Sunday, April 29, 2012

First Class Graphic Design Course Outlook

By Abby D. Guerrette


Visual art communication is the essential focus of graphic design course theory and practice. Graphic and Web designers both work in traditional media and online multimedia print for ad agencies, marketing firms and publishers to sell products and ideas with visually stunning creativity. Creating meaning and significance for branding identity is a major role in graphic design. An associate of occupational studies in graphic design is attainable in less than 24 months via traditional and online schools.

Critical subject emphasis varies at both the campus based and online colleges. Relevant coursework in graphic design includes business, psychology, advertisement, marketing, IT systems, critical thinking, art history, written composition and rhetoric for the general education units. Student portfolios will be designed and created through accepted industry recognized programs that processes images and illustrations for typography, composition and color calibration, enhancement and other methods of production.

Both Web design and graphic design students complete a lower division syllabus. The first 2 semesters are very similar in scope. General education includes college English composition, college mathematics, art history, and general psychology. Emphasis of lower division classes is to develop an awareness of life-long learning for critical CEUs to remain current in the graphic design profession. Sophomores will Upper level division classes target graphic and print design, media layout techniques, production, packaging and most importantly brand and marketing technologies. The following listing of common classes will build upon core skills that each college program deigns important for student progress: graphic design, design and composition, upper level graphic design, digital photography, logo design, packaging design, business design models, business and technical writing, print production, marketing, and brand identification. IT science skills will explore CSS, HTML, ActionScript 3 for Designers, JavaScript for Designers, Fireworks for Web graphics. Industry specific software and instructions will review InDesign, Illustrator and Dreamweaver. A complete transcript will show 75 credits - 54 in art and design, 18 in general studies. The finishing achievement of 24 month program of study will build a career opening portfolio that is peer and faculty reviewed. Accredited colleges will receive most transcript credits for 48 month programs.

Colleges, trade schools and online based programs require different sets of training materials. Online schools maintain all textbook material online and do not require actual hardcopies. Unlike traditional schools, online schools require only a computer with broadband Internet connection and industry-standard professional software suites, webcam, microphone, headset and speakers. Students at both Internet and campus-based programs required basic art supplies.

A respectable graphic design course will create new vistas to students and professionals alike.




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