Graphic Design
Launch your career as a professional graphic designer. Master industry-standard tools and techniques to create stunning visual identities, marketing materials, and digital assets. Build a portfolio that gets you noticed and start turning your passion for design into a successful career.
Create Stunning Graphic Designs in 4 weeks
Graphic Design is all around us! Words and pictures, the building blocks of graphic design are the elements that carry the majority of the content in both the digital and printed world. As graphic design becomes more visible and prevalent in our lives, it becomes more important in our culture. Our graphic design course will teach you the fundamental principles of graphic design through visual examples. Beyond the basics, you will also learn tips and tricks to become a professional graphics designer. Who is this course designed for? This class is for those who are new to design generally or those who have basic knowledge and are willing to raise the bar on what they know already. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be expected to:
- Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the elements of graphic design.
- Understand and communicate in the language of graphic design
- Use of software such as Corel Draw/Illustrator and the Internet
- Students will learn to solve problems using critical thinking
- Approach briefs from the real-world perspective
At the end of this course you will have learned how to explore and investigate visual representation through a range of image-making techniques; have understood basic principles of working with shape, colour and pattern; have been exposed to the language and skills of typography. You will have a core set of graphic design skills that you can apply to your own projects.
Course Outline
Week 1: The Foundation – Shapes, Selection & Colour
Topic A: Setup & Workflow
- Vector vs. Raster: Understanding why logos must be vectors (maths-based) vs. pixels.
- Interface Tour: Workspaces, Artboards, Tools Panel, and Properties Panel.
- Navigation: Zooming, Panning (Hand Tool), and Outline Mode (Cmd/Ctrl + Y).
- Document Setup: CMYK (Print) vs. RGB (Screen). Setting up Bleeds for printing.
Topic B: Basic Shapes & Selection
- Shape Tools: Rectangle, Ellipse, Polygon, and Star tools.
- Selection Logic: Selection Tool (V) for moving objects vs. Direct Selection Tool (A) for moving anchor points.
- Transformation: Scaling, Rotating, and Reflecting objects precisely.
Topic C: Colour & Appearance
- Fill & Stroke: The difference between the inside colour and the outline.
- Swatches: Saving brand colours for consistency.
- Gradients: Linear, Radial, and Freeform gradients.
Week 2: The Pen Tool, Typography & Construction
Topic A: Mastering the Pen Tool
- The Logic: Anchor Points and Bezier Handles.
- Drawing Paths: Creating straight lines vs. curves.
- Editing Paths: Adding/Deleting anchor points and converting corners to curves.
Topic B: Shape Construction
- Pathfinder Panel: Unite, Minus Front, Intersect. The “Old School” way.
- Shape Builder Tool: The modern, faster way to merge and subtract overlapping shapes.
- Clipping Masks: Placing a photo or pattern inside a shape or text.
Topic C: Typography
- Character Panel: Choosing fonts, Kerning (space between two letters), and Tracking (space between all letters).
- Type on a Path: Making text curve around a circle (e.g., for badge logos).
- Outlining Text: Converting text into editable vector shapes for logo design.
Week 3: Advanced Tools, Effects & Layout
Topic A: Effects & Depth
- Appearance Panel: Adding multiple strokes and fills to a single object.
- Vector Effects: Drop Shadows, Inner Glow, and Grain (Texture).
- Image Trace: Converting a hand-drawn sketch (Raster) into editable Vector paths automatically.
Topic B: Precision & Layout
- Alignment: Align to Selection vs. Align to Artboard. Distributing objects evenly.
- Grid & Guides: Using Rulers and Smart Guides to ensure perfect symmetry.
- Layers: Organising complex illustrations (Background, Mid-ground, Foreground).
Topic C: Modern Design Tools
- Recolour Artwork: Using AI within Illustrator to instantly swap colour palettes.
- Blend Tool: Creating smooth colour transitions or abstract line patterns.
Week 4: AI Workflow, Branding & Final Sprint
Topic A: Innovative AI Workflow (Using Gemini)
- The AI Creative Director: Using Gemini to brainstorm metaphors for logos.
- Prompt Example: “Give me 5 visual metaphors for a ‘Speedy Coffee Delivery Service’ that do not use a coffee cup or a car.”
- Colour Theory: Asking Gemini for hex codes based on emotions.
- Prompt Example: “Generate a 4-colour palette (with Hex codes) for a luxury organic spa. The mood should be ‘Calm, Earthy, and Premium’.”
- Copywriting: Generating catchy headlines for flyers or body text for brochures.
Topic B: Final Polish & Exporting
- Pre-Flight Check: Checking for spelling errors and missing fonts.
- Export for Screen: Saving as PNG (Transparent background) and SVG (Scalable for web).
- Export for Print: Saving as PDF with Bleeds and Crop Marks.
Project Sprint & Course Finale
- Dedicated Studio Time: Students work on their selected projects.
- [Live Event] The Design Critique: Instructor reviews work-in-progress via Zoom/Discord to check composition and hierarchy.
- Portfolio Review: One-on-one critique of the student’s Behance or PDF portfolio.
- Career Advice: Understanding copyright, sending invoices, and handling client revisions.
- Freelance Platforms: Setting up a profile on Upwork/Fiverr or selling templates on Etsy.
