Graphic Design Practices

Graphic design has come to embody a broad spectrum of practices, including illustration, corporate identity, motion graphics, packaging, print, interface and screen based practices and alternative methods of communicating information. The growth of this area is facilitated with new platforms and a demand for innovative communication. The graphic designer is required to work within very specific creative and technical constraints, applying standards, ethical approaches and positive organisation and communication skills to meet these.

The aim of this unit is to develop students’ confidence in managing a graphic design project through the full spectrum of the design cycle. At each of these stages, students will apply graphic design practices associated with the industry in order to create a coherent graphic communication product in a specialist area.

Topics included in this unit are the contextual awareness of graphic design practices, appreciation and exploitation of design constraints, working with a broad spectrum of materials and technology, applying reflection and testing within the development stage, efficient graphic design practices and delivering a graphic solution to a client.

On successful completion of this unit students will recognise and practice the individual steps required to efficiently produce a graphic design outcome. They will do this by applying systematic research techniques, formulating and implementing a brief with awareness of context, applying design iteration and reflection and quality control measures, and delivering a proficient product.