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Introduction to Illustrator: Basics of Creative Designs

Most Technology Training classes will be delivered online until further notice.

Before each sesson, Tech Training will provide a Zoom link for live online classes, along with any required class materials.

 


Do you want to learn how to create compelling designs that attract an audience to your event? You will learn how to recognize and apply best design practices so that the visual components of your event promotion will be effective.

Prerequisites: None.

Create visually effective designs to convey your subject matter and connect with your audience by learning and applying best typography and design practices. These best practices will be key takeaways from this class. The course is an introduction to Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. It will also cover the basic principles of graphic design.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this class, participants will have the opportunity to learn how to:

  • Design visually effective promotional materials
  • Understand basic design concepts
  • Apply learned design concepts with step-by-step instructions in Illustrator and Photoshop to create your own Poster and Social Media Graphic

Design Concepts Covered:

  • Design process: research/brainstorming/sketching, comps, design
  • Elements of Graphic Design: hierarchy, emphasis, rhythm, movement, contrast, color, balance, proportion/scale
  • Typographic composition: size, scale, weights, placement
  • Font selection: serif, sans-serif, subject, theme, emotion
  • Working with images: image file preparation, placement
  • Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop: step-by-step learning to create the designs
  • Technical: file-preparation, printing, social media

Topic Outline

  • Brief History of Poster / Graphic / Social Media design
  • Elements of Graphic Design
  • Principles of Typography: best practices, leading, kerning
  • Adobe Illustrator: setting up documents, type tool, using layers, color modes and swatches, working with images, file preparation for production and posting online

Requirements: Installation of Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop on your computer, or a free trial license

Tim Schwartz

My teaching experience includes graphic design and typography courses as a faculty member of the Visual Communication department at Northern Arizona University (2017-2021) and Colorado State University (2015-2016).

Custom training workshops are available for this program

Technology training sessions structured around individual or group learning objectives. Learn more about custom training


University IT Technology Training sessions are available to a wide range of participants, including Stanford University staff, faculty, students, and employees of Stanford Hospitals & Clinics, such as Stanford Health Care, Stanford Health Care Tri-Valley, Stanford Medicine Partners, and Stanford Medicine Children's Health.

Additionally, some of these programs are open to interested individuals not affiliated with Stanford, allowing for broader community engagement and learning opportunities.