Online Graphic Design Courses

The Graphic Design undergraduate certificate program prepares students to use Adobe® software for graphic design and production in a current career or to continue their graphic design education.

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:

• Identify different career options available to digital artists
• Understand the correct use of color and its effectiveness in creating designs
• Describe the formal elements of design, including line, shape, form, direction, texture, value, color, and composition.
• Use Adobe Illustrator® to create graphics illustrations for print, multimedia and the web
• Use Adobe Photoshop® to create high quality photos, graphics for product illustrations, logos, animations, and websites
• Use Adobe Illustrator® or Adobe Photoshop® to enhance words, phrases or quotations, to communicate effectively with your audience, and use both traditional and contemporary typographic skill
• Use Adobe InDesign® to design an image, brochure, magazine or web page to reach target audiences with printed publications that can be repurposed into interactive digital documents for delivery on the Web and on mobile and tablet devices
• Use brand information to design a package that's appropriate for the target audiences
• Discuss general manufacturing and printing processes related to packaging design
• Create a digital portfolio to use on an interview for an entry level position

All applicants are required to complete two Basic Skills Assessments, one in reading and one in math, to determine the level of readiness for beginning their selected program. Additional studies may be required.

Succeed by learning how to use your Penn Foster program, and learn how computer technology enables the trained individual to create highly sophisticated images.

Objectives:

• Understand how to use your Student Portal.
• Access the Penn Foster Community and use it to find answers.
• Connect with Penn Foster on various social media sites.
• Describe the benefits of using computers for artistic purposes.
• Identify hardware and tools used to create digital art.
• Explore different career opportunities available to digital artists.

Color sends a powerful message, and the correct use of color can add to the effectiveness of any project.

Objectives:

• Explain the perception of color, the effect of light temperature on the appearance of a color, and color overtone and its impact on color mixing
• Describe the principles and structure of color, including light, color schemes, and color proportions
• Identify color studies with various materials and techniques
• Recognize color interaction and effects
• Comprehend how to apply color principles
• Discuss color harmony and proportions
• Define and interpret color in art and its psychological effects

Textbook: Color: A Workshop for Artists and Designers

In this course, you’ll explore endless possibilities to create a great design.

Objectives:

• Identify the four basic principles of design and the ways they're used in a variety of projects.
• Recognize color relationships.
• Explain the essential aspects of typography, including contrasts and categories.
• Demonsstrate skill at incorporating proximity, alignment, repetition, contrast, color, and type into a design.

Textbook: Non-Designers Design Book

Learn and practice the basic skills needed to produce Adobe® Illustrator® artwork.

Objectives:

• Identify the tools and components of the Illustrator workspace
• Describe how to use artboards as well as how to create basic and complex shapes using the Pen tool
• Create, edit, and apply color, text, gradients, blends, patterns, and brushes
• Explain how to use the Appearance, Graphic Styles, and Symbols panels; work with imported images and masks; and export assets

Software: Adobe® CS6 Design Standard

Textbook: Adobe Illustrator CS6: The Professional Portfolio

In this course, you’ll learn to use Adobe® Photoshop® to produce the highest-quality images for print, Web, and screen.

Objectives:

• Modify and enhance images
• Create original imagery using shape and painting tools
• Retouch and correct existing photographs and images
• Extract detailed selections from existing images
• Apply special effects and filters to images
• Add type to images
• Create and optimize static and animated images for delivery on the Web

Textbook: Adobe® Photoshop® CS6 Digital Classroom

Continue your study of photo image editing usingAdobe® Photoshop,® and practice your skills through step-by-step projects.

Objectives:

• Set up your workspace for print and Web
• Use Bridge to manage your images
• Create custom colors and describe color processes
• Use nondestructive adjustment tools to correct and edit images
• Use retouching tools and keyboard shortcuts
• Create composite images using layers, layer effects, and blend modes
• Employ selections and channels to edit and composite images
• Use vector drawing tools
• Find, use, and manipulate images
• Save files in the proper format and resolution
• Output files for proofing, page layout, printing, and the Web

Textbook: Photoshop CS6 Essential Skills

Typography is the study of the design of font and the way it is laid out to achieve the desired visual effect. Many graphic design projects involve typography.

Objectives:

• Define key moments in the history of typography
• Label key parts of a letterform
• Differentiate among the five classic typefaces
• Design with text type
• Design with display type
• Use both traditional and more recent typographic skills
• Create your own design projects

Textbook: Designing with Type

In this course, you’ll learn to use Adobe® InDesign® software to create printed publications into that can be repurposed into interactive digital documents for delivery on the Web, mobile, and tablet.

Objectives:

• Set up files for single– and multiple–page documents for print and digital publishing
• Lay out text and images on the page
• Format and stylize text
• Use tools and shortcuts
• Set tabs to align text
• Set up master pages and styles
• Use vector drawing tools
• Modify graphics
• Locate, use, and manipulate images
• Create and manage color
• Output files for proofing and for final print
• Create special image effects

Textbook: Adobe® InDesign® CC: Classroom in a Book

In this course, you’ll learn the components of a successful brand.

Objectives:

• Interpret branding and packaging design as a communication and marketing tool
• Identify the market factors that affect packaging
• Explain the importance of brand packaging design as it relates to the protection against spoilage, breakage, and tampering and as a method of transportation for an enclosed product
• Distinguish between branding, brand packaging design, and other communication forms
• Develop a clearly defined strategy for brand packaging design that stands out from market competition
• Incorporate the use of typography, dimensions, and imagery as it relates to the communicable characteristics of a brand or product
• Summarize the importance of sustainability as it relates to packaging design
• Discuss general manufacturing and printing processes related to packaging design

Textbook: Packaging Design: Successful Product from Concept to Shelf

This course focuses on using Adobe® Photoshop® to create graphics, animations, and page layouts for the Web.

Objectives:

• Set up your workspace
• Define Web terminology
• Discuss color processes and create custom colors
• Use layers
• Create shapes and objects
• Create documents for mobile devices
• Work with wire frames
• Format type for Web viewing
• Use layer styles
• Create website mock-ups
• Save and optimize images in the correct resolution
• Create image sprites
• Automate workflow
• Integrate images with other Adobe CS6 applications

Portfolio Development covers the process of developing and maintaining an electronic portfolio. Topics covered are the preparation and organization of graphic creations, such as logos, websites, and brochures. This course culminates in the presentation of an electronic portfolio utilizing graphics created throughout this course.

Objectives:

• Prepare a professional verbal and visual presentation that includes a cover letter, résumé, and portfolio
• Create a traditional portfolio
• Produce linear and interactive digital portfolio
• Create compelling type designs and layouts
• Design a user-friendly interface for an interactive web-based portfolio

Textbook: The Graphic Designer’s Guide to Portfolio Design

This assessment will evaluate the knowledge and skills that you learned during the program. You choose the time, the location, and the qualified exam supervisor.