Graphic Design Syllabus
What is Graphic Design?
Graphic Design can be found in almost every aspect of our our modern world. Graphic Design is consists of the brands we love, the products we buy, the books and magazines we read, the fashion we wear, the websites we visit, the apps we use, the road signs that guide us, and the art we enjoy. Design plays a central role in our culture, our society and entertainment.
Your Learning Goal
To develop technical and creative skills in computer graphics in order become an effective designer and communicator. You will also explore career paths and learn about the many opportunities to work or freelance in the graphic design industry.
How to achieve the learning goal?
You will reach your goal by creating projects using advanced graphic design software and iMac computers. You will learn about the principles of design and the creative process. You will create logos, brands, book covers, magazine covers, websites, product packaging and advertisements. You will also learn to analyze the work of professional designers in order to apply their craft to your own productions.
Why is this important?
Graphic Design is a lucrative and fulfilling career opportunity. Entire industries are built around technology, design and the creative process. Great designers who can communicate effectively through technology enjoy a distinct advantage in the work place and in our society.
This class is designed to teach you essential design skills and how to use professional tools to create impactful artwork, develop your creativity and communicate effectively through visual. Even if you do not end up pursuing a career in graphic design, these concepts are still incredibly important. Understanding design and the creative process will make you see your world with new eyes and enrich your life in profound ways.
Weekly Breakdown
1st Quarter:
2nd Quarter:
Week 1
Equipment & Resources
Class Expectations & Norms Contract
Why Graphic Design?
iMac Basics
Chrome, Drive, Google Classroom & Canva
Week 1
Welcome Back & Tech Review
Class Norms Review
The Role of Design in Culture
Design Review Cover
Emphasis, Repetition & Symmetry
Color Theory
Layers & Composition
Typography
Week 2
History Timeline & Career Research |
The history of Art and Graphic design
History Timeline & Career Research
Canva Basics & Design Best Practices
Week 2
The Creative Process: Logo Design
What is Branding?
Creating your company
Typography for Brands & Rules for logos
Branding Project
Week 3
Points Lines & Planes, Alignment & Proximity
Perspective in Illustrator
Alignment & Proximity Exercise & Project
Architectural Drawing in Illustrator
Week 3
3D Modeling Basics
2D vs 3D design
Stting up the program
Basic Shapes and Orientation
The interface of blender
Extrussions
Car
Week 4
Emphasis, Contrast, Balance & Symmetry
Emphasis & Contrast Exercise & Project
Balance & Symmetry Exercise
Symmetric art in Canva and Illustrator
Radial Symmetry in Canva and Illustrator
Week 4
3D Modeling Intermediate
Extrusions
Lights
Rendering
Chess board
Week 5
Repetition & Pattern
The form and function of Repetion
Repetition in nature & Culture
Pattern art in Canva and Illustrator
Pattern Poster
Week 5
Product Development - Camera or VR Headset
The Creative Design Process: Define and Research
Brainstorm and Prototype
First Design and Refinement Cycle
Product Packaging in Photoshop
Week 6
Color Theory
Hue, Saturation & Value
The hexadecimal color wheel
Creating the perfect color palette
Color Palette Art in Illustrator
Week 6
Product Advertisement & Marketing
Rhetoric: Ehtos, Pathos & Logos
Creating Ethos Ads
Creating Pathos Ads
Creating Logos Ads
Week 7
Typography
Categories of Type
Adjectives project
Type definitions
Fontbot & Custom font
Week 7
Magazine & Book Layout
What is Layout?
Magazine Layout Design
Book Cover Design Basics
Book Mockup in Photoshop
Week 8
Layers, Composition & Visual Metaphors
Basics of Photohsop: Isolating subjects
Surrealist Collage
Masking
Distortion & Modularity
Week 8
Freelance Business Basics
How to start a freelance business?
Quotes, Contracts & Invoices
Freelance Workflow
Your Business Plan & Brand Kit
Week 9
Art Recreation & Portfolio Final
Art Recreation Final
Class Reflection
Final Portfolio Preparation
Week 9
Client Design Challenge
How to interact with clients?
Choosing your design challenge
Freelance Workflow in practice
Client Design Challenge Project
Week 10
Design Portfolio Final
Why is a Portfolio important?
Collecting, organizing & Formatting your work
Class Reflection letter
Final Design Portfolio
Class Resources:
You will be taking this class in the Trailivision production studio. This is is an amazing space full of advanced production equipment and computers. You will be assigned your own iMac desktop each quarter to complete your projects.
The software you will use and in this course includes the Adobe Creative Suite, focusing specifically on Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop as well as an online graphic app called Canva. You will also use other online applications including Google Drive and Google Classroom.
Required Materials:
Pen or pencil every single day
Notebook for notes, storyboards and sketches. It can be an art sketchbook, a composition notebook, or even just blank pages stapled together. Minimum size is 5.5 by 8.5 inches
Grading Policy:
Projects will be turned in every Friday via google classroom and they will be graded over the weekend.
Late projects are accepted. However, if a project is turned in late, you lose the ability to resubmit for revisions to improve your grade.
There is a final deadline for any late project a week before the end of the term. No late work will be accepted after that date.
Plagiarized or copied work will receive an automatic 0.
Each major project has a rubric that explains the grading. Please review the rubric carefully before starting AND before submitting your project so you understand the grading criteria.
We have a number of Quizzes during each term. Quizzes are taken each Friday and the same quiz is taken again early the following week. You get to keep the highest of your two grades.
Projects & Grade Breakdown:
This class is a Project-Based Course. Most of the projects have multiple components and each part must be completed in order to receive a grade. The grades in this class break down as follows:
60% - Design Projects
30% - Other Assignments, Guides and Reports
10% - Quizzes
Norms & Expectations
This class follows a set of common sense norms in order to create a respectful, positive and nurturing learning environment for all students. The classroom norms outline the expected day to day behaviors and practices for everyone in the classroom. The Content and digital norms focus on the expectations in relation to the technology we use and the content we create as part of this class. Please visit the links below a detaled look at the norms and expectations.
Who is your Instructor
Mr. Sarabia is the C.T.E. Digital Media Arts instructor at Monterey Trail High School. With over 18 years of experience as an educator, Mr. Sarabia is dedicated to help students develop a passion for film, animation, music production, and graphic design. His classes nurture creativity, curiosity and problem solving. In addition to being a teacher, Mr. Sarabia is also an independent multimedia creator, graphic artist, photographer, musician and writer.