Income and Ai Focus Graphic Design

Class 1–2: Introduction to Graphic Design & Visual Communication

• History and evolution of graphic design as a discipline
• Role of the graphic designer in modern business and branding
• Visual communication principles: how images convey meaning
• Understanding target audiences and design intent
• Introduction to design thinking and creative problem solving
• AI Application: Use ChatGPT to generate creative briefs, research audience personas, and explore visual direction concepts for any design project
• AI Tool: ChatGPT -conversational ideation partner for brand research, design brief development, and creative problem-solving

Class 3: Color Theory & Psychology

• The color wheel: primary, secondary, and tertiary color relationships
• Color models: RGB (screen) vs CMYK (print) — when and why each matters
• Color harmony schemes: complementary, analogous, triadic, split-complementary, and tetradic
• Color psychology: emotional and cultural associations of individual hues
• 2025 color trends: high-contrast digital palettes, earthy tones, AI-influenced chromatic choices
• Building effective brand color palettes with strategic intent
• AI Application: Use Ideogram and ChatGPT to generate and test color palette concepts - visualize mood-driven palettes applied to real design mockups instantly
• AI Tool: Ideogram - generate color-accurate design visuals to test palette choices before committing to final brand colors

Class 4: Typography - The Grammar of Design

• Type classification: serif, sans-serif, display, script, and monospace typefaces
• Typography hierarchy: heading, subheading, body, and caption relationships
• Kerning, tracking, leading, and baseline alignment
• Font pairing strategies for brand identity and editorial design
• Readability vs legibility: making type work across print and digital media
• OpenType features and variable fonts in modern design workflows
• AI Application: Use ChatGPT to generate font pairing recommendations based on brand personality, and Ideogram to visualize typographic compositions
• AI Tool: ChatGPT - research and compare typeface options; generate typographic hierarchy recommendations for any brand style

Class 5: Layout, Composition & Visual Hierarchy

• The grid system: columnar, modular, and hierarchical grids
• Rule of thirds, the golden ratio, and proportional spacing
• White space (negative space) as a design tool
• Gestalt principles: proximity, similarity, continuity, closure, and figure-ground
• Visual hierarchy: guiding the viewer's eye through intentional design
• Balance: symmetrical, asymmetrical, and radial compositions
• Contrast, alignment, repetition, and proximity (C.A.R.P. principles)
• AI Application: Use ChatGPT to generate layout concepts and mood board descriptions; use Ideogram to visualize compositional arrangements before building in Illustrator
• AI Tool: Ideogram - create reference layout visuals and composition mockups to inform manual design decisions

Class 6: Design Principles Deep Dive + Module Exam

• Synthesis of all Module 1 concepts through applied visual examples
• Case studies: analysis of iconic real-world designs through a theoretical lens
• Module 1 Completion Exam: written and visual assessment
• AI Integration Review: Reflect on how AI tools (ChatGPT, Ideogram) were used throughout Module 1 — assess where AI added value vs where human design judgment was essential

Classes 1–2: Interface, Workspace & Core Navigation

• Artboard setup, workspace customization, and performance optimization
• Document setup: color modes (CMYK vs RGB), units, and bleed settings
• Navigating panels: Layers, Appearance, Swatches, Pathfinder, and Transform
• Smart Guides, Snap to Grid, and the new consolidated Snapping Panel (2025)
• Keyboard shortcuts and workflow efficiency strategies
• AI Application: Use ChatGPT to quickly look up Illustrator shortcuts, troubleshoot tool behavior, and get step-by-step workflow guidance during live projects
• AI Tool: ChatGPT - on-demand technical assistant for Illustrator questions, workflow optimization tips, and panel configuration advice

Classes 3–4: Core Drawing Tools & Vector Fundamentals

• The Pen Tool: creating and editing anchor points and Bezier curves with precision
• The Curvature Tool: intuitive path creation for smooth, organic shapes
• Shape tools: Rectangle, Ellipse, Polygon, Star, and custom path drawing
• Shape Builder Tool and Pathfinder operations (Unite, Subtract, Intersect, Exclude)
• Variable-width strokes and the Width Tool
• Working with fills, strokes, gradients, and gradient meshes
• AI Application: Use Recraft V4 to generate native SVG vector references - then study and refine the paths in Illustrator to understand professional vector construction techniques
• AI Tool: Recraft - generate SVG vector shapes as reference starting points for custom Pen Tool refinement and learning

Classes 5–6: Typography, Text Effects & Advanced Type Handling

• Area type, point type, and type on a path workflows
• Character and Paragraph panels: advanced spacing controls
• OpenType and variable font workflows in Illustrator 2025
• Text-to-vector type effects and outlines
• Creating typographic logos and wordmarks
• AI Application: Use ChatGPT to brainstorm wordmark concepts and naming; use Ideogram to generate typographic logo inspirations for client brief reference
• AI Tool: Ideogram - generate text-accurate typographic compositions as mood board references before building final vectors in Illustrator

Classes 7–8: Advanced Techniques & Effects

• Appearance panel: stacking fills, strokes, and effects non-destructively
• Clipping masks and compound paths
• Blend Tool: creating smooth object blends and distributed object patterns
• Pattern creation with the Pattern Options panel
• Text to Pattern (2025): AI-generated vector patterns added to swatch library
• Image Trace: converting raster images to clean vector artwork
• AI Application: Use Recraft V4 to generate SVG patterns and textures; import directly into Illustrator as editable vector swatches to complement hand-crafted designs
• AI Tool: Recraft — generate pattern and texture SVGs that can be refined and integrated into Illustrator design systems

Classes 9–10: AI-Powered Features & Modern Workflows (2025)

• Text to Vector Graphic: generating logos, icons, and illustrations from text prompts
• Generative Shape Fill: populating shapes with AI-generated patterns and textures
• Generative Expand: extending artwork for different format dimensions and print bleeds
• Generative Recolor: theme-based AI color exploration
• Objects on Path: aligning multiple elements along custom curves for packaging and patterns
• Mockup Tool: realistic product visualization by mapping vectors onto photography
• Export for Screens: batch export in SVG, PNG, PDF, TIFF, and EPS formats

Classes 9–13: Hands-On Projects (8 Live Projects)

• Logo Design: Design a professional brand logo from scratch — exploring wordmarks, lettermarks, and pictorial marks using the Pen Tool, Shape Builder, and typography tools. Delivered in full vector with color variations.
• Business Card Design: Create a complete professional business card set for a brand — front and back, with typography, logo placement, and CMYK print-ready output at correct bleed specifications.
• Flyer Design: Design a promotional A5 flyer for an event or product launch — incorporating hierarchy, color, imagery, and call-to-action elements.
• Brochure Design: Develop a tri-fold or bi-fold brochure, applying grid systems, multi-column layouts, and consistent brand identity across multiple panels.
• Banner Design: Produce digital and print banner designs for a campaign — adapting designs across multiple sizes and aspect ratios.
• Packaging & Label Design: Design a product label or packaging for a consumer product, applying die-cut templates, regulatory text areas, barcode placement, and print production standards.
• Social Media Post Design: Create a cohesive set of branded social media graphics (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn) with consistent visual identity — demonstrating template-based scalable design.
• Infographic Design: Design an informational infographic that communicates data or a process visually — applying icons, charts, typography hierarchy, and visual flow principles.

Classes 1–2: Interface, Workspace & Core Concepts

• Understanding raster vs vector: resolution, DPI, and file size implications
• Workspace setup: panels, workspaces, and interface customization
• Color modes: RGB, CMYK, Grayscale, and Lab color
• Layer system: types, naming, grouping, and organization strategies
• Document creation: web, print, and social media presets
• AI Application: Use ChatGPT to plan document setup specifications for any project type — get recommended DPI, color mode, and canvas size for any output format
• AI Tool: ChatGPT - instant technical reference for Photoshop document setup, color mode selection, and output specification guidance

Classes 3–4: Selection Tools & Non-Destructive Editing

• Selection toolkit: Marquee, Lasso, Quick Selection, Magic Wand, and the Object Selection Tool
• Select and Mask workspace: advanced hair/fur and edge refinement
• Channels and alpha channels for precise selections
• Non-destructive editing with Adjustment Layers: Curves, Levels, Hue/Saturation, Color Balance
• Smart Objects and Smart Filters: maintaining editability throughout the workflow
• AI Application: Use Photoshop's AI-powered Object Selection and Remove Background tools (Firefly) - understand how AI selection assistance works alongside manual masking techniques
• AI Tool: Adobe Firefly (built into Photoshop) - AI-assisted selection refinement, background removal, and generative fill for rapid compositing

Classes 5–6: Masking, Compositing & Layer Techniques

• Layer masks vs pixel masks: when and how to use each
• Clipping masks and layer groups for complex compositions
• Blending modes: Multiply, Screen, Overlay, Luminosity and their applications
• Compositing methodology: matching light, shadow, and perspective across elements
• Luminosity masking for advanced tonal selectionsLuminosity masking for advanced tonal selections
• AI Application: Use Generative Fill (Firefly) to extend backgrounds, fill gaps, and generate atmospheric elements that match existing light and color in composites
• AI Tool: Adobe Firefly Generative Fill - AI-powered content generation for seamless background extension and environment creation in compositing projects

Classes 7–8: Retouching & Advanced Image Manipulation

• Healing Brush, Clone Stamp, Patch Tool, and Content-Aware Fill
• Frequency separation for professional skin retouching
• Dodge, Burn, and the Sponge Tool for tonal sculpting
• Liquify Filter: reshaping and warping objects and portraits
• Neural Filters: AI-powered skin smoothing, colorization, and JPEG artifact removal
• Camera Raw as a Smart Filter for non-destructive raw processing
• AI Application: Use Photoshop Neural Filters (AI-powered) for skin smoothing, colorization, and JPEG artifact removal - understand the strengths and limitations of AI retouching vs manual techniques
• AI Tool: Adobe Neural Filters - AI-powered retouching features built directly into Photoshop for efficient image enhancement

Classes 9–10: Typography, Effects & Output

• Type layers, warp text, and text on paths
• Layer Effects: Drop Shadow, Outer Glow, Bevel and Emboss, Gradient Overlay
• Creating stylized text effects for poster and thumbnail design
• Actions and batch processing for production efficiency
• Export workflows: Save for Web, Export As, and print-ready PDF generation
• AI Application: Use ChatGPT to generate caption copy, headline text options, and call-to-action variations - then apply the copy inside Photoshop type layers for rapid content production
• AI Tool: ChatGPT - copywriting partner for generating on-brief text content (headlines, taglines, body copy) to populate design templates

Classes 9–13: Hands-On Projects (8 Live Projects)

• Image Manipulation: Create a surrealistic or narrative composite that combines multiple photographic elements into a seamless, believable final image — demonstrating masking, blending, and light matching.
• Product Manipulation: Produce a professional product photography composite — placing a product into a custom-created environment with accurate shadows, reflections, and brand color grading.
• Poster Design: Design a full-format promotional poster for a brand, event, or campaign, integrating typography, photography, and graphic elements.
• Movie Poster: Design Create a cinematic movie poster complete with character isolation, atmospheric background, typographic title treatment, and genre-appropriate color grade.
• Thumbnail Design: Develop YouTube or social media thumbnail designs optimized for click performance — bold typography, high contrast, and compelling visual hierarchy.
• Mockup Design: Build realistic product and print mockups — placing designs onto surfaces (bags, books, screens, apparel) using Smart Objects and perspective warping.
• Photo Retouching & Restoration: Professionally retouch a portrait using frequency separation, dodge and burn, and skin correction techniques — and restore a damaged or aged photograph to pristine quality.
• Brand Visual Composite: Produce a full brand visual — combining a product, custom background, typography, and graphic overlays into a single polished advertising-quality composite ready for print or digital use.