We began talking about our first assignment / project here in MMA 100 last week via discussion and will start our second class by reviewing the project specs. We will discuss the critique process and presenting our work in process.
We will spend our class time working on the Postcard project. We will get familiar with our work stations, get started with adobe photoshop, electronic imaging, scanning / photo documenting images and artwork, creating and working with various file types and bringing our ideas into photoshop to produce the finished design.
*This Week’s Exercise – Cutting out Images in Photoshop / Making Graphic Assets: Cutting out images in various fragments is a task that all graphic designers will face on a regular basis. Learning various methods for cutting out images is a necessity. We will explore, experiment and share a few methods on how.
(This exercise/technique will be applied to the post card project).
Video Screening: Cutting out images in Photoshop (examples)
These tutorials above will help get you started with our class exercise, but ultimately, you will need to master the pen tool in both photoshop and illustrator for the cleanest vector cut outs. The video below is a great tutorial.
Are you looking for a photoshop psd. file template example to create along with, format and submit your postcard? (Photoshop newbies can edit and change the layers as you need to) Those with experience should make the template themselves – Click HERE
(Is there a specific tutorial that you learned from recently or over time? Share the URL link with a description of your experience in the comments section below)
What are some of today’s trends in Graphic Design? Lets take a look at this video below.
Please be sure to bookmark our class website and make sure that you are properly able to access it. You can always refer to our website for the week to week calendar of classwork, class lectures, resources, assignments and deadlines.
Week 1 – What is Graphic Design? Class introductions, who’s who here this semester? Introduction to our course work and our learning potentials together.
Design Solutions: Strategy, Concept, Design, Execution & Production Exploring the Design Process: Thumbnails, Roughs & Comps.
Software skills – Adobe Photoshop and navigating around the Mac
Logos by Paul Rand
What is Graphic Design?
“Graphic design, also known as communication design, is the art and practice of planning and projecting ideas and experiences with visual and textual content. The form it takes can be physical or virtual and can include images, words, or graphics. The experience can take place in an instant or over a long period of time. The work can happen at any scale, from the design of a single postage stamp to a national postal signage system. It can be intended for a small number of people, such as a one-off or limited-edition book or exhibition design, or can be seen by millions, as with the interlinked digital and physical content of an international news organization. It can also be for any purpose, whether commercial, educational, cultural, or political.” Via – Juliette Cezzar
Great explanation of Graphic Design, but what about the speed of the video??
Poster Design by Milton Glaser
The History of Graphic Design – We will be exploring and referencing Design history in our class. Lets explore these two references below over the course of this week.
Class Discussion: What is the Design Process? How do designers create strategies? Move from research to sketch, roughs and comps? What do these terms mean?
Thumbnails – Simply put, thumbnails are small sketches. Projects always begin with thumbnail sketches. No matter how tempted you are to get working with the computer and its software right away, thumbnail sketch practice is essential in the design process. Each project will require 3-5 thumbnail sketches. This practice will keep your idea muscles sharp!
Roughs – Roughs are full scale renderings of your selected thumbnails. They are sized to the specific dimensions of your project. Roughs are about making the needed revisions and necessary decisions to meet the many challenges you may discover in the process.
Examples of Roughs & Comps – What is the visual difference between a rough and a comp? Lets find examples together.
Comps – (short for comprehensive) or a final comp, is the plan and official map that is ready for production. It is ready for publishing on the web, or print production with a printer or printing company. The comp is ready to share with your client (or your professor 🙂 as it will fully communicate all aspects of your project and assignment.
Assignment #1 (Part 1) – Post Card Design – Photoshop
We will be designing a standard sized Postcard to promote and communicate one of the following messages below (students must choose one)
1– A cause or message that you are passionate about –
OR
2 – An up and coming event that you would like to promote
Assignment Specifications:
Size: The final design will be 4″ X 6″ in size. (Students should decide on the arrangement of the height and width, will your postcard be a horizontal or vertical image? You will be designing both the front and back side of the post card with the full intention of mailing it so space must be allotted for the address and postal stamp.
1 – Thumbnail sketches – Students will generate a series of 2-3 thumbnails sketches using a pencil / pen and their sketchbooks to brain storm and illustrate their process before the application of using photoshop. Students will experiment with various image manipulating techniques and styles to develop contrasts and visual interest.
Production:
Students will prepare their final work for both print out up in (CMYK) as well as presentation and application on the web (RGB).
Due dates for our next class week:
What images will you be referencing and using? Where did you find them? Are they free to use, if so, how do you know? Please bring all of your resources and research to class. Thumbnail studies and a rough lay out will be due at the beginning of our next class 2/6 – @5:30pm
