Graphic Design Foundations: Ideas, Concepts, and Form

1h 26mBeginner2019-10-01

Authors

Sean Adams

Chair of Graphic Design at ArtCenter

Course details

Explore new sources of graphic design inspiration in this course from instructor Sean Adams on how ideas form and the ways that concepts propel the design process. Learn how symbols and metaphors are clear visual shortcuts to strong communication, both positive and negative. Discover the worlds of iconography and typography, how these are used in cultural communication, and how these can inspire your approach to design techniques. Sean also covers how humor in graphics can impact audiences, and suggests exploring non-digital media such as painting, drawing, felting, and more as an avenue to expand your graphic design skillset.

Learning objectives
Fused metaphors
Typographic concepts
Using targeted humor in design
Appropriation and sampling
Storytelling through graphics
Making connections
Exploring images and meaning
Working with multiple types of media

Skills covered

Design BusinessDrawingSmall Business and EntrepreneurshipFoundationsGraphic DesignAnimation and Illustration

Concepts

0. Introduction

01 - Ideas, concepts, and form in graphic design

1. Foundations

02 - Scenes
03 - Pointless chaos
04 - Symbols - The visual shortcut

2. Fused Metaphors

05 - Fused Metaphors - An introduction
06 - Fused metaphors - Examples
07 - Fused metaphors - How-to

3. Typographic Concepts

08 - Type as image
09 - Make the type do double duty
10 - Expressive typography
11 - When type comes to the rescue

4. Humor

12 - Why use humor
13 - Dangerous ideas
14 - Visual puns

5. Icons and Iconography

15 - What is an icon
16 - Icons as language
17 - Cultural communication

6. Multiple Images

18 - Images and meaning
19 - Telling stories
20 - Pros and cons

7. Appropriation and Sampling

21 - What is appropriation
22 - Making connections
23 - Audience and surgical precision

8. Ways of Making

24 - Working with multiple types of media

Conclusion

25 - Recap