Course Title: Research and apply graphic design techniques

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2023

Course Code: GRAP9466C

Course Title: Research and apply graphic design techniques

School: 515T Creative Industries

Campus: City Campus

Program: C4422 - Certificate IV in Screen and Media

Course Contact: Suzanne Thomson

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 8428

Course Contact Email: suzanne.thomson@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Teacher: Suzanne Thomson
suzanne.thomson@rmit.edu.au
+61 3 9925 8428

Program Coordinator:Suzanne Thomson
suzanne.thomson@rmit.edu.au
+61 3 9925 8428

Nominal Hours: 50

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

None.

Course Description

In this course you will develop the skills and knowledge required to research and apply techniques to produce graphic design work. It involves interpreting work briefs, organising resources, testing ideas, and refining approaches to a range of design challenges.

The course applies to those still developing a full range of skills. Research, experimentation and refinement are used to produce a range of general design works. Individuals generally produce work independently, with guidance as required.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

CUAGRD411 Research and apply graphic design techniques

Element:

1. Interpret and plan graphic design briefs

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Interpret specifications in graphic design briefs and clarify issues with required personnel

1.2 Consider user or client requirements when making decisions about graphic design work

1.3 Research contemporary and historical information for briefs as required

Element:

2. Organise resources

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Identify workspace and materials required for graphic design work

2.2 Store files and completed documentation using standard industry procedures

Element:

3. Test graphic design approaches

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Produce preliminary visual representations

3.2 Identify possible design approaches and critique in relation to the design brief

3.3 Select resources, materials and techniques required to test identified approaches.

3.4 Evaluate test outcomes against criteria and select the final design approach

3.5 Review own work and seek feedback as required

Element:

4. Produce graphic design work

Performance Criteria:

4.1 Create graphic designs using selected design approach

4.2 Respond to feedback and refine graphic design work

4.3 Present design solution that meets the requirements of the design brief

Learning Outcomes


On successful completion of this course you will have developed and applied the skills and knowledge required to demonstrate competency in the above elements. 


Details of Learning Activities

This course consists of 2 Units of Competency that are clustered together for delivery and assessment. The other unit of competency in this clustered course is: CUADIG413 Create user interfaces

In class learning activities may include, but are not limited to:

• lectures and/or lab work
• teacher directed group activities and projects
• concept development of group and individual projects
• group discussions and class presentations
• peer and teacher feedback
• self directed online, library and industry research
• self directed project production work and reflection

Out of class activities may include, but are not limited to:

• maintaining secure daily backups of all assessment and project data to your RMIT OneDrive account
• accessing online tutorial resources
• self directed online, library and industry research
• self directed project production work and reflection
• class excursions to events and locations outside of RMIT

 


Teaching Schedule

Please note: While your teacher will cover all the material in this schedule, the weekly order is subject to change depending on class needs and the availability of speakers and resources.

 

Week Topic Assessment / Learning activities

Week 1

Introduction to Digital Design

  • What is a digital design
  • Looking at industry-standard software and tools
  • Basics of Figma 
  
Week 2

Research and design 

  • How to read a design brief
  • Defining a target audience
  • How to define a budget and timeline
  • Legal considerations
  • Ergonomic practices

The basics of Vector shapes (learning Illustrator)

  • Basic Illustrator interface
  • Basic shapes, fills and shapes
  • Learning the basic of  pen tool
 AT1 Part A
Milestone submission
Week 3

Digital Design Theory

  • Understanding the historical and contemporary context 
  • Copyright and IP procedures
  • Accessibility standards
  • Typography standards
  • Visual design principles
  • User testing strategies

How to research and find resources 

  • Industry trends
  
Week 4

Concept generation workshop

  • Sketching icon warm-up 
  • Working on layout sketches
  • Participate in feedback workshop
  
Week 5

Creating a UI Design

  • How to use balance, repetition, proximity and alignment to create a UI design
  • Icon development using Illustrator
 AT1 Part B
Milestone submission
Week 6

Prototyping

  • Adding colour and focusing on contrast, considering Accessibility standards. 
  
Week 7

User testing workshop

  • Participating in workshop for user testing

 
Week 8

Finalise UI solution

  • Fixing up issues from user testing
  • Recording a walkthrough video to showcase your solution. 
 AT1  Due 
Week 9

Working with photos and bitmaps

  • Learning the basics of Photoshop 
  • Bitmap and Vector
  • Exporting formats
  
Week 10

Researching new client brief

  • Building resources
  • Gathering content
  • Making a plan
 AT2 Part A
Milestone submission
Week 11

Planning for complex interaction

  • Non-traditional interaction UI patterns
  • How to think about screen interaction differently

 
Week 12

Concept Generation Workshop

  • Participate in rapid exchange of concept development and feedback
  
Week 13

Creating a UI Design

  • How to use balance, repetition, proximity and alignment to create a UI design
  • Creating a more complex layout for interaction.

AT2 Part B
Milestone submission
Week 14

Prototyping

  • Adding colour and focusing on contrast, considering Accessibility standards
  
Week 15

User testing workshop

  • Participating in
  
Week 16

Finalise UI solution

  • Fixing up issues from user testing
  • Recording a walkthrough video to showcase your solution. 
 AT2 Due
Week 17 Review

 


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources


Overview of Assessment

Assessment for this course is ongoing throughout the semester. Your knowledge and understanding of course content is assessed through participation in class exercises, oral presentations and through the application of learned skills and insights to your written tasks. Full assessment briefs will be provided and can be found on CANVAS. 


Assessment Tasks

Students enrolled in Vocational Education and Training qualifications are assessed for Competency.  To be assessed competent means you have consistently demonstrated the required knowledge and skills at a standard expected in the workplace. To be assessed as Competent in this course, you will need to complete each assessment task to a satisfactory standard. You will receive feedback from the teacher at the conclusion of each assessment task.

You should refer to the assessment brief which is available through Canvas for full assessment criteria

Assessment 01: UI Design

For this assessment, you will use a defined process to clarify, research, generate ideas, create, and test an interactive solution with custom graphics.

Due Week 8

Assessment 02: Application Prototype Design 

For your assessment, you will build upon the skills you have acquired in previous lessons and create a more advanced interactive solution that incorporates your own custom graphics.

Due Week 16

Assessment in this course uses the following grades:

CA - Competency Achieved
NYC - Not Yet Competent
DNS - Did Not Submit


Assessment Matrix

The assessment matrix for this course demonstrates alignment of assessment tasks with the unit of competency. These matrices are available through Program Administration.

Other Information

Please refer to the RMIT student page for extensive information about study support, assessment, extensions, appeals and a range of other matters.

Course Overview: Access Course Overview