Lesson Structure

There are 10 lessons in this course:

1. Scope and Nature of Graphic Design
   • Scope of Graphic Design
   • Where Do Designers Work?
   • Careers in Graphic Design
   • Skills Required
   • General Roles of a Graphic Designer
   • Nature of the Work
   • Art Director
   • Graphic Designer
   • Brief History of Graphic Design
   • The Language (Graphics Terminology)
   • Application Software
   • Examples of Software
2. Design Fundamentals - line, tone, colour, etc.
   • Design Elements
   • Design Criteria
   • Theories of Composition
   • Practical Devices of Composition
   • Gestalt Principles of Perception
   • Choosing Images
   • Choosing Computer Formats
3. Colour Theory and Applications
   • Colour Formats
   • Hex Colours
   • The Difference between Coloured and White Light
   • Differences in Colour
   • The Meaning of Colours - Emotional Response
4. Typography
   • How Much of an Impact?
   • Typography (Lettering) Size
   • Typography Weight
   • Typography Colour
   • Typography Location
   • Typography Styles
   • Choosing Fonts
5. Illustration - methods & techniques
   • Traditional Illustration
   • Illustration Today
   • Illustration - Methods & Techniques
   • Processing Images
   • Tonal Zone System
   • Sketching an Initial Design
   • Digital Illustration
   • Raster Graphics
   • Vector Graphics
6. Logotype Design
   • What Is a Logo?
   • Creating Logos
   • Designing Business Cards
   • Designing Letterheads
   • Designing Banners
7. Layout Design
   • Getting the Message Across
   • Effective Organisation
   • Attract Attention
   • General Guidelines
   • Key Elements & Principles of Layout
   • The Design Process
   • What Software Does a Graphic Artist Use?
8. Design Systems and the Design Industry - design briefs, how to bid for jobs, etc.
   • Significant Design Sectors
   • Primary Design Areas
   • Scope and Nature of the Graphic Design Industry Today
   • Design Systems
   • Designing to Persuade
   • Design to Inform
   • Design to Educate
   • Design to Entertain
   • What Is a Design Brief?
   • Example Layout of a Design Brief
   • Web Page Design
9. Comparative Design - lessons from other designers (lots of research)
   • Important People in The History of Graphic Design
10. Design Project - a practical project applying everything prior to this.
    • Important People in the History of Graphic Design
    • What Is PBL?
    • Problem Definition
    • People you work with and Mode of Interaction

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

What Are the Advantages of Studying with ACS Distance Education?

• You can start at any time to suit you.
• The courses are self-paced.
• You can study when and where suits you. They are flexible to fit in around you and your lifestyle.
• Keep up to date on your learning.
• Update your CV.
• It is not just a course, it is a package of learning that includes – course notes, tutor feedback, self-assessment tests, research tasks and assignments.
• Our tutors are all experts in their field, with years of experience in their field.
• They are also keen and enthusiastic about their subject and enjoy working with students to improve their knowledge and skills.
• Courses are also updated regularly to meet the demands of the changing needs for knowledge and to keep our courses up to date.

What Next?

This course aims to expand your understanding of graphic design and build practical skills that develops your capacity to work to a design brief, as you are likely to encounter in industry. 

A design brief is a written document which sets out the client's design needs. Sometimes a client will present a design brief to the designer at the outset. In other cases the client and designer may work together to write the brief. If a client approaches a designer without a brief, it can be beneficial for the designer to have a template of questions they can work through with the client to establish a brief. Typically, the focus of the brief is on the outcome of the project i.e. what the client wants. It is not usually concerned with the aesthetics of the design. They are almost exclusively used when an independent designer or design business undertakes work on behalf of an external client and are rarely used for work in-house.

A design brief is very useful because it ensures that the client has a clear idea about what they want from the project and serves as a reference for designers working on the project.  The brief is beneficial to the client because once they have established what they want, the designers will spend less time trying out different ideas and more time delivering to meet the client's needs. 

Working as a graphic designer involves more than art - it requires time management, communication skills, and technical expertise. This course will provide a great foundation to help you express your client’s visions.

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