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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2015/2016

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : Edinburgh College of Art : Lifelong Learning (ECA)

Undergraduate Course: Introduction to Graphic Design (LLLA07163)

Course Outline
SchoolEdinburgh College of Art CollegeCollege of Humanities and Social Science
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 7 (Year 1 Undergraduate) AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
SCQF Credits10 ECTS Credits5
SummaryThe course will introduce students to the building blocks of graphic design, exploring the principles of visual communication and culminating in the development of their own graphic language. There will be a mix of paper based and digital exercises to explore compositional design and the social and cultural context of visual communication which will lead to a more focused project.
Course description The course teaching is delivered over weekly class sessions totalling 27.5 hours. Depending on the specific timetable of the occurrence of the course, this will either be delivered over ten weeks of 2.75 hour class sessions, eleven weeks of 2.5 hour class sessions or five weeks of 5.5 hour class sessions. Over the class sessions the course will cover:

Introduction
Group discussion: What is Graphic Design?

Sense of Order
Introducing the principles and elements of design and composition.

Sense of Order 2: Design Area
Introducing the concept of design area and its importance in effective graphic design.

Typography 1
Looking at the anatomy of letterforms, and introducing Adobe Illustrator.

Typography 2
Covering the basics of typesetting with an introduction to Adobe InDesign.

Typography 3
Working with type within layout: introducing grid systems.

From A to B: The Process of Design
Overview of the historical development of graphic design. Beginning concept development for 4-week main project based on branding.

Branding + Audience
Introduction to branding followed by individual research into different brands.

Define and Refine
Developing a logo for an imaginary brand using Adobe Illustrator.

Promotional Item
Developing an item promoting the imaginary brand. Acts as an opportunity to make use of the practical and conceptual skills gained in the past few weeks.

Finalisation and Presentation
Individual presentations of body of work completed for imaginary brand exercise (idea, logo, and promotional item.) Consolidation of the course.

This course will be based and delivered in specialist design studios or workshops and will typically include a range of practical exercises, introductions to techniques, processes and concepts, and set projects which lead to more focused and personal exploration.
Each week, students¿ progress will be monitored and supported by the tutor who will negotiate and agree a ¿directed study plan¿ for work to be undertaken out with the class hours each week. This will include researching a range of suggested artists or designers and their associated movements to engender a contextual awareness of the discipline being taught as well as how to annotate and evidence this within a sketchbook and practical outcomes.
Teaching will include practical demonstrations, one to one tuition, group discussions and critiques.

Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2015/16, Not available to visiting students (SS1) Quota:  10
Course Start Lifelong Learning - Session 1
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 100 ( Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 28, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 70 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) This course will be assessed by the submission of a portfolio of visual design works within the discipline studied. This will include a selection of resolved design works, preparatory studies, visual research and evidence of a contextual awareness through a completed sketchbook and/or visual journal. The work must be presented in a clear and professional manner appropriate to the discipline. The submission should include work undertaken within the class as well as directed and independent study out with the class. Typically, this will comprise:
Class Contact hours: 27.5 (work undertaken during the class)
Directed hours: 27.5 (work the tutor has set students to each week in their own time)
Independent Study Hours: 45 (work students set themselves to do, relevant to the discipline studied)
The combined submission will be assessed against the three learning outcomes for this course. These are equally weighted and each will be given a percentage grade. To pass, students must achieve a minimum of 30% in each learning outcome and an overall combined mark of 40% minimum.
Feedback Not entered
No Exam Information
Academic year 2015/16, Not available to visiting students (SS1) Quota:  10
Course Start Lifelong Learning - Session 2
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 100 ( Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 28, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 70 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) This course will be assessed by the submission of a portfolio of visual design works within the discipline studied. This will include a selection of resolved design works, preparatory studies, visual research and evidence of a contextual awareness through a completed sketchbook and/or visual journal. The work must be presented in a clear and professional manner appropriate to the discipline. The submission should include work undertaken within the class as well as directed and independent study out with the class. Typically, this will comprise:
Class Contact hours: 27.5 (work undertaken during the class)
Directed hours: 27.5 (work the tutor has set students to each week in their own time)
Independent Study Hours: 45 (work students set themselves to do, relevant to the discipline studied)
The combined submission will be assessed against the three learning outcomes for this course. These are equally weighted and each will be given a percentage grade. To pass, students must achieve a minimum of 30% in each learning outcome and an overall combined mark of 40% minimum.
Feedback Not entered
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. RESEARCH develop creative thinking for effective visual communication through conceptual exploration extensively documented in a sketchbook or visual journa
  2. PRACTICE build a personal graphic language and develop an engaging approach to graphic design by experimenting with type, collage, image and context both on paper and using digital tools (Adobe InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator)
  3. PRESENT select, edit and present a coherent body of tests and samples which lead to the completion of a resolved graphic design project
Reading List
Recommended
Kane, J., 2002. A Type Primer. London: Laurence King Publishing.
Fletcher, A., 2001.The Art of Looking Sideways. London: Phaidon Press.
McAlhone, B. and Stuart, D., 1996. A Smile in the Mind. London: Phaidon Press.
Heller, S., 2000. Graphic Style: Victorian to Digital. New York: Harry N. Abrams.
Gatter, M., 2010. Production for Print. London: Laurence King Publishing.
Lupton, E. and Abbott Miller, J., 2006. The ABCs of the Bauhaus and Design Theory. London: Thames & Hudson.
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Using digital imaging tools effectively
Ability to deploy compositional devices for visual communication
Ability to undertake research and reflective practice and apply these in the context of graphic design within visual culture
Keywordsdesign,graphic
Contacts
Course organiserMr Robbie Bushe
Tel:
Email: r.bushe@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMs Sherrey Landles
Tel: (0131 6)50 3003
Email: s.landles@ed.ac.uk
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