Graphic Design Projects by Course

Prepared by Craig Kunce, Graphic Design Instructor, Western Technical College

To demonstrate competency and mastery of our course outcomes and learning objectives, please submit digital files of the projects listed below (or a project very similar to those below). Each project must show a sound understanding of the principles and elements of design.

Also, write a few paragraphs to accompany each project that explains:

  1. What you learned and mastered from the project(s)
  2. What skills/software/apps/websites you used
  3. Describe how many critiques and presentations you went through for each project. Was it in class with groups of students, at work with your coworkers, or one-on-one with your supervisor/instructor?

Design Fundamentals (Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop)

  1. Social media or web graphic
  2. Flyer or Brochure
  3. Infographic Poster

Adobe Illustrator (Vector drawing and design)

  1. Illustrated map of a city, area, location
  2. Still-life drawing of an object or objects
  3. Logo, t-shirt, or packaging label design

Drawing

  1. 4–5 completed drawings in pencil or pen & ink. 2–3 must be fairly complex subject matter.

Photoshop

  1. 2–3 completed projects showing designs created in Photoshop utilizing advanced layer compositing with photos, art, type, and color.

Publication Design 1 (InDesign, Photoshop)

  • 3–4 completed publication projects demonstrating a sound knowledge of the basic InDesign tools (page layout, type, image integration, bleed, text styles, etc.)

Publication Design 2 (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator)

  1. 3–4 completed advanced publication projects showing multiple-page booklets or flyers and demonstrating a sound knowledge of basic and advanced InDesign tools and a strong design ability.

Designing With Type (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator)

  1. Title or typography-heavy design (quote or t-shirt saying with a lot of type in the design)
  2. Brochure design (basic 6-panel brochure or a custom-shaped multiple-panel piece of marketing material.
  3. 11″ x 17″ Poster design with a lot of typography designed into it.

Website Design 1 (HTML, CSS, Brackets, Photoshop, and Illustrator)

  • 2–3 five-page websites designed and written with raw code only (HTML and CSS)

Website Design 2 (HTML, CSS, CMS (WordPress), Photoshop, and Illustrator)

  • 2–3 five-page websites designed and created with a CMS (WordPress, WIX, Webflow, etc.)

Graphic Design & Marketing (Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects) (All design projects must demonstrate advanced type, layout, and color skills)

  1. Packaging design (a box redesigned on all six sides)
  2. Social Media Graphic
  3. 30-second marketing video (created in After Effects, Premier Pro, or a similar advanced program)
  4. Social Media Graphic

Illustration Concepts

  • 4–5 completed drawings in color (colored pencil, colored ink, paint, etc. 1–2 must be fairly complex subject matter.

Graphic Design – Advertising (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator)

  1. Logo design
  2. Brand identity design (business card, letterhead, envelope, etc.)
  3. Advertising campaign including 2–3 ads/marketing pieces

Comprehensive Graphic Design (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects)

  1. A comprehensive design project such as a 2′ x 3′ poster demonstrating advanced type, illustration, photography, color, and layout.
  2. Social media or web graphics accompanying the design project in number 1.
  3. A 30–to 60-second marketing video using only vector drawings from Illustrator that are animated in After Effects or a similar advanced animation program.

Graphic Design Portfolio (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects)

  1. Resume
  2. Cover Letter
  3. Interviewing experience (described in a one-page paper)
  4. Online portfolio with 8–10 examples of your best work (we use Behance.net)
  5. Printed portfolio mounted in a presentation case with 8–10 examples of your best work