Graphic Design 2 (College/Adult)

Course Description

Students build on their graphic design experience by investigating real-world applications of communication design, with an emphasis on concept development as applied to problem solving. Through projects, students learn to employ narrative and storytelling methods and engage in design research, analysis, documentation, and implementation. Emphasis is placed on the relationship between individual creative and critical thinking skills and the designer’s role within the professional arena. Topics covered include creation of the elements of brand identity programs, such as logos, publications, advertisements, and websites. Students explore advanced techniques in the Adobe Creative Cloud. By the end of the course, students will have learned to apply design principles and visual elements effectively in a wide variety of business identity and communication problems. Prerequisite: Graphic Design I or the equivalent and experience with Adobe Creative Cloud.

NOTE: This course requires students to bring a modern computer laptop to class to complete course assignments outside of scheduled computer lab times. The New School provides all degree and credit-seeking students (enrolled in the current term) with subscriptions for the full Adobe Creative Cloud suite of applications.

Learner Outcomes

By the successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Gain a deeper understanding of design basics such as composition, figure-ground, value, texture, and text + image
• Demonstrate the ability to create different forms of graphic design from single-page image to multi-page layouts
• Explore and demonstrate a range of methods for problem-solving and developing ideas in the creative process
• Recognize the integral relationship of form and function in design
• Acquire and use vocabulary for communicating visual ideas and for critical discussion
• Explore ways of incorporating experimentation into the design process and combining various types of media with digital processes
• Acquire increased proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign
• Hone digital skills including photography, scanning, image manipulation, vector tools, typesetting, page layout and digital output
• Gain an understanding of the level of discipline and attention to detail that is required to be a graphic designer