1 DEKLAUSES STUDIOs MOILE GARPOHICS MASTERCLASS

INTRODUCTION TO GRAPHICS
COURSEOUTLINE:

1. INTRODUCTION TO GRAPHICS DESIGN

2. TYPOOGRAPHY & COLOR THEORY
3. APP REVIEW
4. FLYER CREATION
5. SHAPES & CURVES
6. LOGO CREATION
7. SUMMARY.

INTRODUCTION TO GRAPHIC DESIGN

1.1 WHAT IS GRAPHIC DESINING?

Graphic design is simply defined as “the art and practice of planning and
projecting ideas and experiences with visual and textual content.” In other terms,
graphic design is primarily an element used to communicate certain ideas or
messages in a visual way. These visuals can be as simple as a information
(infography) business logo, or as complex as page layouts on a website.

Graphic design can be used by companies to promote and sell products through
advertising, by websites to convey complicated information in a digestible way
through infographics, or by businesses to develop an identity through branding,
among other things.

We experience graphics designs in our day to day activities, these can be found in
every magazine corner, exit sign, textbook, lies a set of design ideas that influence
our perceptions.

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1.2 BASIC ELEMENTS OF GRAPHIC DESIGN

To better understand the meaning of graphic design, it is important to be aware

of the elements and principles that make up design. Elements are used in
conjunction or opposition with each other to create visually striking and impactful
designs.

These graphic design elements include:

 Color

 Form

 Line

 Shape

 Size

 Space

 Texture
1.3 APPLICATIONS OF GRAPHIC DESIGN

 Graphic design is composed of many aspects and specializations, ranging from

print and web design to animation and motion graphics. Graphic design offers
opportunities and options for individuals of almost any interest.

Modern Graphic design ca e see I different areas such as:

 Website design involves creating engaging and intuitive web pages for

users. This includes overall layout, color scheme and navigation.

 User experience (UX) design is focused on ensuring a website or

application is easy and satisfying to use. These designers emphasize value,
usability, adoptability and desirability.

 Motion graphics design—or animation—brings visual elements to life

through special effects, TV shows, video games and movies.

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1.4 WHO CAN BECOME A GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Actually anyone can choose to find a career in graphic designing, whether male or
female. But there are few criteria to consider if you choose to have a career in
graphic designing.

If you’re considering a career in graphic design, ask yourself …

1. Am I versatile?
“I fit into all roles. I am the sales. I am the administration. I am the accounting,
the quality assurance and I am the designer,” says Deklauses, a freelance
graphic designer.

If you decide to start up your own business as a designer, as many people do, you
will have both the challenge and the opportunity to take on many roles at the
same time.

Even if you choose to join a company instead of starting your own, you will most
likely be working on projects for diverse clients simultaneously. You will be
juggling multiple projects and various customer preferences. Your mind will need
to be able to focus on generating a formal graphic for a fancy restaurant menu
one day and creating an eye-catching brand for the latest microbrewery during
the next.

2. Do I embrace change?

Graphic designers should expect change and avoid complacency.

Always remember there is a learning curve that doesn’t ever stop once you starts
designing. You master one concept only to discover something new to learn.

The exponentially growing and transforming world of technology has an

enormous impact on graphic designers. Are you excited to learn about the latest
features in design software? Will you make time to learn about a new technique
that will make managing your workload more efficient? If you resist change, you
can put yourself at a competitive disadvantage and hurt your bottom line.

3. Am I patient?

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As much as designers would love it, a simple project where the designer is given
frees reign and the client loves their work with zero revisions just isn’t that
common. You’ll have to spend time dealing with difficult-to-interpret
feedback and clients whose priorities may shift mid-project.

While there are ways to keep things running smoothly between you and your
clients, you will still need to be patient as a designer. Every client and project is
different, and they all can end up requiring multiple revisions and changes before
everyone is satisfied.

4. Am I a team player?

Its true graphic designers spend a good amount of their time working alone as
they produce new materials, but production time is only a portion of the job. The
rest of their work relies on strong interpersonal skills.

It’s import to be able to negotiate ideas and concepts with a client while at the
same time being able to contribute to the success of the company that employs
you.

At any given point in your career, you could find yourself collaborating with
various developers, working with another designer on a project or asked to lead a
group of fellow designers. This means graphic designers need to balance the
desires of their clients and coworkers while asserting their own professional
opinion on how a project would be most visually appealing. This can be
challenging—design is a subjective field and opinions are just that, opinions. You’ll
need a bit of diplomatic tact and a willingness to listen, even if you disagree.

5. Can I handle a little criticism?

“The biggest challenge is learning to take criticism,” Susannah Kabuiku, Senior

Digital Designer at Selesti says. “A designer ultimately needs to respect the
client’s wishes and reach a compromise on issues that arise. When you take pride
in your work, this can be hard to swallow.”

As a graphic designer, your ideas and designs will always be out there for others
to see—and with that comes criticism. This can be both good and bad. Quality,
thoughtful criticism can lead to professional growth if you’re willing to accept it.

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The key is the ability to take criticism in stride. Every designer takes their lumps;
the best take something positive away from when they fail.

6. Am I a problem solver?

The most rewarding aspect of being a graphic designer is being able to design a
solution to a problem “A client comes to you with a request: They need a business
card, a logo, any number of things. You have to come up with a solution.”

Each project you encounter as a graphic designer is a chance to solve a problem

for a customer. Some requests will inevitably be more challenging than others. If
you have a mindset that perceives problems as exciting opportunities, you will
probably be successful in meeting your client’s requirements even if it takes many
attempts and edits.

1.5 POSSIBLE CAREERS IN GRAPHIC DESIGN

With technological advancements introducing new types of graphic design, there

has also been an emergence of new graphic design jobs. This evolution has
changed the entire landscape of careers in this field.

Demand for “traditional” graphic designers who work primarily for print
publishers has fallen substantially, but that doesn’t tell the whole story.
Employment of graphic designers in computer systems design services is
projected to grow by 24 percent through 2028, according to the Bureau of Labor
Statistics (BLS).1 Much of this demand is spurred by business’ and organizations’
increased need for digital graphics and imagery as they aim to increase their
digital presence.

So with that said, most common career in graphic design includes:

 Graphic designer

 User experience (UX) designer

 Web designer

 Art director

 Creative director

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 Production artist
 Product developer
 Art director
 Marketing specialist
 Multimedia artist or animator
 Freelancer.

10 CORE PRICIPLES OF GRAPHIC DESIGN

Graphic design plays a critical role in brand-building, Although branding and

design are an inseparable experience, it’s important to understand the
fundamentals of graphic design before embarking on any new assignment.

Below are the ten basic design principles that will help you create stunning
graphics.

01. Balance

Balance lends stability and structure to an overall design. To understand it better,

think that there’s weight behind each of your design elements. Shapes, text boxes
and images are the elements that form your design, so it’s important to be
familiar with the visual weight each of those elements possesses. Now, this
doesn’t mean that the elements always need to be distributed evenly or that they
must be of an equal size — balance is either symmetrical or asymmetrical.
Symmetrical balance is when the weight of elements is evenly divided on either
side of the design, whereas asymmetrical balance uses scale, contrast, and colour
to achieve the flow in design.

02. Proximity

Proximity helps in creating a relationship between similar or related elements.

These elements need not be grouped, instead, they should be visually connected
by way of font, colour, size, etc.

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03. Alignment

Alignment plays a pivotal role in creating a seamless visual connection with the
design elements. It gives an ordered appearance to images, shapes, and blocks of
texts by eliminating elements placed in a dishevelled manner.

04. Visual Hierarchy

In simple words, a hierarchy is formed when extra visual weight is given to the
most important element or message in your design. It can be achieved in various
ways — using larger or bolder fonts to highlight the title; placing the key message
higher than the other design elements; or adding focus to larger, more detailed
and more colourful visuals than those less relevant or smaller images.

05. Repetition

Repetition is a fundamental design element, especially when it comes to

branding. It creates a rhythm and strengthens the overall design by tying together
consistent elements such as logo and colour palette, making the brand or design
instantly recognisable to viewers.

06. Contrast

Contrast happens when there is a difference between the two opposing design
elements. The most common types of contrast are dark vs. light, contemporary
vs. old-fashioned, large vs. small, etc. Contrast guides a viewer’s attention to the
key elements, ensuring each side is legible.

07. Colour

Colour is an important design basic and it dictates the overall mood of a design.
The colours you pick represent your brand and its tonality, so be careful with the
palette you choose. As a graphic designer, it’s always helpful to have a basic
knowledge of colour theory, for example, gold & neutral shades evoke an overall
feel of sophistication, bright colours signal happiness, and blue creates a feeling of
calmness. Colour palettes can be used as a contrast or even to complement the
elements.

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08. Negative Space

We’ve discussed the importance of colors, images, and shapes, but what about
the space that is left blank? It is called the ‘negative space’, which in simple words
means the area between or around the elements. If used creatively, negative
space can help create a shape and highlight the important components of your
design.

09. Typography

“Words have meaning, type has spirit,” — Paula Scher.

Typography is one of the key pillars of design, and it speaks volumes about a
brand or an artwork when executed stylistically or even customized. Sometimes,
‘type’ is all you need to showcase your design concept.

10. Rules

Once you’re an adept graphic designer who understands the foundations of

design, then it’s time to break some of those rules. And, by that, I don’t mean, use
pixelated images or an illegible font type. Remember, whatever it is that you’re
choosing to communicate, should not be compromised.

THANK YOU!

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