The Diploma will groom you to be a full-fledged graphic designer and it is designed for those who are interested to acquire the industrial relevant knowledge and skills in communications & graphic design. Participants will undergo comprehensive training in computer graphic software, the principles of design and conceptualize development for design applications such as editorial and packaging. Participants will be exposed to the practical know-how of the industry. Not only will they be taught the principles and theories, the common "DOs" and "DON'Ts" practiced in the industry will also be highlighted. Project-based training will be the key. Through interactions, hands-on workshops, consultations, practical assignments, presentations and critiques, participants will be able to understand the focus of the topics being covered and better their skills. This program is recommended for those who aspire to become designers.
Modules Description (Diploma in Communication & Design)
The visual communication module acts as an orientation programs for students to embark on their discovery journey of what it takes to become a successful designer, relevant to the industry. Students will be exposed to the various forms of design, as well as understanding fundamentals such as design principles, symbols, colors, etc. This module will focus mainly on the following areas :
- Design appreciation and communication
- Fundamentals and Principles of design
- Colour fundamentals and theories
- Idea development
- Research development
- Protocols and processes
The communication design and typography module will gear students to the next level of design driven skills with a greater emphasis in graphic design and typography.Students will learn how typography forms a visual unit, and utilising graphic design to create an outstanding piece of work - delivering accurate information with communication design. This module will focus mainly on the following areas :
- Type evolution and history
- The graphic designers’ layout grid
- Typography as a visual language
- Working within a given space and a body of information
- How typography affects graphic design
- Type anatomy, measurements, classifications, styles, weights, family
- Type spaces (kerning, tracking, leading, etc)
- Applying variations in layouts and identifying common mistakes
- Creative research, how to get inspiring ideas
- Choosing the right photo or cropping the wrong photo
- File formats
This packaging & print technology module introduces the technologies and procedures of modern lithography and packaging studies to students, equipping them with real industrial knowledge of managing the studio workflow through a visit to a printing plant. This module will focus mainly on the following areas :
- Understanding colors and inks for press
- Understanding dpi, ppi and lpi.
- The different forms of lithography with emphasis on offset lithography
- Pre and post press. Managing the workflow
- Color separation
- Understanding packaging as an extension of a brand
- Choosing the right stock
- Creating prototypes for packaging
- Techniques in performing really nice mockups
This online media design module allow students to integrate communication design with realism through rich media, with studies focusing on web criteria, restrictions and how to use Dreamweaver for dynamic web presentations. This module will focus MAINLY on the following areas :
- Understanding what is the internet, worldwide web and the progress
- The internet and communication design
- Fundamentals of Dreamweaver
- Flowchart
- Understanding tables in Dreamweaver
- Navigating the site with buttons
- Consistency with CSS styles
- Technical skills such as image quality, file format, color space, etc
In this digital studio module, students will be introduced to the fundamentals of computer-aided-design with industry standard applications - Photoshop and Illustrator. The objective of this module is to equip students with the skills necessary to stay relevant in the digital age. This module is divided into two equal parts, 6 sessions for each application.
- Photoshop
- Understanding Photoshop tools and work area
- Working with Photoshop layers and masking features
- Understanding colour modes, color correction
- Working with transparencies, blending mode, paths and clipping paths
- Filters and plug ins
- File formats, smart objects, etc
- Illustrator
- Understanding the workspace of a vector-based environment
- Basic layout techniques
- Drawing with Illustrator
- Working with layers, transparencies, graphic styles
- Precision drawing with Illustrator
- Path operations, masking and filters
- Creating proofs (draft, print, press)
This corporate Identity & design module will provide students the science behind every corporation’s ‘persona’. Besides creating the corporate personality, the modules also explores the components of a corporate identity programme that will promote consistency in both discipline and application. This module will focus MAINLY on the following areas :
- The coming of corporate communications
- The story, the visual, the package
- The science of symbols and colors
- The logotype and the semiotics
- Supporting devices/ applications
- The corporate design mandatories
- The corporate identity system, why is it so important?
This editorial design module covers important aspects on how to structure a set of cohesive editorial content, grids and components through the use of InDesign as the technical aspects. Students not only will learn content gathering, they will also understand how to create personalities and tone for publication. This module is divided into 6 sessions for Editorial Design and 6 sessions on InDesign. This module will focus mainly on the following areas :
- Editorial
- Editorial design and its objectives
- Anatomy of a publication
- Creating layouts
- Essential layout skills
- InDesign
- Working with InDesign’s features such as master pages and section markers
- Creating paragraphs and character styles
- Working with InDesign’s table feature
Students embark on their final journey for communication design through integrating the modules learnt with a selfinitiated project. The communication design major project will allow students to implement design methods, communication design strategy and design for both print and web into a remarkable piece of creative work through non-mass media means.
Upcoming Intakes
Part-time:
15th Feb 2012 Full
21st May 2012
Full-time:
06th Mar 2012
04th Jun 2012