Career Diploma in
Graphic Design

Design as a visual language; how unity, variety, hierarchy and proportion affect the design composition as a whole; how scale, balance, rhythm, repetition, economy and proximity affect design relationships; using shape, space, line, size, color, texture and typography.

Graphic devices and techniques that support visual organization; key visual relationships; the impact of the human factor on design decisions; the foundations and functions of communications; demystifying the design process.

The dimensions of color; color perception; key color systems and terminology used in graphic art; color theories in contemporary design; color psychology, symbolism and cultural influences; strategies for choosing color schemes; the impact of color in composition.

Typographic terms and measurement systems; how to select typefaces appropriate to communication goals; how type can lend expression to a design; harmonious combinations of types with imagery; using type judiciously when legibility is a factor.

Symbols, logos and representational and informational imagery; enhancing a communication message with photos and illustrations; using iconographic symbols to communicate information at a glance; logo design; identity and wayfinding systems; using charts and graphics.

Evolution of graphic design; career options in the graphic design industry; how to land a job interview; how to prepare and present a portfolio of your design samples.

MAC and Windows XP operating environments; file management; how to copy and transfer files; keystrokes to increase productivity; creating an electronic slide show; how to burn music, photo and data CDs; stages of the design process; installing fonts; creating thumbnail sketches and a final rough for client approval.

Image scanning; desktop components; using the Navigator palette, Zoom and Hand tools; using the Image menu to adjust and enhance images; the Auto Color command; Shadow/Highlight command; resolution and image size; the File Browser; the Marquee, Magic Wand, Move and lasso tools; the tool Options bar; the Channels palette; using and combining selection tools; the Select menu.

How to rename, copy and move layers; the Hue/Saturation command; using layer styles to create drop shadows and specialized effects; creating text layers; using Layer Comps; merging layers; preparing for press; the Dust & Scratches filter; the Clone Stamp, Patch, Healing Brush and Spot Healing brush tools; the History palette; painting tools; RGB, CMYK and Grayscale color modes.

Desktop components and how they interact; Preview and Outline views; apply and edit stroke and fill colors; how to create, color, combine and align basic shapes; making artwork scalable and sharp; the Auto Trace tool; how to create and apply brushes, place symbols and format text by applying styles; the Symbols palette.

Using the Pen tool to create straight lines, Bézier curves and complex shapes; the Direct Select Lasso tool; the Average and Join commands; the Pathfinder palette; the Transparency palette; creating and adjusting type on paths; save Illustrator files in native and EPS formats; integrating bitmap and vector-based images; linking and embedding images; gradients; how to place, paste and export graphic images; setting up web-safe colors; optimizing composite images for the web; saving to various graphic file formats.

How to set up preferences; layout guidelines for accurate placement of text and graphics; how to place graphics and format types and frames with the Control palette and menus; the Text Frame Options dialog box; applying color; saving as the original document and as a template for future editing.

Setting up multi-page documents to import text and graphics; using a master page as a template; navigating and editing documents using the Pages palette; applying stroke and fill techniques for PANTONE colors; importing text into multiple columns and pages; using tabs; formatting headlines, body text, drop caps, rules and pull quotes.