Introduction

A comprehensive course incorporating design, desktop publishing, motion graphics and web design. The course is aimed at students wishing to pursue careers as print designers, finished artists and web designers. Emphasis is placed on practical skills and the importance of conceptualisation, best practice in design and effective use of relevant computer applications.

The course begins with an introduction to the computer environment and then takes the student through the most widely used print and new media applications. At the end of the course, students leave with an extensive and varied portfolio of work and the technical expertise required in the design industry.

To give students real-world skills and to encourage best practice, the learning environment is run as closely as it can be to a professional design studio. Students follow the design process from research and conceptualisation through to finished product. They explore ideas, learn the importance of planning, professionalism and teamwork, and they learn how to assess good design as their technical abilities develop. Lectures are given by industry professionals and projects are presented as real briefs with input from practicing designers and clients. Evaluation occurs regularly and is based on a student's technical knowledge, design ability and personal performance.

Course content

Year 1

1. Image manipulation using Adobe Photoshop
   Adobe Photoshop is the industry standard application used for retouching, colour-correcting and manipulating images. It is probably the most widely used application across all design disciplines as most designs contain some form of imagery. Teaching begins with a light-hearted approach to photo manipulation and develops to demonstrate techniques used in the creation of book covers and CD artwork.
2. Page layout and typography using Adobe InDesign and QuarkXpress
   Eye-catching layout and well-crafted type are the primary requirements for good design. Through paper-based exercises students learn the fundamentals of layout and typography, which they then apply to the creation of newsletters, brochures and sophisticated magazine, spreads using Adobe InDesign and QuarkXpress.
3. Corporate identity and packaging with Adobe Illustrator
   Adobe Illustrator is a popular and versatile drawing application used to generate digital graphic artwork. Project-based exercises give students the opportunity to use the application in the context of the key disciplines of corporate identity and packaging design.
4. Repro and print with Adobe Acrobat
   Much of the success of a design lies in its reproduction and print. Students acquire a thorough knowledge of colour, resolution, paper and printing techniques through lectures and exposure to the printing industry.

Module 2 - Web design:

1. Design for the web using Adobe Photoshop
   Web page layout and interface design require not only a good knowledge of layout principles, but also an understanding of the technical constraints and possibilities of the screen medium. Adobe Photoshop is used as a sketch tool in the students' investigation of interface design and as the primary application in the preparation of imagery for the web.
2. HTML and CSS
   Students learn the two easy languages required to create web pages and are introduced to the principles of website structure and navigation.
3. Online advertising and interactivity with Adobe Flash and basic ActionScript
   Adobe Flash is an animation application used in the creation of interactive media such as banner adverts, rich media websites, presentations and television inserts. ActionScript enables the designer to further unlock Flash's potential. Students create online marketing campaigns and explore the nature of interactivity.
4. Online branding and Adobe Dreamweaver
   The principles of online branding are demonstrated through case studies of some well-known online brands. Students apply these principles to a website they build using Adobe Dreamweaver, the industry's most popular website creation and publishing application.
5. Online portfolio and exhibition
   Through discussion and debate students are introduced to the concept of branding and what it means in the marketplace. They are encouraged to create their own "brands" and to market the work they have produced over the year in their own branded online portfolios.

Year 2

1. Advanced approaches in desktop publishing and design
   An exploration of advanced techniques in Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign and Adobe Illustrator.
2. Video editing and Adobe Premiere
   Students learn how to assemble and edit video footage using Adobe Premiere.
3. Basic sound editing using Adobe Audition
   Students explore the basics of creating, editing and remixing sounds for video and web use.
4. Motion graphics with Adobe After Effects
   Students discover the creative possibilities of Adobe After Effects, the application that provides a comprehensive set of tools to efficiently produce motion graphics and visual effects for film, video and the web.
5. DVD creation using Adobe Encore
   Students learn how to create professional DVD discs designing menus, buttons, links, overrides, galleries and subtitles and use these skills to create a DVD disc of all their motion graphics work.

Module 4 - Specialisation in print or web design:

Students choose to specialise in either print design, or web design incorporating motion graphics. Each specialisation comprises short courses covering advanced techniques, self-initiated study, work placements where possible, and team projects. The module is very intensive as students are expected to manage a number of projects simultaneously, whilst quickly learning new skills and preparing their final portfolios. During the module lecturers ready the students for life in the design industry with advice on jobs, contacts and opportunities as well as help with resumés and presentation skills.

Industry trends, student requirements and course scheduling dictate the exact content of the module. Typically the print design specialisation would include courses in advanced repro, marketing and design management. The web design specialisation would include courses in advanced ActionScript, PHP programming and accessibility for the web.

At the end of the module students integrate all the work they have produced over the course into their own online portfolios and a group exhibition.

Due to the fast-moving nature of the design industry Concept Interactive reserves the right to change its courses to keep pace with industry requirements and technological changes.