Undergraduate Course: Introduction to Graphic Design (LLLA07163)
Course Outline
| School | Centre for Open Learning |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 7 (Year 1 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
| Summary | This course will introduce students to the building blocks of graphic design, exploring the principles of visual communication and developing a personal graphic language. |
| Course description |
Academic Description: The course will introduce students to the building blocks of graphic design, exploring the principles of visual communication and culminating in the development of their own graphic language. There will be a mix of paper based and digital exercises to explore compositional design and the social and cultural context of visual communication which will lead to a more focused project.
Outline of Content: The course teaching is typically delivered over weekly class sessions of around 3 hours each and totaling 30 hours. Alternatively, the course can be delivered more intensely or as a block if required.
Over the class sessions the course will cover:
- Introduction. Group discussion: What is Graphic Design? + Warm up brief.
- Introducing the principles and elements of design, composition and experimentation.
- Effective graphic design, examples and workshop.
- Typography 1. Looking at the anatomy of letterforms, and introducing Adobe Illustrator.
- Typography 2. Covering the basics of typesetting and experimenting with type within layout, with an introduction to Adobe InDesign and grid systems.
- What is Brand Identity? Presentation overview of brand identity, assets and audience + Beginning concept development for 4-week main project based on brand identity.
- Individual project research and design workshop.
- Define and Refine. Developing a logo for your brand identity using Adobe Illustrator.
- Formative Assessment and Feedback: An opportunity to review work so far in discussion with tutor, and discuss how well the work is meeting the learning outcomes.
- Promotional Item. Developing an item that promotes the brand identity. Acts as an opportunity to make use of the practical and conceptual skills gained in the past few weeks.
- Finalisation and Presentation. Individual presentations of body of work completed for the brand identity exercise (idea, logo, and promotional item).
The Learning Experience: The teaching will be based and delivered in specialist art and design studios or workshops and will typically include a range of practical exercises, introductions to techniques, processes and concepts, and set projects which lead to more focused and personal exploration. Over the course, student progress will be monitored and supported by the tutor. Teaching will include practical demonstrations, one to one tuition, group discussions and critiques.
For work required to be undertaken after the class hours are complete, the course tutor will set students a 'directed study plan' which can be undertaken without the need for specialist workshops or access to models.
Directed study will include research into a range of suggested artists and their associated movements to engender a contextual awareness. Students are expected to demonstrate how their research has informed their work through annotated sketchbooks, a visual digital journal and practical outcomes.
The Directed Study Plan will include preparing evidence of research and practical work to form an appropriate presentation for assessment.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | Unless otherwise stated, all students on this short course pay a published course fee per enrolment.
Access to appropriate IT facilities and programmes
Printing credit of £10 per student
Additional printing in excess of credit
In addition to the course fee, students are expected to provide the following list of indicate tools, materials and equipment:
A4 or A3 layout pad
Sketchbook (at least A5)
Drawing materials: pencils, pens, coloured pencils / pens with varying tip sizes, rubber, sharpener
Scissors or scalpel/craft knife
Ruler (metal or plastic, up to 30cm)
Pritt stick, tape
USB key
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Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Research, context and ideas (33.3%): Employ a range of strategies effectively for recording and developing visual communication, exploring conceptual ideas and documented in a sketchbook or visual journal, supported by contextual references.
- Practice, skills and techniques (33.3%): Demonstrate a practical knowledge to develop a personal graphic language, experimenting with type, collage and image, both on paper and through the use of digital software applications.
- Selection, presentation and reflection (33.3%): Demonstrate an appropriate judgment to select, edit and present a coherent body of exploratory studies and resolved works.
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Reading List
· KANE, J., 2002. A Type Primer. London: Laurence King Publishing.
· FLETCHER, A., 2001.The Art of Looking Sideways. London: Phaidon Press.
· McALHONE, B. and Stuart, D., 1996. A Smile in the Mind. London: Phaidon Press.
· HELLER, S., 2000. Graphic Style: Victorian to Digital. New York: Harry N. Abrams.
· GATTER, M., 2010. Production for Print. London: Laurence King Publishing.
· LUPTON, E. and Abbott Miller, J., 2006. The ABCs of the Bauhaus and Design Theory. London: Thames & Hudson.
· JARRETT, M.S 2019. Ray Gun: The Bible of Music and Style. Rizzoli International Publications, 2019
· OLIVER, V., BROOK, T., SHAUGHNESSY, A., 2020. Archive ('Materials And Fragments') Unit Editions
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Using digital imaging tools effectively.
Ability to deploy compositional devices for visual communication.
Ability to undertake research and reflective practice and apply these in the context of graphic design within visual culture.
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| Keywords | graphic design,introduction,sketchbook,sketchbook,research,journal,reflective practice,branding |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Miss Pushpi Bagchi
Tel:
Email: |
Course secretary | Ms Kameliya Skerleva
Tel: (0131 6)51 1855
Email: |
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