Design for Communication: Conceptual Graphic Design Basics

Complete coverage of basic design principles illustrated by student examples Design for Communication offers a unique approach to mastering the basic design principles, conceptual problem–solving methods, and critical–thinking skills that distinguish graphic designers from desktop technicians. This book presents forty–two basic to advanced graphic design and typography assignments collaboratively written by college educators to teach the fundamental processes, concepts, and techniques through hands–on applications. Each assignment is illustrated with actual student solutions, and each includes a process narrative and an educator’s critical analysis revealing the reasoning behind the creative strategies employed by each individual student solution. Assignments are organized from basic to advanced within six sections: The elements and principles of design Typography as image Creative word play Word and image Grid and visual hierarchy Visual advocacy Design for Communication is a highly visual resource of instruction, information, ideas, and inspiration for students and professionals.

Introduction. What Is Graphic Design? What Do Graphic Designers Do? I Want to Be a Graphic Designer—Where Do I Begin? The Design Process. Why Bother with Such a Long Process When I Just Like to Make Things? Why Should I Do These Assignments? Section 1: The Elements and Principles of Design. Star Symbol/Susan Merritt, San Diego State University, San Diego. Object Semantics/Kermit Bailey, North Carolina State University, Raleigh. Symbol Design/Lisa Fontaine, Iowa State University, Ames. Lettermark/Susan Merritt, San Diego State University, San Diego. Vinyletteror/Kenneth Fitzgerald, Old Dominion University, Norfolk. Letterform as Shape/Jan Conradi, State University of New York at Fredonia. Concert Poster/Arnold Holland, California State University, Fullerton. Design History Chair/Hank Richardson, Portfolio Center, Atlanta. Section 2: T ypography as Image. Shaping Words/Richard Ybarra, Art Institute of California, San Diego. Newspaper Stories—A Typographic Workshop/Jürgen Hefele, Fachhochschule Augsburg, Germany. Typographic Self–Portrait/Esen Karol, Mimar Sinan University, Istanbul, Turkey. Typographic Self–Portrait/Elizabeth Resnick, Massachusetts College of Art, Boston. Typeface Poster/Hyun Mee Kim, Samsung Art and Design Institute, Seoul, Korea. Directions Poster/Frank Baseman, Philadelphia University, Philadelphia. Poetry in Motion/Elizabeth Resnick, Glenn Berger, Massachusetts College of Art, Boston. Section 3: Creative Wordplay. Descriptive Pairs/Elizabeth Resnick, Massachusetts College of Art, Boston. Letters as Image/Hyun Mee Kim, Samsung Art and Design Institute, Seoul. Concrete Poetry/Kenneth Fitzgerald, Old Dominion University, Norfolk. Arthur Murray Dance Advertisement/Frank Baseman, Philadelphia University, Philadelphia. CD Cover: Typographic Music/Heather Corcoran, Washington University, St. Louis. Section 4: Word and Image. Word and Image/Elizabeth Resnick, Massachusetts College of Art, Boston. Book Cover Design: The Interpretation of Dreams by Sigmund Freud/Elizabeth Resnick, Massachusetts College of Art, Boston. Book Cover Design: Einstein’s Dreams by Alan Lightman/Elizabeth Resnick, Massachusetts College of Art, Boston. Postage Stamp Design: A Celebration of Cultural Diversity in America /Elizabeth Resnick, Glenn Berger, Massachusetts College of Art, Boston. Postage Stamp Design: A Celebration of American Primary Education: Reading, Writing, Mathematics, and Science /Elizabeth Resnick, Massachusetts College of Art, Boston. Stamp Design/Michael Burke, Fachhochschule Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany. Sculpture Poster/Tom Briggs, Massachusetts College of Art, Boston. Gardening Poster/Karen Berntsen, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh. The Kitchen of Meaning Exhibition Poster/Kermit Bailey, North Carolina State University, Raleigh. Section 5: Grid and Visual Hierarchy. Typographic History Spread/Elizabeth Resnick, Massachusetts College of Art, Boston. Two–Sided Typeface Poster/Judith Aronson, Simmons College, Boston. Three Type Specimens/Carol Sogard, University of Utah, Salt Lake City. Visual Poetry Calendar/Peggy Re, Beth Hay, University of Maryland, Baltimore County. The Science Lecture Series Posters/Elizabeth Resnick, Massachusetts College of Art, Boston. Book: Lewis and Clark /Heather Corcoran, Washington University, St. Louis. Journey Journal/Gülizar Çepoğlu, London College of Printing, London. Section 6: Visual Advocacy. The Literacy Poster: Learn to Read /Elizabeth Resnick, Massachusetts College of Art, Boston. Human Rights Poster/Elizabeth Resnick, Massachusetts College of Art, Boston. Designing Dissent: Advocacy Poster Series/Elizabeth Resnick, Massachusetts College of Art, Boston. Happy Deutschland/Jürgen Hefele, Fachhochschule, Augsburg, Germany. Three–dimensional Direct Response (Mail) Solicitation/Elizabeth Resnick, Glenn Berger, Massachusetts College of Art, Boston. Tolerance Bus Shelter Poster/Frank Baseman, Philadelphia University, Philadelphia. Bibliography. Instructor Contact Information. Index.

Elizabeth Resnick is Chair of Communication Design at the Massachusetts College of Art in Boston. She also operates a design studio specializing in publication design and corporate communications.