Graphic Design Certificate

Learn the art of design in practical, hands-on courses that will prepare you for a career as a graphic designer. You'll study typography, layout and color as you learn to create powerful graphic design for print. Using the technologies the experts use, such as Illustrator, Photoshop, QuarkXpress, InDesign and Acrobat, you'll become proficient in digital imaging, publication design and prepress and color management. With a professional portfolio and valuable business skills you'll be ready for your career in graphic design.

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Modules

GID101-Introduction to Graphic Design
GID102-Typography, Layout and Color
GID103-Vector Graphics with Illustrator
GID104-Digital Imaging with Photoshop
GID105-Publication Design with QuarkXpress
GID106-Publication Design with Adobe InDesign
GID107-Prepress/Color Management
GID108-Working with Adobe Acrobat and PDF
GID109-Portfolio Presentation
GID110-Special Topic Presentations

Module Descriptions

GID101-Introduction to Graphic Design

This module provides an overview of the graphic design field. The lectures and exercises help students develop basic design skills for the print medium. Topics include history of graphic design, composition, color, type, form, the difference between vector and bitmap graphics and the digital workflow. Upon completion, students will have a foundation to build on in subsequent classes and a visual vocabulary, enabling them to describe, analyze and discuss their work and the work of others throughout their studies in the certificate program.

GID102-Typography, Layout and Color

This module builds on "Introduction to Graphic Design," helping students further refine their design skills and sensibilities. Students explore the dual role of typography as a visualization of language and a design element. Through lecture and hand-on exercises, students learn about type, readability, structuring typographic layouts with and without grids and explore typeface combinations, visual continuity, information organization, color and perception, color effects and color meaning. Exercises challenge students to experiment with various solutions to common design problems.

GID103-Vector Graphics with Illustrator

This module introduces students to vector graphics for the print medium. The exercises are based around Illustrator, the most widely-used application for creating vector graphics. The module provides students practical production skills for creating logos, charts, illustrations and diagrams. Students master the pen tool and work with anchor points, segments and compound paths. Exercises encourage exploration and discovery.

GID104-Digital Imaging with Photoshop

This module provides an in-depth exploration of Adobe Photoshop, the industry standard for digital imaging. Students work on the basics of image editing, color correction, color management, preparing files for print and exporting images. Topics include working with layers, alpha channels, paths, selections and filters. Exercises prepare students for a real-world production environment. (2 Weeks)

GID105-Publication Design with QuarkXpress

This module focuses on professional page design using the desktop publishing program QuarkXpress. Students explore properties of page layout, including typography, image placement and using drawing tools. Color management and printing are also discussed.

GID106-Publication Design with Adobe InDesign

This module focuses on professional page design using the desktop publishing program Adobe InDesign. Students explore properties of page layout, including typography, image placement and using drawing tools. Topics include using master pages, working with native Photoshop and Illustrator files, using paragraph and character styles, creating a Table of Contents and exporting to PDF. Students will have the opportunity to compare InDesign to the desktop publishing program QuarkXpress. (2 Weeks)

GID107-Prepress/Color Management

This module focuses on prepress, the language of printing. Topics include a history of presses, the cost and use of ink and paper, printing negatives and plates, working with die cuts and paper folds. Students learn how printing can affect design, including working with transparency, spot colors and understanding trapping. Issues of color calibration, color management, and working with printers are also discussed.

GID108-Working with Adobe Acrobat and PDF

This module focuses on Acrobat with an emphasis on its prepress capabilities. Topics include understanding the PDF workflow, using Preflight to identify potential problems and using Acrobat Distiller. Students also learn how to create PDFs from various sources, use Acrobat's commenting tools and explore other advanced features of the program.

GID109-Portfolio Presentation

This course offers instruction in final preparation and presentation of the individual student portfolio. Students are encouraged to incorporate elements from the entire program in their portfolios. (2 Weeks)

GID110-Special Topic Presentations

Students take a short break about once a week from their intensive, hands-on classes to learn about aesthetics, business issues and career planning in special topic presentations by local academics, professionals and entrepreneurs. These presentations help students place their new skills in context and provide perspective on how they can apply their skills after the program.
· Discussion of font design with an industry expert
· Package design with Adobe Illustrator
· InDesign and XML
· Managing long documents with QuarkXpress
· Your portfolio and marketing yourself
· Practical tips on project budgeting, scheduling and time management
· Discussion of pre-press issues with an industry expert
· Presentation software: comparing Powerpoint and PDF
· Experimentation with Photoshop filters and brushes
· How to work in a collaborative environment with other designers
· InDesign from an editor's perspective