Introduction to Visual Design

Catalog description

This course introduces the elements of art and principles of design that create the language of visual communication. Through a variety of projects, in-class exercises, and homework assignments, students will engage in a rigorous creative process: brainstorming, conceptualizing, sketching, refinish, and producing. Students will be introduced to a variety of media and techniques and will become more conscious of the conceptual, expressive, and perceptual qualities of their aesthetic decisions, so they can effectively communicate visually. Through exposure to everything from Grand Masters to Madison Avenue ads, students will learn from examples of artists and designers from the past and present who have contributed to the visual landscape, to foster an awareness of visual systems of different cultures, time periods, and contemporary artists and to develop the ability to ask critical questions. Slide presentations and sketchbook assignments will introduce a variety of interpretations on how visual thinkers have perceived and used visual concepts and elements in their own artwork.