CalArts Graphic Design Study I
Graphic Design Study | CalArts | Coursera
I completed a graphic design specialization course offered by California Institute of Arts on Coursera. This course consists of fundamentals of graphic design, introduction to image-making and typography, ideas from the history of graphic design and a branding project. It had several design assignments through the course and some of the selected ones are presented here.
The Brief
Graphic design is all around us, in a myriad of forms, both on screen and in print, yet it is always made up of images and words to create a communication goal. This four-course sequence exposes students to the fundamental skills required to make sophisticated graphic design: process, historical context, and communication through image-making and typography.
The Idea
The goal of this specialization was to equip learners with a set of transferable formal and conceptual tools for “making and communicating” in the field of graphic design. The covered content and the core skill set equips learners for formal studies in graphic design, and a starting point for further work in interface design, motion graphics, and editorial design.
The Result
I achieved a deeper understanding of the process and standards of graphic designing. I was able to reflect and refine my own design ideologies. I also acquired skills which helped me in creating more interesting and meaningful visuals. Knowing deeper possibilities helped me incorporate the design ideas like composition and hierarchy even to other media like video production.
TECHNIQUES AND PROCESS OF IMAGEMAKING
Imagemaking can be denotative or connotative.
When an image is a simple or complex representation of an object with no attached implications, the image is said to be denotative. A connotative image, on the other hand, conveys an idea or a feeling in addition to representing an object.
Here a range of creative and innovative techniques are used to create images. They are handmade and digital and vary in line quality, volume, and color. Taking a pencil as subject, I used the following processes to create this album: sketching, water coloring, photo-manipulation, line drawing, cartooning, metal art, logo design, collage, photography and 3D modeling. While being mostly denotative, the ambiguity in some of the images can lead viewers to read it the way they please hence making them connotative.
