Graphic Design Fundamentals: Getting Started

 

Graphic Design Fundamentals: Getting Started

 

Lesson Info

The Graphic Designers Tools: Typography

Typography is about words and letters and text. And designers need to know sort of how letter forms are constructed and what their parts are. And what kinds of variations there are. And when some are lighter or bolder, how their weight changes, or some are wider, more extended or more condensed, that there are different styles, and how you might choose combinations. We have to be able to look at combinations for their visual qualities as well as what kinds of readings or interpretations we get just from the style, the quality of the drawing of the typed form. And we also have to be concerned not just with the visual, but with the verbal aspect of it because type is there to read. And there are aspects of it, how the letters are spaced within words, the space between words, the space between lines of text. How many characters fit on a line within a column of text. That either contribute to a more comfortable and engaging reading experience, or a very tiring and confusing reading experie...

nce. We have to look at type from a compositional standpoint and kind of merge the decision making that we're doing between the visual, how we affect the optical display of the text and its result on what we understand among the different parts of that text, how that text is arranged, what parts of it are important, that is the hierarchy.

Class Description


You don’t need to be a trained pro to make great designs. In this class, Timothy Samara will explain the fundamentals of graphic design and help you get started. You’ll learn about:

The skills essential for graphic design
Which tools designers use
How to manage the creative process

Timothy will demonstrate a design project from start to finish and provide a thorough introduction to the design principles professionals rely on everyday. You’ll learn the basics of:

  • Space and form
  • Color theory
  • Typography
  • Layout and composition

You’ll see how these theories apply to real-world projects and how they impact the overall design.

Whether you want to design a poster, flyer, or logo – this class will give you the insights you need to design with confidence.

Lessons

1Introduction to Graphic Design
2Graphic Design: Areas of Specialization
3The History of Graphic Design
4The Designer's Toolkit
5The Graphic Designer's Tools: Color
6The Graphic Designers Tools: Typography
7The Graphic Designer's Tools: Layout & Space
8Typical Work Processes
9Designing an Advertisment
10Designing a Poster
11Designing a Book Layout: Basic Concepts
12Designing a Book Layout: The Details
13Designing a Website
14How to Design a Brand Identity: Preperation
15How to Design Brand Identity: Showing the Client
16Building Brand Language
17Designing the Touchpoints
18Fundamentals are Forever