Introduction to Digital Design: Techniques and Tools for Visual Communication

1. Designing Media Message Course Introduction

2. Introduction • Digital technology integrated into visual communication • New digital techniques and tools for designers and artists are being invented everyday. • Many options and solutions for design and art projects can be explored in greater detail and in less time

3. Digital techniques and tools • AdobePhotoshop, Adobe Illustrator • Microsoft picture manager/publisher • Dreamweaver/Frontpage • Wix.com/webs.com/wordpress.com • Final cut/windows live movie maker/Sony Vegas • Instagram • Vintage image • Smilebox • ……

4. Questions • What digital techniques and tools you have used for designing • Photo editing, • Pictures drawing • Logo designing, • Posters • Brochures • e-cards • e-books • Video editing • Webpage design

5. Design make easy • The ease of use and inexpensive cost of hardware and software has given the public the ability to create computer generated graphics and artworks.

6. Questions • What kind of designs you have ever made? • non-digital: drawings, paintings, jewelry making, crochet, craft, make-up, gift design,…. • Digital:

7. How to make a good design? • The availability of technology and the advances in imaging and production techniques will not cover up a bad design. • The history of design teaches us: regardless of medium or technique, the same elements and principles of design always exists.

8. Why we learn? • Today, as the marketplace and exhibition rooms are filled with digitally produced images, knowledge of the fundamentals of design becomes even more important. • To create sophisticated visuals which entertain and communicate effectively, an artist cannot ignore what defines design

9. Course Objectives • This course is to provide • a basic understanding of design and • how to apply this to digitally produced two-dimensional images.

10. What is design? • Design can be defined as purposeful organization • In this course, we narrowed design to two-dimensional visuals

11. What is design? • purposeful organization : Planned, placed or arranged with reason • Visuals: things we see • Line • Shape • Space • Volume • Value • Color • Texture

12. What is two-dimensional? • One dimensional refers to length • Two dimensional refers to height and width • e.g. images on paper or on a monitor • Three dimensional refers to length, width, and depths • e.g. packaging, industrial design, sculpture, interiors, and architecture

13. Two Concepts of design • Two primarily concepts of design • Content: the subject matter, concept, solution to a design problem • Form: actual visual • Some visuals are purely conceptual, for content, no need to be presented in form • Some visuals are only for visual pleasure without a problem to be solved, for art

14. Course Methodology and Outcomes • We focus on visuals that communicate, more than art, combine content and form • Lectures on fundamentals/theories of design • Tutorials on digital tools and techniques (Adobe Photoshop) • Digital Projects with specific content and final forms of design by understanding the theory and use of digital tools and techniques.

15. Background and Tech Requirement • Those who are well trained in software will discover the art of design behind technology • Those who have art training but with little knowledge of digital tools will see the relation between art and technology by completing the digital design projects