Unit 1
Introduction to Visual Communication and Graphics
Visual language
Visual vocabulary
Visual grammar
Visual design constructs
Visual design process
Gather and understand the information
Determine what you want to communicate
Determine the most appropriate visual constructs
Test to see which construct works
Minimize visual noise by trying multiple options
Test to see which concept communicates most effectively
Produce the final visual
Graphic attributes
What are graphic attributes?
Size
Shape
Texture
Viewpoint
Depth
Dynamics
Style
The visual and communication industry
video filming and editing,
photography,
graphic design,
website design etc
Graphic Design Categories
Signs and Symbols
Typography and Layout
Illustration
Digital Imagery
Association with a certain style of art
Computer graphics
Overview of the Design Process
Introducing visual design
Understanding Image Based Design
Understanding Type Based Design
Introduction to a Digital Imaging editor software
Unit 2
Color
What is color?
Color schemes
The color wheel
Primary colors
Secondary colors
Tertiary colors
Color schemes
Complementary color schemes
Double complement color scheme
Split complement
Triadic color schemes
Alternate complement
Tetrad schemes
Analogous schemes
Schemes using hue, lightness and saturation
Achromatic color schemes
Monochromatic color schemes
Picking your scheme
Color physiology
The effects of warm and cool colors
The effect of contrast
The effect of color blindness
Color psychology
Color connotations
Align color with your communication objectives
Computer color
Bitmaps versus vectors
Anti-aliasing
GIFs, PNGs and JPEGs
GIF and JPEG in practice
Hexadecimal numbers
Tips for creating images
Using Color
Understanding Color Modes
Creating Swatches
Project: Logo creation for a European Project
Unit 3
Typography attributes
What is typography?
Typography anatomy
Type classifications
Type families
Type alignment
Type spacing
Type alignment and spacing
Type size
Type case
Additional terminology
How to use typography
Limit the number of typefaces you use
Choosing type sizes
Emphasizing individual words
Determining line length and alignment
Using contrast
How to use Web typography
Choosing Web type
Using Cascading Style Sheets
Unit 4
Contrast guideline
What is the contrast guideline?
How to use contrast
What to avoid when using contrast
Example: Page contrast
Example: Visual contrast
Example: Tool palettes
Example: Contrasting Web sites
Example: Playing with contrast
Repetition guideline
What is the repetition guideline?
How to use repetition
What to avoid when using repetition
Example: Olympic symbols
Example: Icons using repetition
Example: Icons not using repetition
Alignment guideline
What is the alignment guideline?
How to use alignment
What to avoid when using alignment
Example: Web alignment
Example: Another Web alignment
Example: Web grid system
Example: Desktop grid system
Proximity guideline
How to create proximity
Page layout proximity
Computer screen proximity
Things to avoid
Example: Good use of proximity
Example: Poor use of proximity
Guideline tradeoff
Making tradeoffs
Let’s begin with a bad design
Identify the information elements
Proximity change
Alignment change
Contrast change
Alignment change
Contrast alternatives with the logo
Project: Designing a Website layout
Unit 5
Simplified drawings
What are simplified drawings?
When to use simplified drawings
How to design simplified drawings
Callouts
Photographs
What are photographs?
When to use photographs
How to use photographs
Unit 6
Diagrams
What is a diagram?
When to use diagrams
How to use diagrams
How to design diagrams
Unit 7
Text procedures
What is a text procedure?
When to use a text procedure
Use numbered lists for procedures
Guidelines for procedures
Icons and visual symbols
What are icons and visual symbols?
When to use icons and visual symbols
How to design icons and visual symbols
Unit 8
Screen captures
What are screen captures?
When to use screen captures
How to do screen captures
Tips for screen captures