Design Basics 101 (Graphic Design)

• In this course, you will learn to:
• Identify and summarize key milestones in the historical evolution of graphic design.
• Discuss the significance of graphic design in digital and print media.
• Classify design principles and compare their applications in various contexts.
• Examine case studies to differentiate effective and ineffective use of design principles.
• Describe the fundamentals of typography and categorize different typefaces based on their characteristics.
• Demonstrate the process of typesetting and evaluate its impact on readability and legibility.
• Identify common typesetting mistakes and suggest corrective measures.
• Predict future trends in typography based on current innovations.
• Differentiate between various forms of calligraphy and their appropriate applications.
• Organize shapes and colors to create visually compelling compositions.
• Estimate the psychological impact of colors and apply this knowledge to design projects.
• Reorganize a given design to enhance its composition using advanced techniques and principles.
• Operate key tools in Adobe Illustrator to create, modify, and optimize graphic designs.
• Demonstrate the ability to create typographic designs that communicate effectively.
• Summarize the processes involved in designing graphics, applying filters, and exporting files for different mediums.
• Predict how changes in tool settings can alter the outcome of a design project.
• Report on the execution of a design project from conceptualization to completion, highlighting key decisions and their rationales.
• Interpret fundamental principles and applications to establish a strong foundation in graphic design
• Illustrate mastery of essential tools and features in the design process
• Organize and manage design elements efficiently to enhance workflow
• Summarize key concepts and procedures in creating, editing, and finalizing graphic design projects
• Identify various techniques for image editing, text formatting, and object management to develop a flexible skill set
• Explain integrating text, graphics, and images in layouts for cohesive compositions
• Compare methods of object transformation to apply the most effective techniques
• Report on the application of design principles through case studies and assignments
• Identify and solve common design issues with advanced features
• Demonstrate proficiency in executing design projects from concept to completion using best practices
• Operate confidently to execute various design tasks from basic to complex
• Differentiate design elements using advanced tools to enhance visual communication
• Examine and critique graphic design works to identify strengths and areas for improvement
• Differentiate between design techniques and workflows for effective strategies
• Distinguish specific uses of tools to leverage strengths in the design process

• Interpret and restate key milestones in the historical evolution of graphic design to gain a deeper understanding of the field’s progression.
• Illustrate the significance of graphic design in various digital and print media through detailed examples and case studies.
• Compare and contrast different design principles and their applications across multiple contexts to illustrate their versatility and importance.
• Critique case studies to distinguish between effective and ineffective design strategies, thereby enhancing analytical skills in graphic design evaluation.
• Appraise and categorize different typefaces based on their characteristics, demonstrating a nuanced understanding of typography.
• Transform a basic typesetting process into an optimized one by evaluating its impact on readability and legibility, thereby enhancing communication effectiveness.
• Diagnose common typesetting errors and propose corrective measures to improve overall design quality.
• Predict and argue the future trends in typography with justifications based on current innovations and industry insights.
• Differentiate and illustrate various forms of calligraphy, applying them appropriately in diverse design contexts.
• Construct and arrange shapes and colors to create visually compelling compositions that demonstrate advanced design skills.
• Estimate the psychological impact of colors in design and utilize this knowledge to make informed design decisions.
• Modify and reorganize a given design to optimize its composition, employing advanced design techniques and principles.
• Utilize key tools in Adobe Illustrator proficiently to create, modify, and enhance graphic designs, demonstrating technical competency.
• Produce typographic designs that effectively communicate intended messages, showcasing the ability to blend visual art with functionality.
• Review and summarize the comprehensive processes involved in graphic design, from conceptualization to execution, emphasizing the importance of each stage.
• Predict and assess the implications of altering tool settings in Adobe Illustrator, facilitating more controlled and intentional design outcomes.
• Report and defend the execution process of a design project from start to finish, clarifying the rationale behind key decisions and their impact on the final product.
• Interpret core principles for effective graphic design
• Illustrate mastery in using essential tools and features
• Appraise design elements to improve workflow skills
• Explain key concepts in project creation and completion
• Formulate techniques for image editing, text formatting, and object management
• Explain blending text, graphics, and images for cohesive designs
• Compare methods of object transformation to find the best solutions
• Summarize and suggest improvements from real projects and studies
• Identify and solve design issues with advanced features
• Demonstrate competence in managing projects with best practices
• Utilize skills for diverse editing and composition tasks
• Modify and boost design elements for better communication
• Examine graphic works to highlight improvements
• Differentiate between techniques for effective application
• Prepare different design solutions for optimal outcomes

The academic approach of the course focuses on ‘work-centric’ education. With this hands-on approach, derive knowledge from and while working to make it more wholesome, delightful and useful. The ultimate objective is to empower learners to also engage in socially useful and productive work. It aims at bringing learners closer to their rewarding careers as well as to the development of the community.

• Step 1: Learners are given an overview of the course and its connection to life and work
• Step 2: Learners are exposed to the specific tool(s) used in the course through the various real-life applications of the tool(s).
• Step 3: Learners are acquainted with the careers and the hierarchy of roles they can perform at workplaces after attaining increasing levels of mastery over the tool(s).
• Step 4: Learners are acquainted with the architecture of the tool or tool map so as to appreciate various parts of the tool, their functions, utility and inter-relations.
• Step 5: Learners are exposed to simple application development methodology by using the tool at the beginner’s level.
• Step 6: Learners perform the differential skills related to the use of the tool to improve the given ready-made industry-standard outputs.
• Step 7: Learners are engaged in appreciation of real-life case studies developed by the experts.
• Step 8: Learners are encouraged to proceed from appreciation to imitation of the experts.
• Step 9: After the imitation experience, they are required to improve the expert’s outputs so that they proceed from mere imitation to emulation.
• Step 10: Emulation is taken a level further from working with differential skills towards the visualization and creation of a complete output according to the requirements provided. (Long Assignments)
• Step 11: Understanding the requirements, communicating one’s own thoughts and presenting are important skills required in facing an interview for securing a work order/job. For instilling these skills, learners are presented with various subject-specific technical as well as HR-oriented questions and encouraged to answer them.
• Step 12: Finally, they develop the integral skills involving optimal methods and best practices to produce useful outputs right from scratch, publish them in their ePortfolio and thereby proceed from emulation to self-expression, from self-expression to self-confidence and from self-confidence to self-reliance and self-esteem!