Document Design
Curriculum guideline
Lecture 2 hours/week; Lab 2 hours/week
or
Hybrid: 2 hours/week in class; 2 hours/week online
or
Fully online
Some or all of the following methods will be used:
- lecture/discussion
- group work
- peer review
- lab exercises
- projects
- instructor feedback on students’ work
- individual consultation
- presentation (individual or group)
- field trip(s)
1. Introduction to Design
Students will
- learn basic print design theory, including page structure, column formatting, typeface relationships, and the use of white space and colour (process and spot)
- produce a variety of simple one- and two-colour projects, including stationery, invitations, and specialized form letters, using industry-standard software programs
- become familiar with common design errors and how to correct them
- become familiar with print terminology
- become familiar with traditional assembly procedures
2. Applied Design
Students will
- assess the functionality of software for drawing, graphics, and presentation
- assess the suitability of different design techniques for a variety of publications
- analyze design needs of various clients and organizations
- prepare design elements, text specifications, and graphics in a graphics software program for import into page-layout software
- investigate rates of and accessibility to professional designers
3. Page Layout
Students will
- prepare text in a word-processing program for import into a page-layout program
- examine the basic structure of a page-layout program
- examine techniques for producing a simple publication in a page-layout program
- examine and use design techniques for page balance and presentation effectiveness
- examine and use advanced techniques in page-layout software, including
- manipulating and integrating graphics
- creating large initial letters
- placing pull quotes
- determining justified and unjustified text spacing
- kerning
- using non-standard line spacing
- spacing headlines
- wrapping text around even and uneven shapes
- downloading fonts to a printer
- printing to file
- printing thumbnails, crop marks, and reductions
- producing forms
- designing templates
4. Print Coordination
Students will
- examine the stages of preparing a publication for digital output to service bureaus and learn how to coordinate a project through print production, including full-colour separation, spot-colour separation, halftone screens, bleeds, overlays and complex registration, digital and printers’ proofs
- analyze various paper weights, styles and sizes
- examine spot and process colour systems
- analyze the process of printing documents on a variety of presses, including web and four-colour presses
- obtain estimates on costs involved in a variety of print jobs
- assess publications at the blueline (or comparable) stage for errors, additions, omissions, etc.
- assess print proofs for colour, errors, omissions, corrections
- go to a professional print shop to view specific production issues, such as colour balance, registration, and plate imperfections
Students who successfully complete this course will
- be able to identify, understand, and use the basic principles of two-dimensional design
- develop advanced skills in an industry-standard page-layout software program
- become more experienced users of graphics software programs
- understand print production technology and procedures, including how to communicate with other print professionals, estimate costs, and deal with digital output
- produce a series of design projects suitable for inclusion in a professional communication portfolio
Students are expected to be self-motivated and to demonstrate professionalism, which includes active participation, good attendance, punctuality, effective collaboration, ability to meet deadlines, presentation skills, and accurate self-evaluation.
Evaluation is in accordance with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy and will be based on this general format:
| Wordmark (logo design) | 5% |
| Stationery package and style guide | 10% |
| Minor project | 15% |
| Midterm exam | 15% |
| Major project (e.g., magazine dummy) | 25% |
| Presentation | 15% |
| Professionalism/participation (as defined above) | 15% |
| 100% |
Texts may be selected from current editions of
- Dean Philip Lem, Graphics Master
- Jan V. White, Editing by Design
A coursepack of readings will be provided.
Software is available in college labs. Students are strongly encouraged to purchase subscriptions to the software program(s) taught in this course for at-home practice.
Acceptance into the Post-Degree Diploma in Professional Communication
OR
A minimum of 45 credit hours including a university-transfer course in English, Communications, or Creative Writing with a grade of B or higher
OR
Permission of the Professional Communication program coordinator
None