The Study of Graphic Design

Module 1: History and Timeline

Students will explore the importance of research in the graphic design field, and how research is instrumental in creating a good design. They will learn about historical art movements, starting with Art Nouveau, and look at the movements and key artists through the 20th century, with visual parallels drawn between art movements.

Module 2: Fields in Graphic Design

Graphic design is a large field, with numerous sub-fields and niches. Students will explore major areas, such as posters, books, magazines, and album design, as well as smaller niches such as a stamp, currency, and ticket design. They will examine historical design trends and inspirations, and their effect on modern pieces. Past and present magazine covers illustrate how art movements affect the design.

Module 3: Research and Inspiration

In this module, students will learn how to apply inspiration derived from the study of art movements to current projects. They will also look at how research is an integral aspect of graphic design, and how cross-cultural research is of particular importance in avoiding embarrassing gaffs.