Introduction to Branding & Identity Workshop // DESIGN 455

Jonathan Grover, Designer

Friday, January 20th from 1:00 - 5:00 pm

This two-part series places you in the drivers seat as a designer working to create a successful
brand identity. The first part of this series focuses on learning design fundamentals: form and
space, color, typography, image, and layout. We will learn the rules for creating effective designs
and knowing when to break the rules as well. The second part of this series uses these design
fundamentals as a foundation to guide you in building your own scalable vector logos using
Adobe Illustrator. This lab section will in no way be exhaustive in terms of learning all aspects of
Illustrator, but will teach you the necessary tools to start creating your own digital designs (with
emphasis on logo creation). Bring your own laptop with the aforementioned software (or current
trial version), some blank paper, pencils, and an eager mind. No prerequisites required. External
mouse or pen tablets optional.

Session One (1/20/12): Graphic Design Elements
Part lecture and part exercise, this session focuses on understanding the individual elements used in visual
communication and basic rules a designer can draw from to create well designed work that effectively
communicates. Through exploration of theory in form, color, typography, image, and layout; we will learn to
make decisions in the design process that will speak to our audience. Students can expect to come away with
a familiarity of the terms a designer uses and a deeper understanding of the design process. Although nobody
becomes a design samurai in 4 hours; the guidelines offered here will provide a road map to creating successful,
powerful, and professional designs. Bring some blank paper, (pencils, crayons, colored markers optional). No
prerequisites required.

Topics Include:
• 20 rules of design
• Seeing form & space
• Compositional strategies
• Color Identity, Meaning
• Chromatic Interaction
• Choosing Typography
• Image Presentation and use
• Structuring elements
• Knowing when to break the rules

Suggested text:
Design Elements: A Graphic Style Manual by Timothy Samara, Rockport Publishers Inc, ISBN - 13: 978-1-59253-261-2


Session Two (2/3/12):  Adobe Illustrator for Scalable Vector Graphic Creation

Dive into Adobe Illustrator the versatile vector design software that’s turning heads. Explore the use of the pen
tool, gradients, bristle brushes, and other new tools to create your own sharp scalable graphics (with an emphasis
on logo creation). This section transitions from the concept phase to finalizing our ideas as digital vector logos.
The course teaches the basics of Illustrator and although it is not fully exhaustive in terms of all Illustrator has to
offer, it equips students with the skills to produce their own vector designs.

Topics:
• Workspace
• Saving / Opening
• File Types
• Magnify + & -
• Basic Shapes
• Layers, Grouping, Arrangement
• Pen tools
• Shape Builder Tool
• Color Panels
• Gradient Tool, Gradient Panel
• Gradient Mesh
• Text Tool
• Blending Modes
• Bristle Brush shading

Jonathan Grover received his BFA in Graphic Design from the University of Akron, and was awarded an MFA in
Design & Technology from the San Francisco Art Institute. He has worked nationally as a designer, digital artist,
and teacher. He has exhibited internationally, been published in Creative Quarterly, noted by The San Francisco
Chronicle, and received media attention from NBC for his interactive artwork. Jonathan currently resides
in Brooklyn, New York, creating new media arts developed for public interaction and working as a freelance
graphics/web designer, and technology consultant.

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