Semester 1: Foundations
Build Your Creative Foundation
Step into the core software, visual principles, and design thinking strategies that power modern creative careers. Semester 1 transforms your imagination into technical execution.
GRDS-103: Design Elements and Principles
3 Credits
Focus: Master the universal principles of visual organization—line, shape, space, texture, color, balance, and visual hierarchy. Learn to solve creative problems systematically using formal design language.
GRDS-107: Digital Imaging (Adobe Photoshop)
3 Credits
Focus: Master the universal principles of visual organization—line, shape, space, texture, color, balance, and visual hierarchy. Learn to solve creative problems systematically using formal design language.
GRDS-115: Typographic Fundamentals
3 Credits
Focus: Explore type classification, letterform anatomy, typesetting standards, grid structures, and typographic hierarchy. Understand how choice of type changes visual voice and readability.
GRDS-122: Vector Graphics (Adobe Illustrator)
3 Credits
Focus: Build scalable vector graphics, icons, brand logos, and digital illustrations using Illustrator’s pathfinder tools, pen tool workflows, and color systems.
Featured Semester 1 Student Projects
Next Steps & Program Progression
Move to Semester 2
After completing Semester 1, you’ll move directly into multi-page layout design (Adobe InDesign), packaging graphics, advertising strategy, and motion graphics.
What You'll Create
Brand Identity Logos: Vector emblem and logotype packages built in Illustrator (GRDS-122).
Surreal Photo Composites: Multi-layered, retouched raster artworks crafted in Photoshop (GRDS-107).
Poster & Typographic Grids: Print layouts demonstrating visual hierarchy and custom font pairing (GRDS-115).
Color & Form Studies: Explorations in contrast, composition, and visual balance (GRDS-103).
