Principles of design are introduced to learners through exercises, projects and rapid ideation. Learners will explore contrast, repetition, proximity, alignment and colour, with a focus on design process and composition across a variety of media.

This course introduces learners to the craft of typography through the study of professional typographic vocabulary and definitions. A brief history of type is covered, then font management and the fundamental elements of classification and type identification. The course presents an introduction to typesetting (selection, size and spacing), kerning, tracking, leading and hierarchy; and the awareness of, and corrections for, common type errors.

The profession of digital design is fast-moving, creative, and client-focused; these dynamics will be explored, along with the roles of the project team, working successfully in groups and remotely. The course will provide an overview of the work environment, reviewing workflow and the pace of projects. Professional ethics will be explored, including online privacy and information security.

The “image” in interactive design, interface building, and web publishing is central to digital production. This course covers key tools, filters, and layers in the creation and manipulation of images, building foundational skills in the use of creative production software. A combination of photography, typography, drawing, computer graphics, brainstorming techniques, and production methods are addressed, as well as interactive design. Learners explore techniques combining photographic and illustrative material using imaging software to produce digital based visuals, collages, and conceptual mock-ups with both bitmap and vector elements.

This course introduces the principles of designing the user experience. These principles as well as design thinking are applied in the construction of effective solutions to business scenarios. Learners take a multi-disciplinary approach to integrating skills, concepts, and performance criteria within production teams. The course covers marketing content, layouts, usability testing, and visual theory, as well as introduces designing for emerging technologies.

In this course, learners apply the art and science of communicating in both online and offline environments as part of a marketing strategy. Learners design creative, targeted materials working with a variety of digital tools and platforms as well as evaluating the relationship between language, product, and audience. In keeping with professional practice, project materials are formally presented as they would be in the digital marketing workplace.