Course Overview

Each class will be divided between a lectures/design objectives and in-class work. Some weeks will require students to complete out of classroom assignments. This course will integrate the theory of typography and design within each project by way of examples and readings. Students will be responsible for getting work printed for assignments. Readings, Quizzes, Design Projects, Design Objectives (Lectures), Presentations and Critiques, will all be part of the curriculum.

What will you learn in this course?

Upon completing this course, students will:

• Have a proficiency in a broad range of design skills pertaining to publication design, including the understanding typography, color, layout, tables, pictures, graphics, styles and interactive elements.
• Understand the difference between Vector document and Pixel document
• Working knowledge of workspace
• Basic skills using the Pen Tool
• Have the ability to build shapes and design using shape building tools and pathfinder
• Have a basic understanding of Typography and how it is used in design
• Be able to use Type and Type tools efficiently
• Understand Clipping Masks
• Understand Layers and their uses within Illustrator
• Have basic working knowledge of Styles and Effects
• Have the ability to create a well designed layout, logo, or other design materials for print or web
• Understand Exporting and Output

What will you do in class?

• Getting to Know Illustrator Introducing the Workspace
• Understanding Vector vs. Pixels
• Artboards/Pages
• Understanding bounding boxes & smart guides
• Tools, Pen Tool, Pathfinder, Shape Building
• Working with Layers
• Working with typography
• Working with Styles, Effects, Fonts, Eyedropper
• Clipping masks
• Output & Exporting, CSS

Suggested Readings + Links to other content

Software: Course will be conducted using Adobe Illustrator. Adobe CC is the version we will be using in the classroom. Adobe Acrobat will also be used to view pdf files. Students will have access to the computer labs during the course of the term.

Literature: Required Readings will be supplied by the instructor

Recommended but not Required:

“How to Design Cool Stuff” Before and After Magazine by John Wade

“Thinking with Type” Ellen Lupton

For tutorials and additional help it is recommended to visit Lynda.com or Adobe.com for video tutorials. These tutorials are free and/or low cost.

Supplies/Equipment

• Sketchbook (suggested, for notes, planning projects and idea sketching)
• USB drive with a minimum memory capacity of 2GB