey@gmail.com          Daniel  Brown  Jonathan  Lawler-­‐  jplawle@gmail.com  

Nathan  Winters   Course Description: This  course  is  an  8-­‐week  exploration  of  basic  design  principles.  Students  will  explore  and  discuss  the  principles  of  graphic  design  and  will  create  their  own  graphics  based  on  these  principles.     Course Credit: One  (1)  high  school  course  credit     Intended Audience: High  school  students  who  are  interested  in  a  design  career.   Course Rationale, Goals and Objectives: We  live  in  a  visual  world,  and  every  day  we're  bombarded  by  images  from  all  directions:  

billboards,   magazine   covers,   Web   pages,   print   ads,   television   and   movies,   product  

packaging,  and  more.  Behind  every  book  cover  or  company  logo  that  catches  our  eye  is  

a  graphic  designer,  or  a  team  of  designers,  who  combines  text  and  images  to  convey  a  

carefully  crafted  message.  Graphic  designers  may  work  for  advertising  firms,  publishing  

houses  or  design  firms,  or  they  may  freelance  for  their  own  selection  of  clients.  

In  a  graphic  design  program,  students  are   taught   the  basic   skills   they'll   likely  need   to  

enter   the   industry.   There   are  many   specialties  within   the   field,   but   a   general   graphic  

design  program  may  touch  on  Web  design,  illustration,  typography,  computer  graphics,  

and   animation,   as   well   as   more   traditional   visual   arts   such   as   drawing,   sculpting   or  

photography.    

Goals: 1.  To  be  knowledgeable  about  the  basic  principles  of  graphic  design.    

2.  To  be  knowledgeable  about  how  to  apply  these  principles  in  realistic  scenarios.  

3.  To  critically  evaluate  good  and  bad  practices  within  graphic  design.  

4.  To  create  work  that  uses  design  principles.  

Objectives: 1.  Discuss  color  theory  and  identify  various  ways  color  can  be  used  in  combination  with  other  colors  (analogous,  triad,  etc.)    2.  Identify  various  ways  that  typography  can  be  used  in  advertising  or  to  make  a  point.    3.  Evaluate  several  uses  of  color  theory  and  typography  and  discuss  reactions  with  other  students.  4.  Explain  the  purpose  of  having  balance  and  using  the  rule  of  thirds  in  graphics  and  websites.  5.  Evaluate  websites  and  discuss  reactions  with  other  students.  6.  Identify  ways  to  achieve  contrast  and  use  white  space.  7.  Create  a  graphic  that  uses  basic  design  principles.  8.  Create  a  simple  webpage  design  that  uses  the  principles  of  graphic  design.