Academic Catalog

GID 33: GRAPHIC DESIGN STUDIO I

Foothill College Course Outline of Record

Foothill College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Summer 2025
Units: 4
Hours: 3 lecture, 3 laboratory per week (72 total per quarter)
Advisory: Not open to students with credit in GID 50 or GRDS 53.
Degree & Credit Status: Degree-Applicable Credit Course
Foothill GE: Non-GE
Transferable: CSU/UC
Grade Type: Letter Grade (Request for Pass/No Pass)
Repeatability: Not Repeatable

Student Learning Outcomes

  • A successful student identifies elements of visual language (negative shape, balance, color, focal point, typography) in graphic design work that may include advertising, logo design, poster design, business cards and brochures.
  • A successful student will demonstrate technical and expressive fluency in industry-standard software applications.

Description

Introduction to graphic design and visual communication. Projects include composition, typography, image editing, and logo design. Design principles are explored through creative projects. Students apply fundamental graphic design skills using professional practices and industry standard software design packages to complete the graphic design activities in this course.

Course Objectives

The student will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate an understanding of basic design principles.
  2. Assess form, content, and technique when solving visual problems.
  3. Demonstrate a working knowledge of graphic design software applications.
  4. Create digital compositions for class presentation and critique.
  5. Exhibit an understanding of the disciplines of graphic design.
  6. Give presentations on topics related to graphic design.
  7. Create graphic presentations and visually communicate for a culturally-diverse global marketplace.

Course Content

  1. Design principles
    1. Form and content
    2. Composition and space
    3. Line, shape, and texture
    4. Color and value
    5. Typography
    6. Layout
  2. Thinking and communicating visually
    1. Visual literacy
    2. Visual communication
    3. Creative problem solving
    4. Visual communication inclusive of diverse cultures, affinity groups, ethnicities, and backgrounds
  3. Comprehensive layouts and production tools
    1. Vector drawing software
    2. Image editing software
    3. Graphic design hardware
  4. Conceptual problem solving
    1. Articulating the message to communicate design objectives
    2. Strategies for effective visual communication
  5. Principles of visual communication
    1. Layout, composition, and alignment
    2. Exploring solutions for achieving design awareness, mood, and dramatic emphasis
    3. Development of design styles using traditional and digital media
  6. Graphic design presentations
    1. Visually communicate design objectives and for a culturally-diverse global marketplace
    2. Verbally communicate design objectives and self-assessment of meeting design objectives
  7. Visual communication
    1. Visual communication in a global marketplace
    2. Artistic contributions by individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds

Lab Content

Comprehensive exploration of digital production tools

  1. Vector drawing software
    1. Toolbox
    2. Menu items
    3. Palettes
    4. Drawing techniques
  2. Image editing software
    1. Input techniques
    2. Toolbox
    3. Menu items
    4. Palettes
    5. Image manipulation techniques
  3. Graphic design hardware
    1. Scanners and digital input devices
    2. Electronic drawing tablets
    3. Print devices

Special Facilities and/or Equipment

1. A lecture room equipped with an instructional computer, high-resolution color monitor, projection system, scanner, print output device, software, and network connectivity. Lighting and wall space suitable for displaying and critiquing hard copy output and projected images.
2. An integrated or separate facility with student workstation configurations to include hard drives; color monitors; mice or electronic drawing tablets; keyboards; scanners; print output device, software, and network connectivity.
3. When taught via Foothill Global Access: ongoing access to computer with JavaScript-enabled internet browsing software, media plug-ins, and relevant computer graphics applications.

Method(s) of Evaluation

Methods of Evaluation may include but are not limited to the following:

Completed student projects
Full class critiques
Presented research findings
Final portfolio review

Method(s) of Instruction

Methods of Instruction may include but are not limited to the following:

Lectures on technical and conceptual concepts of graphic design
Discussion and critique of projects and representative media
Group discussions that address the creative problem solving process and technical concepts
Demonstration of graphic design techniques

Representative Text(s) and Other Materials

Dabner, David. Graphic Design School. 2023.

Types and/or Examples of Required Reading, Writing, and Outside of Class Assignments

  1. Examples of outside of class assignments:
    1. This assignment is based on real-world practice and application within a design firm and/or industry studio. As a Junior Graphic Designer at a design firm, you are tasked with creating an original and unique branding and identity logo for an outdoor recreational company using the design principles of balance and similarity.
    2. Using bold organic/geometric symbols, shapes, or objects, sketch at least eight (8) thumbnails for the logo of a fictional (not currently existing) outdoor recreational company. Do not use words, only organic/geometric symbols, shapes, or objects. Letters are okay to use.

Discipline(s)

Graphic Arts