2016-17 Fall
(HART 1036)
1 Credit | Can be used to fulfill Common Core Requirement (Core Elective: Arts Area)
Teaching Medium: English.
Course Description
Graphic design is the art of communication through the combination of images and words into a unified form to convey a clear message to an audience. Common uses of graphic design include logos, signs, publications, posters, print advertisements, product packaging and web sites, etc. This course aims to introduce students to what graphic design is and the design process. The basic elements, principles and process of graphic design will be explored and illustrated by works of famous graphic designers. Through the problem-solving approach, students will learn how to apply the design basics to create graphic design solutions. Class time is devoted to lectures, exercises, and critiques where students are asked to evaluate each other’s work. Such evaluations are very important in the development of analytical thinking and communication proficiency.
IMPORTANT NOTE
The course focuses on introducing design principles and process to enable students to create graphic design work. This is NOT a graphic design software training course. A session on basic graphic design software usage (session 5) is arranged in the class.
- Describe what graphic design is and its role in society
- Identify and describe how the use of design elements and principles contribute to the visual communication of ideas
- Apply the basic principles of graphic design to communicate a message visually to an audience
- Develop self-analytical judgment by exchanging critical and supporting ideas in a peer group setting
Week 1-2: Elements of graphic design
Week 3: Principles of graphic design
Week 4: Word and image
Week 5: Software Workshop – Basic introduction to Photoshop and Illustrator
Week 6: Layout design
Week 7: Design project briefing and research
Week 8-9: Design process: ideas generation and development
Week 10: Design process: interim ideas presentation
Week 11: Profession practice of graphic design
Week 12-13: Design process: visual refinement and final presentation
Theory and Practice
Resnick, E. (2003). Design for Communication – Conceptual Graphic Design Basics. New Jersey: Wiley & Sons
- McAlhone, B. and Stuart, D. (1996). A Smile in the Mind. London: Phaidon Press Ltd.
- Elam, K. (2007). Typographic Systems. New York: Princeton Architectural Press.
- Wilde, R. (1986). Problems: Solutions – Visual Thinking for Graphic Communicators. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold.
E-resources
www.thegoodagency.co.uk
www.sagmeisterwalsh.com
https://www.alanchandesign.com/
www.anothermountainman.com
Enrolment Details
Course Registration : 22-25 Aug 2016Add/Drop : 01-14 Sep 2016
Instructor
Alice LO
Assessment
| Participation in class discussions and critiques | 30% |
| Workshop exercises | 30% |
| Major graphic design project with reflective learning report | 40% |