Visual Design Fundamentals Track
First, let’s make this clear: This isn’t a certificate program, but it is the gateway to one. While you won’t earn a certificate through the Visual Design Fundamentals Track, you will acquire foundational design skills and produce design work samples. You can then submit those samples when you apply for the UI/Visual Design Certificate Program. Even if that’s not your goal, this track will still give you a firm foundation in the essentials of design and can open the door to further study.
Track Details: At a Glance
Take a look at our track sequence recommendations and sign up for each course that suits you through the links below.
Some classes might not be offered this quarter. But they will be soon! Click "notify me when offered again" to receive an emailed reminder when the class is available.
You’ll learn from the pros.
The best people to teach you the fundamentals of design are people who put their design skills to work at a high level every day. They’re the experienced, senior-level professionals who teach these courses. Because they’re in the business, they know what they’re talking about from a design point-of-view. They can also share what it’s like to work in design and give you some invaluable pointers for your eventual job search.
Visual Design Fundamentals Recommended Course Track
What You’ll Learn
In the Visual Design Fundamentals Track you’ll learn about the foundational skills that drive any successful design project, whether for digital design (like websites and apps), graphic design (like posters and brochures), or advertising art direction (like magazine and TV spots).
You’ll also learn how to use the Adobe Creative Cloud software designers rely on. Finally, you will get the chance to build your design skills by doing — creating design samples you can use as the beginnings of a portfolio, and to submit when you apply SVC’s UI/Visual Design Certificate Program, or programs at other schools.
Visual Design & Layout Fundamentals
10-Week Class- Introduction to design elements
- The vocabulary of design
- Scale, proportion, balance
- Understanding grids and modularity
- Intro to responsive web design
Color Fundamentals
10-Week Class- Color theory and the color wheel
- The vocabulary of color
- Mixing colors effectively
- RGB vs CMYK
- Color for digital projects
Typography Fundamentals
10-Week Class- Anatomy and vocabulary of type
- Leading, tracking, alignment, justification
- Type hierarchies and type mixing
- Type on a screen vs. on paper
- Readability and expressiveness
Adobe Photoshop CC - Level 1
5-Week Class- Basic photo adjustments
- Layers, masks, and advanced techniques
- Photo retouching and composition
- Color correction
- Optimizing images for the web
Adobe Illustrator CC - Level 1
5-Week Class- Bit-mapped vs. vector-based images
- Working with shapes, colors, type
- Freehand drawing with Bezier pen
- Text and pathfinder tools
- Creating gradients and color libraries
Applied Design Fundamentals
10-Week Class- Understanding creative briefs
- From sketch to layout to finish
- Special requirements for digital projects
- Giving and receiving critiques
- Working with responsive design
Get Started
Looking to combine this track with an application for the UI/Visual Design for Digital Certificate Program?
Start by scheduling a time to visit SVC that’s convenient for you.
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