Tuesday, 6 September 2011

Reflections on Introduction to Graphic Design

Important concepts covered in materials:

The A sizes (mm) A0 841 x 1189 AI 594 x 841 A2 420 x594 A3 297 x 420 A4 210 x297 45 148x 210 A6 105 x 148 A7 74 x 105 A8 52x74

 “A sizes describe paper.  B sizes are larger and used for printing as they include a trim and C sizes are for envelopes which contain A sizes.”
v  In ISO sizes each paper size works on the ratio of 1: .
v  Paper is either mechanically or chemically produced. Chemicals such as calcium and chlorine free, non-toxic bleach are added to increase the quality of the paper for printing.
v  The weight of the paper helps to describe its thickness. Weights are worked out by weighing reams of 500 sheets each a metre square to get a grams per square metre reading (gsm). Photocopy paper is normally 80gsm.
v  Professional printing is done on white paper stock.
v  Before getting something printed one needs to check the paper stock options available with the printer and discuss these with your client, as well as keep these on file for future reference.

Getting started

Graphic design uses the essential elements of typography, color, images, composition, signs and symbols to creatively solve the problem of getting the target audience to interact with the visual material in the way directed by the client. This phrase helps to sum it up for me, “to try to direct the eye and help mediate the experience of looking at, reading and absorbing all this visual material.”

What I find encouraging is that graphic designers need to be highly observant individuals who are able to analyze and use the preferences of the visual language of a culture. As I have lived in totally divergent cultural settings this aspect of visual communication is very interesting to me.