Undergraduate Course: Introduction to Graphic Design (LLLA07163)

Course Outline
School	Centre for Open Learning	College	College of Humanities and Social Science
Credit level (Normal year taken)	SCQF Level 7 (Year 1 Undergraduate)	Availability	Not available to visiting students
SCQF Credits	10	ECTS Credits	5
Summary	This course will introduce students to the building blocks of graphic design, exploring the principles of visual communication and developing a personal graphic language.
Course description	Academic Description: The 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. Outline of Content: The course teaching is typically delivered over weekly class sessions of around 3 hours each and totaling 30 hours. Alternatively, the course can be delivered more intensely or as a block if required. 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 and working with type within layout, with an introduction to Adobe InDesign and 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. Formative Assessment and Feedback: An opportunity to review work so far in discussion with tutor, and discuss how well the work is meeting the learning outcomes. 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. The Learning Experience: The teaching will be based and delivered in specialist art and 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. Over the course, student progress will be monitored and supported by the tutor. Teaching will include practical demonstrations, one to one tuition, group discussions and critiques. For work required to be undertaken after the class hours are complete, the course tutor will set students a 'directed study plan' which can be undertaken without the need for specialist workshops or access to models. Directed study will include research into a range of suggested artists and their associated movements to engender a contextual awareness. Students are expected to demonstrate how their research has informed their work through annotated sketchbooks, a visual digital journal and practical outcomes. The Directed Study Plan will include preparing evidence of research and practical work to form an appropriate presentation for assessment.

Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites		Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations		Other requirements	None
Additional Costs	Unless otherwise stated, all students on this short course pay a published course fee per enrolment. Access to appropriate IT facilities and programmes Printing credit of Ł10 per student Additional printing in excess of credit In addition to the course fee, students are expected to provide the following list of indicate tools, materials and equipment: A4 or A3 layout pad Sketchbook (at least A5) Drawing materials: pencils, pens, coloured pencils / pens with varying tip sizes, rubber, sharpener Scissors or scalpel/craft knife Ruler (metal or plastic, up to 30cm) Pritt stick, tape USB key

Course Delivery Information

Academic year 2017/18, Not available to visiting students (SS1)		Quota: 12
Course Start	Lifelong Learning - Session 1
Timetable	Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info)	Total Hours: 100 ( Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 30, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 68 )
Assessment (Further Info)	Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment)	Formative Assessment: A formative assessment session will occur in week 6 or 7 of the taught element of the course. Each student will undertake a 5 minute verbally presentation with their practical work in progress to other members of the class group followed by a 5 minute group critique supported by the course tutor. Each student will also electronically submit their work in progress digital journal to the course tutor. Indicative and supportive feedback will be summarised in written form on the digital journal which will give an indication of what areas requires to be address in order to meet the published learning outcomes. This will comprise of short written summary of action points. Summative Assessment: Two weeks after the end of the class teaching, this course will be assessed by the submission of: A digital journal documenting a summary of the learning journey as evidenced in the portfolio (20 hours) This will include a summary of idea development, media exploration, contextual research, critical reflection and outcomes through notes, annotation, illustration and photography. A portfolio of visual art/design works (80 hours) This will include a selection of resolved design works, sketchbook works, preparatory studies, visual research and evidence of a contextual awareness. The Digital Journal and Portfolio 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. The combined Digital Journal and Portfolio submission will be assessed against the three learning outcomes for this course. These are equally weighted (33.3% each) 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	Formative Assessments: This will comprise of short written summary of action points of areas requiring addressing to meet the learning outcomes, but no indicative grades will be given. Summative Assessments: On completion the assessment, each student will receive a % mark for each learning outcome along with written feedback putting in context the % mark and outlines areas for development.
No Exam Information

Academic year 2017/18, Not available to visiting students (SS1)		Quota: 12
Course Start	Lifelong Learning - Session 2
Timetable	Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info)	Total Hours: 100 ( Lecture Hours 30, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 68 )
Assessment (Further Info)	Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment)	Formative Assessment: A formative assessment session will occur in week 6 or 7 of the taught element of the course. Each student will undertake a 5 minute verbally presentation with their practical work in progress to other members of the class group followed by a 5 minute group critique supported by the course tutor. Each student will also electronically submit their work in progress digital journal to the course tutor. Indicative and supportive feedback will be summarised in written form on the digital journal which will give an indication of what areas requires to be address in order to meet the published learning outcomes. This will comprise of short written summary of action points. Summative Assessment: Two weeks after the end of the class teaching, this course will be assessed by the submission of: A digital journal documenting a summary of the learning journey as evidenced in the portfolio (20 hours) This will include a summary of idea development, media exploration, contextual research, critical reflection and outcomes through notes, annotation, illustration and photography. A portfolio of visual art/design works (80 hours) This will include a selection of resolved design works, sketchbook works, preparatory studies, visual research and evidence of a contextual awareness. The Digital Journal and Portfolio 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. The combined Digital Journal and Portfolio submission will be assessed against the three learning outcomes for this course. These are equally weighted (33.3% each) 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	Formative Assessments: This will comprise of short written summary of action points of areas requiring addressing to meet the learning outcomes, but no indicative grades will be given. Summative Assessments: On completion the assessment, each student will receive a % mark for each learning outcome along with written feedback putting in context the % mark and outlines areas for development.
No Exam Information

Academic year 2017/18, Not available to visiting students (SS1)		Quota: 14
Course Start	Lifelong Learning - Session 3
Timetable	Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info)	Total Hours: 100 ( Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 30, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 68 )
Assessment (Further Info)	Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment)	Formative Assessment: A formative assessment session will occur in week 6 or 7 of the taught element of the course. Each student will undertake a 5 minute verbally presentation with their practical work in progress to other members of the class group followed by a 5 minute group critique supported by the course tutor. Each student will also electronically submit their work in progress digital journal to the course tutor. Indicative and supportive feedback will be summarised in written form on the digital journal which will give an indication of what areas requires to be address in order to meet the published learning outcomes. This will comprise of short written summary of action points. Summative Assessment: Two weeks after the end of the class teaching, this course will be assessed by the submission of: A digital journal documenting a summary of the learning journey as evidenced in the portfolio (20 hours) This will include a summary of idea development, media exploration, contextual research, critical reflection and outcomes through notes, annotation, illustration and photography. A portfolio of visual art/design works (80 hours) This will include a selection of resolved design works, sketchbook works, preparatory studies, visual research and evidence of a contextual awareness. The Digital Journal and Portfolio 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. The combined Digital Journal and Portfolio submission will be assessed against the three learning outcomes for this course. These are equally weighted (33.3% each) 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	Formative Assessments: This will comprise of short written summary of action points of areas requiring addressing to meet the learning outcomes, but no indicative grades will be given. Summative Assessments: On completion the assessment, each student will receive a % mark for each learning outcome along with written feedback putting in context the % mark and outlines areas for development.
No Exam Information

Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to: Research, context and ideas (33.3%): Employ a range of strategies effectively for recording and developing visual communication, exploring conceptual ideas and documented in a sketchbook or visual journal, supported by contextual references. Practice, skills and techniques (33.3%): Demonstrate a practical knowledge to develop a personal graphic language, experimenting with type, collage and image, both on paper and through the use of digital software applications. Selection, presentation and reflection (33.3%): Demonstrate an appropriate judgment to select, edit and present a coherent body of exploratory studies and resolved works.

Reading List
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.
Keywords	graphic design,introduction,sketchbook,sketchbook,research,journal,reflective practice,branding

Contacts
Course organiser	Mr Oliver Reed Tel: Email: Oliver.Reed@ed.ac.uk	Course secretary	Mr Benjamin Mcnab Tel: (0131 6)51 4832 Email: Benjamin.Mcnab@ed.ac.uk