Computer software and programs are a central part of graphic design. A beginner graphic design course should cover the most current and widely used design software. Some programs that you might encounter include Adobe Photoshop, Adobe illustrator, Adobe Acrobat, Adobe InDesign and Quark XPress. The design programs you are introduced to may vary. However, you can expect to work with and start to become proficient with computer programs that handle layout, graphic creation and press preparation.
A beginner graphic design course will cover the basic elements of design. These elements include line, shape, texture and space. Some other elements are color, size and value. Every graphic design project and layout will use most if not all of these basic elements. These elements catch a viewer's eye, create a mood for the layout, highlight the most important information in the piece and ultimately convey a message to the viewer. Your beginner graphic design course instructor will cover these basics and create projects using these elements
Emphasis, rhythm, unity and balance are the four guiding principles of design that you should be introduced to in a beginner course. Emphasis deals with the shape, text or object that gets noticed first in a graphic design piece. Rhythm is created when varied elements are placed at intervals to create a repetitive pattern. Alternating light and dark text type is an example of creating rhythm in graphic design. Unity creates the feeling that all of the elements of a piece belong together. This is done through repetition and consistency. Balance deals with the distribution of visual weight in a piece. Symmetrical and asymmetrical balances are used in graphic design today. Your course instructor will provide in-depth information on graphic design principles and might assign exercises to work with them further.
A basic graphic design course should introduce you to problems in graphic design that should be avoided. There are several mistakes in graphic design that can confuse a viewer or even ruin a layout. These problems include uneven spacing, irregularities in blocks of text, overly similar or different typefaces and other mistakes that create unsightly layouts. Your instructor will probably cover these problems early in the course and will help you overcome them as the class progresses.