Learning Graphic Design Fundamentals

Over the five days, I attended an online course on Coursera on the Fundamentals of Graphic Design. It was an enriching course that set the foundation for the production of the outreach material.

The course covered how Image, Type, Shape, Colour and Composition plays an essential role in graphic design. Image-making can be denotative and connotative, having only one meaning compared to having more than one purpose. Graphic Design is not about perfection, but what messages can be derived from the piece.

Bringing out the essence of an artwork can be brought out with lines, be it organic or loose, tight or graphical. With volume, texture and weight, such small details can be expressed. Using colour can sharpen the essence of an artwork.

Image connotation can invoke ideas in addition to the literal meaning of the image. How can images bring sense to the audience?

Next came Typography, using type to attract the attention of the audience.

The strokes and weight of each word used in the design can highlight more critical points. Shapes and composition can help with highlighting them too.

Having a visual contrast can attract more attention from the audience, allowing your message to be better brought across.

Symbols

-> Non-pictorial

-> Can show ideas & products

-> Has to be learned before audience can figure the symbol out

Icons

-> Pictorial

-> Represents actual things

-> Easy to decifer

Marks

-> Graphics

-> Shapes

-> No substance

Matching colours has a scientific approach to it. White light shone into a prism will reflect the colour spectrum, otherwise known as the rainbow.

Onscreen colours (Computer) and Offscreen colours (Paints/Print) are different in its dynamics. Onscreen colour is light coming out from the screen, while, offscreen colour is light bouncing off the piece.

Onscreen

• Red, Green and Blue

Offscreen

• Cyan, Yellow, Magenta and Key (Black)

When using a pattern, colours will accentuate the pattern. Hue & Tone may flatten the image. Having less-modular shapes can add protrusion to an image.

Composition:

Designers arrange the page, in turn, the experience of the reader. Shapes, Typography and Images used will determine the success or failure of the design. Centring an image is familiar to many, thus may lose the attention of the readers and the power of the message. However, using the rule of thirds, this can be avoided.

Using the rule of thirds can increase the attractiveness of the brochure.

Mixing and matching form, scale, weight, space, direction and texture can be visually attractive to the readers.

How this course would help me in my project:

• Understanding how font/type can help bring out the essence of my message.

• Understanding how to position my images and paragraphs, to best attract the attention of the readers.

• Using shapes to highlight important points, like having a rounded box to highlight the title of the paragraph.

Fundamentals of Graphic Design. (n.d.). Retrieved May 8, 2020, from https://www.coursera.org/learn/fundamentals-of-graphic-design