Graphic Form

The Graphic Form course aims to develop your understanding of principles that underlie all good graphic design, whether print-based, web or digital. The goal of this course is to equip you with a set of practical and conceptual tools for both making and communicating in the field of graphic design. As you are gradually introduced to the basics of concepts such as research, typography, color, form, composition and layout, you will learn how to become visually aware and design literate. You will be introduced to invaluable practical skills and technologies of design production, both on screen and in print. Finally you will be placing and viewing these visual and technical skills and creating your own visual language. The class is organized along the following themes: 1) Fundamentals of Image Making, Transformation and Meaning: exploring the key concepts of visual language of two-dimensional design in conjunction with image making and transformation (deconstruction, juxtaposition, signs and symbols, type and image) 2) Fundamentals of Color and Meaning: introduction to color in cultural and historical context; symbolic use of color 3) Integration of handmade and digital aesthetics: introduction to beginner's level knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite program (Illustrator and InDesign) 4) Introduction to experimental book formats: introduction to basic principles of experimental layout and binding (Zine)