About
This blog is a teaching tool for the Computer Design II class at the Kansas City Art Institute, for their certificate program. It contains the syllabus assignment objectives and resulting work of the class.
The students primary tool was Adobe Illustrator CS3. In addition to learning the software through in class tutorials and explorations, the other focus was on understanding design principles of composition, informational hierarchy, context and style.
For 4 of the 8 sessions our focus was on designing a graphical poster depicting a timeline of a famous designer. Emphasis is to be on how to set the stage for the graphic solution with in-depth research and use of historical reference as the critical basis for well though out finished solutions.
Throughout the sessions the assignments intertwine software learning with foundational principles of design. Each is meant to build students confidence in both technical expertise and just as importantly their approach to visual problem solving. Problem solving, whether it’s an illustration for a travel poster or a chart of military maneuvers is the fundamental core of design as a studied discipline, rather than a subjective decorative art.
Lisa Bowser
Instructor