Welcome to ART 266 - Graphic Design I (CRN: 50822) - Summer 2025
Welcome to ART 266 - Graphic Design I (CRN: 50822)! I am thrilled to have you in this fully online course, where we will dive into the world of visual communication, digital design, and creative problem-solving. Whether you're new to graphic design or looking to refine your skills, this class will provide hands-on experience using Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and other industry-standard tools to bring your creative ideas to life.
Instructor Contact Information
Instructor: Canguo Liu
Email Address: Canguo_liu@cuesta.edu
Office Location/Hours: Online office hours are appointment-based
Course Environment
This fully online course uses Canvas (https://cuesta.instructure.com/) as the main platform. All lectures, assignments, discussions, and evaluations will take place within Canvas. Students must regularly log in, participate in discussions, and complete assignments on time.
Accessing the Course
You can access the course on Canvas starting June 9, 2025. If you have trouble logging in, please contact technical support at support@my.cuesta.edu.
Course Description
ART 266 introduces principles and processes used in the creative and practical exploration of visual communication. Topics include:
- Digital layout
- Graphics
- Illustrations
- Photography
- Web & UX
- Animation and video
Prerequisites: Advisories: ART 255 and/or ART 256
Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Apply basic design principles and elements of visual communication to graphic design projects.
- Create graphic design work using industry-standard tools, materials, and techniques.
- Analyze and apply inspiration, ideas, and techniques from contemporary and historical graphic design work.
Student portfolio.
Weekly Schedule Overview (June 9 - July 18, 2025)
- Week 1 (June 9–15): Illustrator - Logos & Social Media Design
- Week 2 (June 16–22): Illustrator - Advanced Illustrations
- Week 3 (June 23–29): Photoshop - Digital Image Enhancement
- Week 4 (June 30–July 6): Layout Design - Typography and Page Layout
- Week 5 (July 7–13): UX/UI Design - Experience and Interaction Design
- Week 6 (July 14–18): Motion Graphics with After Effects & Final Portfolio Submission
Required Materials
Software:
- Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator, etc.). https://www.adobe.com/home
- Students can purchase an education-discounted subscription ($49.99/6 months) from Collegebuys.org. (may not always available)
Hardware:
- A Mac or Windows computer capable of running Adobe Creative Cloud.
- Tablets and mobile devices are not sufficient for this course.
Technical Support
For any technical issues, contact Cuesta support:
- Email: support@my.cuesta.edu
- Canvas Support: support@instructure.com
Accommodations
If you require accommodations, please contact DSPS at 805-546-3148 as soon as possible.
Academic Honesty Policy
- Academic integrity is expected. Students must adhere to Cuesta College’s Student Code of Conduct. Plagiarism or cheating will result in disciplinary action.
Course Policies
- Regular Effective Contact: Weekly announcements, discussions, and timely feedback.
- Time Commitment: Expect to spend 8–12 hours per week on coursework.
- Add/Drop Policy: Follow Cuesta College guidelines: Add Policy | Drop Policy
- Waitlist Policy: Refer to Cuesta’s Waitlist Policy
Looking forward to an exciting semester!
Instructor: Canguo Liu
