Graphic Design 101 - Junior Class

NOTE: students must own Adobe Photoshop to complete the course, NOT Photoshop Elements. See additional information.

This is a very thorough and in-depth course, which will enable student students to tackle a variety of projects and create designs. Their creative skills and abilities will also be challenged and refined.

Over 8 week, students will learn the basics of Graphic Design, and have a taste at the working world of Graphic Design by creating their own designs for imaginary clients.
 
Each week learners will complete tasks together, following what they see me do on my screen. They will use images and graphics provided beforehand, to complete that week's tasks, and learn the tools and skills needed for each step. I will demonstrate where different tools are located within the Photoshop software, how to use them, and discuss some basic Graphic Design theory.

Students will also have 2 projects to complete throughout the course.

In the earlier weeks, students will be given an independent task to complete between lessons to practice the skills they have learned, and guidance on how to complete this. Students are expected to share their work on the classroom, and comment on the design ideas of other students. It is important for students to engage with this part of the course, in order to develop their design skills.

The topics covered on the course are as follows:

Week 1: Getting set up in Photoshop and understanding text

Week 2: Styling our text - making our names out of balloons

Week 3: Patterns, Colours and Textures - create your name in patchwork, wood, or even carve it in marble!

Week 4: Working with Shapes - design your own keychain

Week 5: Working with Digital Paintbrushes - Please note, learners will be directed to a website outside of Outschool in order to download brushes. Please see resource list below for more information.

Week 6: Working with filters. In this lesson, learners will also be given the opportunity to design a logo for clothes, in their course assignment.

Week 7: Project week - Make your selfies POP! Creating a pop-art effect using a photograph.

Week 8: Project week - Create some Magic! Turn an ordinary image into a magical scene with light, sparkle and more!

By the end of the course students will be familiar with the main areas of Photoshop, and be able to make their own creations.