What is graphic design?
Imagine a world with blank CD covers and labels, all grocery items packaged in blank boxes or bags, no poster or t-shirt designs, all business and restaurant signs looking like street signs and all web sites looking the same. This is a world without graphic design. How would people find the information, product, service, organization and/or business they were looking for? Visual communications in a world full of so many items and choices is a very important field.
Graphic design is a big part of the growing visual communications industry. Designers use words (type), images (photographs), drawings (graphics) and composition (layout) to communicate a message to you and to others (the audience). It can be defined as an art form, the application of art and communication skills to the needs of business and industry.
Graphic design is problem solving. The problem is how to communicate a specific message to a specific audience within given limitations. The designer works through the design process. Steps of the design process include the following:
• identify the problem, understand the goal
• research the topic, audience, and competitors
• generate ideas through brainstorming and sketching thumbnails
• refine the ideas produced, revisit the design problem and analyze them
• select the best ideas and draw larger and more defined roughs
• again analyze the ideas and decide on one solution
• make the comprehensive -— the solution to the design problem
Why learn to design? Students that actively engage in design are better disciplined, more confident, and have the ability to apply academics skills. Graphic design develops the ability to be imaginative, to make judgments in the absence of a rule, to think metaphorically, and to devise multiple solutions to a problem.
Characteristics of Successful Graphic Designers
• creative, imaginative and intuitive
• conceptual thinker with the ability to visualize
• good listener with ability to comprehend and understand the information needs from and needs of many people
• able to use deductive reasoning to assess problems and create solutions
• ability to match or detect differences between colors, textures and letter shapes
• enjoys working with high-tech tools and software
• works with other to solve a common problem
a Phoenix graphic designer
Fervor Creative
Samples of Entry-Level Job Positions
Multimedia Artist Web Site Designer Graphic Artist
Digital Illustrator Digital Media Specialist Production Artist
Advertising Artist Marketing Specialist Desktop Publisher
Star Tech Professional Center
Visual Communications
Graphic Design Program
Graphic Design 1-2 a prerequisite for Graphic Design 3-4
In an introductory level this course teaches students the fundamentals of graphic design and gives them hands-on experience with industry relevant technology to prepare them for the careers in the fun, creative and growing visual communication industry. Students learn to create effective designs that communicate visually. The combination of visual art and technical concepts help students develop skills in critical thinking, logic, communication and problem solving.
Graphic Design 3-4 prerequisite: Graphic Design 1-2
If you have a strong creative sense and enjoy using the computer you might be suited for a career in graphic design. Designers work on everything from illustrations, tag lines, photographs and advertising layouts to animation and multimedia production. This project-based program teaches the fundamentals of visual communication and gives students hands-on experience with industry relevant technology to prepare them for post-high school experience in this fun and creative career.
The program prepares graduates for careers as graphic designers, production artists, web site designers, and multimedia designers within a diverse industry. Students learn to create effective designs that communicate visually in both print and electronic environments. The combination of technical and visual arts concepts help students develop skills in critical thinking, logic, communication, and problem solving. A final portfolio communicates the graduate’s design and industry standard software skills. Dual credit for such courses as graphic design, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe Illustrator is available for those interested. Students have earned six community college credits in this course and the graphic design portfolio has opened opportunities for graduates.
Graphic Design 5-6 TIV Design prerequisite: Graphic Design 3-4
Advanced graphic design students who registered in 2003-2004 as independent study students to further investigate and experience graphic design as a career formed a graphic design firm to design for clients. Timeless, Innovative, and Versatile Design is the registered business name. TIV designers improve skills in industry standard software designing and producing print and electronic products for clients with real needs. Products for the electronic environment include animation and web site design. A TIV Design portfolio includes printed products and CDs.
Graphic Design
Arizona Career and Technical Education Competencies
Visual Communications – Option B
APPLIED ACADEMICS
4.0 DEMONSTRATE ORAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS
5.0 DEMONSTRATE WRITTEN COMMUNICATION SKILLS
14.0 APPLY MATHEMATICAL CONCEPTS TO PROBLEMS IN GRAPHIC COMMUNICATIONS
GRAHIC DESIGN SKILLS • Higher Order Thinking Skills • Problem Solving Skills
10.0 USE PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS SKILLS OF THE GRAPHIC COMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRIES
education and training and markets and types of businesses in graphic communications
industry terms and vocabulary in appropriate context
works of respected designers and photographers
art and design critique
professional practices and customer relations
professional portfolio
11.0 PRACTICE LEGAL AND ETHICAL BEHAVIOR IN GRAPHIC COMMUNICATIONS
ethical conduct, copyright law, stock photography and royalty free, proprietary information
12.0 PRACTICE SAFETY RULES AND PROCEDURES
follow approved dress code, OSHA regulations, and right-to-know law
15.0 APPLY PRINCIPLES OF JOB PLANNING AND LAYOUT TO CUSTOMER SPECIFICATIONS
design problem = client’s needs
brainstorm effectively
revisit the problem/goal
critique and revise
sketch thumbnails and draw roughs
analyze and evaluate ideas
meet the client’s design needs
17.B APPLY BASIC DESIGN SKILLS IN COMMERCIAL ART
principles and elements, color theory, appropriate style, layout
visual hierarchy
combination of visual and type elements
visual identity • corporate identity
TECHINICAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
13.0 MANAGE BASIC COMPUTER CONCEPTS, OPERATIONS, AND APPLICATIONS
output/ publishing equipment – printers, CDs and web sites
operating system, network and server
industry-accepted software
digital or print output
19.B USE COMPUTER PERIPHERALS
scanners, digital cameras, printers and CD burner
16.0 DEMONSTRATE DIGITAL IMAGE PREPARATION
Adobe PHOTOSHOP - pixel
digital imaging application
18.B DRAW AND ILLUSTRATE
Adobe ILLUSTRATOR - vector
digital drawing application
20.B CREATE COMPUTER GRAPHICS
ILLUSTRATOR and/or QUARKXPRESS and/or PHOTOSHOP
FLASH and DREAMWEAVER
print and electronic graphics
22.B APPLY FUNDAMENTAL GRAPHIC PRODUCTION SKILLS
QUARKXPRESS
typography and multiple pages, formats application
CAREER SKILLS and PLAN
1.0 DEVELOP AN INDIVIDUAL CAREER PLAN
career options, goals and job satisfaction and success
2.0 PREPARE FOR EMPLOYMENT
resume and interviewing skills
3.0 PARTICIPATE IN WORK-BASED LEARNING EXPERIENCES
adapt to changes in the workplace
use technology appropriate for the job
participate in a variety of work-based experiences, paid or non-paid job
8.0 EVALUATE LEADERSHIP STYLES APPROPRIATE FOR THE WORKPLACE
determine personal characteristics of effective leaders
compare/contrast leadership and management styles
8.0 EVALUATE LEADERSHIP STYLES APPROPRIATE FOR THE WORKPLACE
Determine personal characteristics of effective leaders
Compare/contrast leadership and management styles
