INTRODUCTION TO GRAPHIC DESIGN

IDT Graduate Project

INTRODUCTION TO GRAPHIC DESIGN

IDT Graduate Project

This course was built around the Backward Design framework utilizing Open Educational Resources (OER) for all instructional materials and user guides. The theories used were Cognitivism (memorizing and information processing via OER) and Constructionism (summative assessments).

Audience: This course is designed to be used by beginning adult graphic design students. 

Responsibilities: Instructional Design, Course Map, eLearning Development, LMS Development (Canvas)

Tools Used: Adobe Creative Suite, Open Educational Resources, Artificial Intelligence (Content Creation), Instructure Canvas (LMS)

PROBLEM AND SOLUTION

The purpose of this course is to assist individuals interested in learning the foundational principles of graphic design. This course explores the use of balance, repetition & rhythm, and the Golden Spiral & Rule of Thirds in composition. Students are assessed on key terminology and definitions regarding the principles of design, they examine the principles in various compositions, and apply these principles to compositions they create. The course culminates with a final project that applies these graphic design principles into a poster advert for an event that the students must create.

To maximize engagement and ensure a well-rounded learning experience, the course incorporates:

1. Interactive Discussion Forums: These platforms extend beyond lecture materials, encouraging critical thinking and peer-to-peer knowledge sharing.

2. Practical Assessments: Hands-on exercises allow students to demonstrate their understanding of lecture content by applying drawing techniques in real-world scenarios.

3. Prerequisite Course Advancement: In order for the student to progress to the next module, they must demonstrate that each module activity and assessment goals have been completed.

4. Theory-to-Practice Integraiton: The course structure bridges the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, ensuring students can effectively translate concepts into tangible artistic skills.

By combining theoretical foundations with practical application and collaborative learning, this course equips students with the tools and confidence to embark on their graphic design journey.

PROCESS

The process of creating this course began with the development of a comprehensive course outline. This outline served as a blueprint, noting the course objectives, module learning objectives, open educational resources to be utilized throughout the course, student activities, and assessments for knowledge checks.

The course was constructed using the Backward Design framework, incorporating Open Educational Resources (OER) as the primary instructional materials and user guides. The instructional approach was grounded in the learning theories of  Cognitivism (memorizing and information processing via OER) and Constructionism (summative assessments in which students provide an artifact that demonstrates knowledge retention).

Following the principles of backward design, the course outline began with the identification of the desired artifacts and necessary assessments to gauge knowledge retention. Once the assessments and desired artifacts were determined, the course and module objectives were carefully constructed. Simultaneously, appropriate open educational resources were located and selected to provide the learning materials needed to support these objectives and outcomes. The utilization of artificial intelligence allowed for content creation when designing each lecture page of the course.

This methodical approach ensures that the course is well-structured, with clear alignment between objectives, activities, assessments, and learning outcomes, all supported by carefully curated open educational resources.

REFLECTION

This eLearning project provided an excellent opportunity for instructional designer, David Schlotterback, to combine his expertise as an art educator and graphic design specialist. The result is a comprehensive and engaging introductory course in graphic design, carefully crafted to meet the needs of aspiring designers.

Key Achievements

1. Curriculum Development: Leveraging his multimedia background, David created a well-rounded curriculum that covers essential graphic design principles in a logical, progressive format.

2. Tailored Learning Experience:  The course structure allows students to build on their knowledge incrementally, reinforcing concepts as they advance through the material.

3. Effective Instructional Design: By implementing a thoughtful instructional design process, we ensured that potential knowledge gaps are addressed systematically throughout the course.

Impact and Insights

Developing this course reinforced the importance of:

• Structuring content in a way that facilitates progressive learning

• Aligning course materials with real-world graphic design practices

• Incorporating diverse learning methods to cater to different learning styles

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