Grid systems!

The next few projects we will be working on will deal with grid systems. Put simply, grid systems are your framework for arranging and displaying various elements - type, photos, or illustrations. And, as other people have said much better than I have, using a grid on a publication does not stifle your creativity - it helps you organize all the elements you are working with in an attractive way.

In your textbook in Chapter 5, beginning on page 159, there is a discussion of grid systems. Also, in my menu of links on the left, there are two in particular that I want you to look at. The first is http://www.markboulton.co.uk/journal/comments/five-simple-steps-to-designing-grid-systems-part1.html
and this will also give you more information in how to design using a grid.

The next site I want you to look at will give you examples for your next project, the eight-page brochure
http://www.designingwithtype.com/cooperunion.html. If you go to the tenth item in the list, you will be redirected to a page with various samples of brochures which were designed by students at the Cooper Union in New York City. Look at these examples and think about a subject you would like to use in this project and gather as many photos or illustrations as you can find. The more material you have, the easier it will be to assemble this project. Along with this, you will need to write some text and descriptions to go along with your illustrations or photos, and you will assemble all of it into an eight-page brochure.

As with your other projects, the sky is the limit to your creativity.

Who are these people?

Luckily for all of you, you have a teacher who is a history nut. :)

Seriously, though, in the study of graphic design, I think it's very important that you learn as much as you can about the field's present, but also — especially — its past. Often you will discover that a current trend in the graphic design world has had more than a few ties to trends of previous decades. Not only that, but to study past trends is to see how someone else has approached the same problem that you may be working with, and thus it may give you some ideas — not to slavishly imitate, of course! — but to incorporate into your own work.

To that end, I am providing this list of notable visual communicators and graphic designers for you to read about from the American Institute of Graphic Arts’ website, at this link:

http://www.aiga.org/content.cfm/medalists

I would like you to choose a person from this list and write a short paragraph about him or her, using the information in the bios, but I also want you to take it one step further and find several examples of that person's work to include with your paper.

The AIGA site itself is also worthwhile to bookmark, as you will find much good information there. You may also want to consider joining the AIGA as a student member. There is a local chapter in Pittsburgh which has sponsored some very interesting workshops and events over the years, and while you don't have to be a member to attend, membership in this organization does have many advantages.

First assignment for Graphic Design 110

Hello, everyone!

This first assignment is something I adapted to enable you to learn how to use the pen tool in Adobe Illustrator. You may already be familiar with this tool from using Photoshop. If you are, that's good — you will know your way around using it. However, there are some subtle differences with the pen tool in Illustrator that you will need to know, so that's why I'm posting these exercises.

This is probably the most powerful tool you can learn to use, as you can not only use it in Photoshop and Illustrator, but also with InDesign.

If you have any questions, please ask. That's why I'm here.