Course Syllabus

ART 2400 Introduction to Graphic Design

Course Description

This course introduces students to the art of visual communication through the discipline of graphic design. Content will include the forms, concepts, and methods of graphic design including: typography, spatial organization, illustration, visual metaphor, word/picture communication, and critical analysis. Students will apply software-imaging and analog skills to a variety of assigned creative problems. Assignments are designed to promote creative thinking, to improve visual problem solving skills, and to foster a greater understanding of how the viewer receives and interprets visual messaging. A comprehensive portfolio will be required of each student.

Justification

This course introduces students to the study of design as an occupation tool that enables them to apply visual language skills to career opportunities. A study of visual communication can lead to marketing and advertising related jobs such as website design, publication design, branding, corporate identity, and illustration. It is offered as a part of the first two years of study for art majors who emphasize in graphic design. In addition to serving art majors, this course will provide an elective for Snow College Commercial Music students who wish to enhance their creative visual abilities and sensibilities, and will fulfill a requirement for BS Software Engineering students who choose to emphasize in Digital Media Design.

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Material proficiency: Students will be exposed to a variety of material possibilities for visual communication and graphic design applications, including both analog and digital media. This proficiency in material and media will be used to understand practical applications of the visual language, and how to communicate with an intended audience.
2. Conceptual Principles: Students will be educated to apply conceptual principles to a variety of mediums used within the realm of marketing and communications. This understanding will be applied to help students effectively communicate using visual language through graphic design.
3. Historical Context: In addition to contemporary examples, students will study historical creative work in relationship to the context of when it was created and the sentiments that inspired the chosen messaging of the work. This knowledge will inform creative communication through visual language.
4. Critical Analysis: Students will learn the process of critical analysis as it applies to creative, conceptual graphic design work. Presentation of projects before the class will take place frequently, where group feedback and critiques can inform development and improvement.

Course Content

Through concept and the practice of graphic design, students will learn will to more effectively communicate to an intended audience using the visual language. This course will include lectures, class discussions, critiques, demonstrations and applied studio projects in both analog and digital process as they apply to the following topics: Problem solving: conceptual and formal application of design and visual communication principles to logo design, publication design, and illustration; Formal structure and 2D spatial organization; Basic software skills: Vector & bitmap (rastor) imaging; Effective word/picture messaging ; Visual metaphor; Fundamentals of typography; Gestalt principles such as closure, similarity, proximity and continuation; Individual and group critiques, designed to promote constructive analysis of each student's own work, the work of their peers, and historical works of art; Utilizing the design process that extends through understanding a problem to the implementation of ideas; Professional standards and craftsmanship required in the industry