INTRODUCTION TO GRAPHICS

INRODUCTION TO GRAPHICS

Words you will learn:

graphic design illustration * image font

ascenders

descender

baseline

You will need

. notebook, sketch pad, pencils,

. coloured pencils . stencils, letter sets,

a geometry set . computer with internet access, old newspapers/ magazines

After reading this chapter and practicing its activities, you will be able to use basic elements of graphic design as a language of graphic

communication by:

• Making a research on graphic design as an artistic language.
• Defining and explaining the term graphic design.
• discussing the ways in which artworks can be presented to different audiences.
• Use elements and principle of design to create a poster.
• explore a variety of post school- pathways and careers related to Graphic design and associated work habits.

Introduction to Graphic design

Graphic design is a branch of art found around us. It includes diagrams; logos and monograms; signs and bill boards; labels and packages; advertisements and posters; newspapers and Magazines or brochures.

Graphic design combines the art of lettering and illustration to communicate a message to others. Lettering refers to the written alphabet to which you are accustomed. The English alphabet may be written in upper or lower case. It may also be written in various styles called letter fonts. Illustration refers to the image that is used along with the lettering (words).The message of a graphic design must be clear, cost effective and relevant. When used effectively, a graphic design can become a very powerful tool for sending a message.

An eye catching graphic design shows good judgement in selecting a letter type and image or illustration suited to the message you wish to send. More attention should be given to the use of elements and principles of art and design in creating a composition of graphic design. In this chapter, you are going to learn how to communicate in graphic form.

At this point. please pause reading and do the first learning activity intro to graphic art 

Intro to graphic art 1

Observing Basic Elements of Graphic Design

Look at Figure 4.1 showing the elements of an effective graphic design. Do you have similar elements with the ones you got from your research?  How can you make use of these elements to make your own artwork?

You need to first discuss these elements one by one with your friends in class and gain confidence on how to use them.

As a class or in pairs do assignment one in this unit; Introduction to graphic art

The Seven Basic Elements of Graphic Design

The spectrum of colours is produced when light passes through a prism (red. orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet) and are arranged in a segmented circle. The modern colour wheel consists of three primary colours red, yellow, and blue — which can theoretically be mixed in varying ratios to produce secondary and intermediate colours. Figure 3.4 gives you an idea of how Newton’s colour wheel appeared.

Colour

The colour may even be the most important element of a design, because it offers the most powerful visual impact at a single glance. Colour is obvious and does not need basic graphic skills to be noticed. While lines and shapes mean the same thing as in the reality, only at a little more profound level, the colour means exactly the same thing as in the nature. Colour creates emotions – red is passionate, blue is calm, green is natural.

Even if you do not realize this, colours have a clear effect on your mind. But knowing how hue, saturation, shade, tint, tone or Chroma work together is crucial for a graphic designer.

Value

I did not specify value above, even if it is closely related to colour, because value is more general and represents how dark or light a design is. Value has a lot to do with mood too, only at a more profound level. Understanding colours will take you close to perfection, but knowing how value works will take you beyond this. Lighter designs offer a different impact and feeling than the dark ones and you need an expert eye to notice differences and decide which one is the best.

Line

Lines are more than just dividers. The right lines can convey movement and emotion, tying together your composition and making it look polished and professional.

Scale

The scale of different elements in a design will have a big impact on how your audience views and makes sense of your composition. playing with the relative size of different components in your design allows you to set a focal point highlight areas of importance and ultimately guide viewers’ eyes’ through the piece.

scale is not the  same thing as size (though many people tend to incorrectly use them interchangeably  when discussing a design i.e. make the  logo bigger)

Size refers to an absolute measurement (e.g. the sheet of paper 8” by 11”) while scale refers to the direct relationship between elements in a design (e.g., the circle is twice as big as the square).

Shape

Shapes: they’re not just for preschoolers, A shape can be loosely explained as anything defined by boundaries. There are two category  of shapes to consider:

Geometric shapes, which are defined by perfect, uniform proportions (such as a circle, square, triangle), and Organic shapes, which have less well-defined edges, free-flowing proportions, and essentially no rules (such as wiggly, blob-like things that don’t fil into any real category).

Space

this is exactly what it sounds like: the empty areas between elements in your design. When it comes to creating professional- looking designs on your own, sometimes what you don’t include is just as important as what you do.

When working on a design, consider not only the elements you’re including (such as images and text) but how they’re arranged and grouped in the composition.

It can be tempting to fill every inch of your digital canvas with something, but try to give your elements some room to breathe.

In the example below, you can see how changing the space and grouping of the elements creates a  completely different feeling in the composition. On the left, the uniform space between the element creates a sense of order and security. On the right, the varying space between the elements convey a sense of disorder  and confusion. The space and how it is used is crucially  important in design. Lately the white space(also called negative space)  became  used widely because it allows the human eye to read easier.

For  whoever  is  not  familiar  with the term  “white space does not mean precisely space filled with white, but every area of the design which is only filled with the background colour. You can see several examples below to better understand the concept.

Contrast

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understand. A lack of contrast is oW’

what separates mediocre design work from designs that look professional, polished, and clear,

Textures

The textures were not very popular a couple of years ago, bul ihey tend to become more and more used. They ieplaced (or compctp wit h, ,f we can call it a competition) the single coloured backgrounds.

Textures can look similar to solid background colours, but il they are analyzed closer, small but effective differences can be noticed.

Texture styles include paper, stone, concrete, brick, fabric and natural elements, among flat or smooth colours, Textures can also be subtle or pronounced and can be used sparingly or liberally. They work with pretty much everything.

The Use of Fonts and Illustration in Graphic Design

Sometimes letters might not work alone to communicate a desired message. Illustrations are images that support or supplement the visual image in graphic design. We often see that in newspapers and magazines. Make use of newspapers and magazines to study the use of letter fonts and illustrations to communicate a message.

Why letter fonts are important?

We are all influenced by fonts, typefaces and lettering every day. However, we might nol realise it at the time. The careful choice of typefaces help us to recognise oui favourite brands, they help us to read information more clearly, and when we write something in Word our choice of font reflects how_} whal and why we want to communicate with people (for example, choosing to use a letter type, you do it for a reason).

Using Basic Elements to Design a Poster

Posters are one of the oldest, most tried and true types of marketing content for:

• advertising events.
• introducing
• promoting •r.fnrmation and a lot more

. communicating educational mto

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can make them as creative or as c assi

are endless.

What is the role of Graphic Designer?

A graphic designer uses visual elements to communicate messages through print and electronic media. He or she develops designs for magazines and newspapers, websites, packaging, video games, promotional displays, and marketing materials. Graphic designers work for advertising, publishing and design firms.

Do you know what graphic artkR i

,        . . …          ⁵ r ^{arilsts d0?} In pairs research on the careers

and work habits associated to graphic art

Graphic designers who specialize in letter *

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use advanced computer software Y ° ^materials, but more often they of graphic designers when you search^” ^{r€ad rnore about the career?} industry. Many typographers and ‘^nterr,et or visit the publishing lives to the artistic creation and d«i? ⁸/^{aphers dedi}«te their enf‘

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lettering for wedding invitations, formal letters, logo designs and other graphic design projects.

Tips:
Keep your graphic materials and tools safely. r Maintain a clean working environment free from litter and colour smudges.