| CODE | MCS3010 | ||||||||||||||||
| TITLE | Practical Graphic Design | ||||||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 6 | ||||||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Media and Communications | ||||||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | A study-unit intended to teach the basics of graphic and on-screen design. The fundamentals of the three main graphic design programs utilized by the industry, InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator, all by Adobe, will be taught. Industry standard hardware is the Macintosh computer, and though most of the work carried out in the process of the unit is cross-platform, so the PC can also be employed, the unit is given exclusively on Apple Macintosh computers. This study-unit has two concurrent parts, a hands-on, practical part in which the above- mentioned programs are introduced and used in task oriented instruction, and a theoretical part that goes into the different aspects of what makes graphic design an effective communications tool. What is imparted in the theory is translated into practical terms so that by the end of the unit, students will have a working knowledge of the programs within a context of graphic design knowledge. There is an ongoing process of assessment, with mini-projects used to build practical skills every step of the way and two major projects intended to assess acquired skills and knowledge and which contribute the largest amount of marks to the final total. Study-Unit Aims: To give a solid knowledge of graphic design to third year students, also giving them hands-on experience in the main programs used in the industry. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Discern what makes graphic design a viable, visual communications tool; - Become acclimatized with the work of some of the world's best graphic designers; - Find the significance in what has resulted today from the development of the history of graphic design. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Use Adobe Indesign to create publications for printing; - Use Adobe Photoshop for image manipulation and creation; - Use Adobe Illustrator for logo and other type-based design; - Create editorial, poster, book cover and other types of design. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Reading List (Design literature) Bibliography note: Books on desktop publishing and the technical aspects of graphic design age quickly. In the main, the following list provides a background to the general subject, rather than giving actual instruction in the programs used. Other books are recommended throughout the study-unit. - Arntson, A. E. (1998). Graphic Design Basics (3rd ed.). Fort Worth, TX: Harcourt Brace College Publishers. - Aynsley, J. (2001). A Century of Graphic Design: Graphic Design Pioneers of the 20th Century. London, UK: Mitchell Beazley. - Bann, D. (2006). The All New Print Production Handbook. New York, NY: Watson Guptill. Cheatham, F. R., Cheatham, J. H., & Owens, S. H. (1987). Design concepts and applications (2nd Ed.). London: Prentice Hall. - Heller, S. & Pomeroy, K. (1997). Design Literacy: Understanding Graphic Design. New York:Allworth Press. - Heskett, J. (2002). Design: A very short Introduction. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. - Hollis, R. (1996). Graphic Design: A Concise History. London, UK: Thames and Hudson. - Korger, H. (1992). Handbook of Type and Lettering. New York: Design Press. - Landa, R. (2011). Graphic Design Solutions (4th ed.). Boston, MA: Wadsworth. - Lidwell, W., Holden, K., and Butler, J. (2003). Universal Principles of Design. Glucester, MA: Rockport. - N.A. (1996). Letterhead & Logo Design: Creating the Corporate Image. Gloucester, MA: Rockport Publishers. - Pettersson, R. (1989). Visuals for Information. New Jersey: Educational Technology Publications. Pipes, A. (2005). Production for Graphic Designers (4th ed.). London, UK: Laurence King Publishing. - Samara, T. (2007). Design Elements: A Graphic Style Manual. Beverly, MA: Rockport Publishers. Siebert, L., & Ballard, L. (1992). Making a Good Layout. Cincinnati: North Light Books. - Swann, A. (1990). Layout Source Book. Oxford: Phaidon Press. - Swann, A. (1990). How to understand and use Design and Layout. Ohio: North Light Books. - Swann, A. (1997). The New Graphic Design School. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold Company. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||||||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Gorg Mallia |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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