Week 1 - Generate Design Solutions

What is design?

"A plan or convention for the construction of an object or a system" -  Cambridge Dictionary of American English

Watch:  Paul Bennett finds design in the details

What is Graphic Design?

"Graphic design is a creative process - most often involving a client and a designer and usually completed in conjunction with producers of form (i.e., printers, signmakers, etc.) – undertaken in order to convey a specific message (or messages) to a targeted audience" - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphic_Design

Exercise #1: Redesign the Australian Flag for a 2012 audience

Break up into groups and brainstorm the following:

1. Define the problem.  What is 'wrong' with the current design? What works in the current design?
2. Possible constraints - audience (social and ethical issues, attitudes of Australian's and foreigners), medium (various formats flags are displayed), purpose (what does a flag do?)

Present your concept and explain what the problem was, the various factors that were considered, and how you solved the dilemma.

Discussion: How does the design process relate to Graphic Design?


Introduction to Adobe Illustrator



Examples of vector illustration
http://www.vectordiary.com/inspirations/30-best-inspiring-vector-figure-illustrations/


Demonstration - Illustrator interface and setting up a document

Complete the following exercises:

1. Pen Tool - Exercise 1
2. Pen Tool - Exercise 2