DSGN 102 Design Principles

5 credits

Dive into the fundamentals of design with “Design Principles,” a dynamic course that explores the essential principles and techniques needed to create compelling visual compositions. Students will begin by understanding color theory, learning how to effectively use color to convey emotion, create visual harmony, and enhance the impact of your designs. Explore the principles of hierarchy and Gestalt to understand how to guide viewers’ attention and create cohesive and intuitive designs. Students gain hands-on experience in layout and composition, where they will develop the skills to organize visual elements in a balanced and clear manner.

Prerequisites: ABED 40 or AHSE 56 (or placement into MATH 87 or AHSE 66 or higher) and ABED 46 (or placement into ENGL 93 or higher)

Course Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to:

Demonstrate an understanding of color principles, including color harmony, contrast, and emotional impact, to create effective and visually appealing designs
Implement design principles related to visual hierarchy and Gestalt psychology to organize content effectively, guiding the viewer’s attention and enhancing overall comprehension
Develop and execute well-structured layouts and compositions that balance visual elements and achieve specific design goals
Create high-quality vector graphics using industry-standard software, showcasing precision, scalability, and attention to detail
Evaluate and critique design work, including your own, using established design principles to provide constructive feedback and make informed design decisions
Combine color theory, hierarchy, Gestalt principles, and composition techniques to produce cohesive and impactful design projects

College-Wide Learning Outcomes
This course teaches to the college-wide learning outcome of Information Literacy, the ability to recognize when information is needed, to choose the appropriate tools to locate the required information, and to effectively gather and evaluate the information.

Total Hours: 70 Theory (Lecture) Hours: 30 Guided Practice (Lab or Clinical) Hours: 40