Graphic Design: Posters + Promo
Pre-College Summer Institute 2016
Welcome!
Design is everywhere in our modern world — posters, publications, album covers, apparel, packaging, digital and other media utilize graphic design to convey messages to viewers. Design and popular culture have grown more intertwined through recent history, and this course aims to explore this relationship in-depth: you’ll investigate the influence of design on trending topics while mastering the technical skills involved in the discipline. In this course you'll focus on the principles and possibilities for visual communication, including graphic form, type design, layout, image treatment, and sequence using the Adobe Creative Suite. At the end of the course you'll have an understanding of graphic design's role through history and in contemporary culture, as well as an introduction to this relevant profession.
Course Objectives
At the end of this course, students will:
Have a working knowledge of Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, and a beginning knowledgeof Adobe Photoshop.
Know the basics of graphic design practice, color, typography, and the industry.
Understand the basics of communicating an idea through visual means.
Be able to critique their own work and the work of others.
Create three projects to include in their design portfolios.
Projects
"Good design is a matter of discipline. It starts by looking at the problem and collecting all the available information about it. If you understand the problem, you have the solution. It’s really more about logic than imagination."
Massimo Vignelli
Week 1
Monday, July 11
Welcome: An Introduction
DISCUSSION Intro - Who am I? What is Graphic Design? What Programs are We Using?
Warm Up Demonstration (Adobe Illustrator) Download Template
Introduction of Project 1: Event Poster Download Project 1 Description
HOMEWORK Idea generation of two events. Write 5 sentences for each. Submit Homework
Wednesday, July 13
Communication + Critique
Warm Up + Critique (Adobe Illustrator) Download Template
DISCUSSION Everything Communicates
Students share concepts and ideas: Answering who, what, where, when, why.
Students begin to sketch event poster (Sketchbook, Adobe Illustrator)
HOMEWORK Find a poster or advertisement that addresses your given audience, and write 5-10 sentences determining its success in reaching them. Save poster to flash drive. Continue designing Project 1. Submit Homework
Friday, July 15
Work Session
Warm Up + Critique (Adobe Illustrator) Download Template
Review Homework
Students work on poster design (Adobe Illustrator)
HOMEWORK Play Bezier game to learn to use Illustrator's Pen Tool. Must get to the Airplane level. Play Bezier
Week 2
Monday, July 18
Project Check-In
Warm Up + Critique (Adobe Illustrator) Download Template
Students continue working on Project 1 poster design (Adobe Illustrator)
Introduction of Project 2: Opinion Poster Download Project 2 Description
HOMEWORK Finish Project 1 design. Write 10-15 sentences stating your opinion and why. Submit Homework
Wednesday, July 20
Production + Color Theory
Warm Up + Critique (Adobe Illustrator)
Students prep and print Project 1
Students share opinions and ideas from homework: What are we trying to convey?
DISCUSSION Color Theory + Practice
Students begin to sketch opinion poster (Sketchbook, Adobe InDesign)
HOMEWORK Continue sketching Project 2 poster. Play Color game to gain comfortability with color and color relationships. Must finish game twice. Play Color
Friday, July 22
Work Session
PROJECT 1 DUE
Warm Up + Critique (Adobe Illustrator)
Students continue designing Project 2 (Adobe InDesign)
HOMEWORK Continue designing Project 2. Write 10-15 sentences explaining what your poster is conveying about technology and how your design carries this message. Submit Homework
Week 3
Monday, July 25
Project Check-In
Warm Up + Critique (Adobe InDesign)
Students continue working on Project 2 poster design (Adobe InDesign)
Introduction of Project 3: Teen Problem-Solving
HOMEWORK Identify three problems that teens face and write 10-15 sentences about each: defining the problem, who specifically faces it, and possible solutions to or relief from it. Submit Homework
Wednesday, July 27
Typography, Part 1
Warm Up + Critique (Adobe InDesign)
DISCUSSION Typography, Part 1: What is a Typeface? What Kinds of Typefaces are There?
Play I Shot the Serif to learn the differences between serif and sans serif typefaces. Play I Shot the Serif
Explanation of Project 3: Teen Problem-Solving Download Project 3 Description
Students begin working on Project 3.
HOMEWORK Begin sketching Project 3. Develop two options for a name or slogan for the campaign. Submit Homework
Friday, July 29
Work Session
PROJECT 2 DUE
Warm Up + Critique (Adobe Photoshop) Download Template
Students continue designing Project 3 (Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop) Download Initial Tools
HOMEWORK Finish any outstanding homework, and enjoy your weekend.
Week 4
Monday, August 1
Project Check-In
Warm Up + Critique (Adobe Photoshop) Download Template
Students continue designing Project 3 (Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop) Download Initial Tools
Project 2 Critique
HOMEWORK Continue designing Project 3, and finish all outstanding homework.
Wednesday, August 3
Project Finalizing
Students finish designing Project 3. Download Final Presentation
Download More Tools (Poster + Brochure)
HOMEWORK Finish all outstanding homework. Submit Homework
Friday, August 5
The End
Project Review
Graphic Design: The Industry
"Everything communicates."
Sergio Zyman
Feel free to contact me at any time by emailing chelseamajuri@gmail.com or call the Pre-College Office at The University of the Arts at 215-717-6430.
This website is for student use only. All worksheets are original to Chelsea Majuri. Some materials and templates are free online downloads and should therefore not be redistributed.