Written by professional artists, this course will get you into the job market. Learn how to apply your artistic talents to today's market, beyond pencil and pen, to the computer and the Internet. These days, if you want the job, you need the training.

If you have longed to take your interest in art and turn it into an enjoyable and creative job, then this course is for you. Learn how to skillfully use the rules of design and also when to break them.

Students will send their course work in for comments and suggestions from successful designers. When you graduate from this course, you will have the skills and a certificate that will give you an advantage in your next job interview.

FEATURES

Major colleges and universities offer this online graphic design training certification course, ideal for students looking to take their interest in art and turn it into an enjoyable and creative career. This training course begins with the fundamentals of graphic design and guides you through the terms and processes students use to turn knowledge into a career. The student will learn the rules of graphic design, as well as useful marketing strategies and information about art in the electronic age.

Back to top

TOPIC HIGHLIGHTS

1. Basics of Good Design
1. The Language of Visual Design
1. Whitespace Focus Balance Page Layout Pictures
2. Fonts
2. Style and Substance Developing Your Own Skills
3. Resources
2. The Rules of Commercial Design
1. Art as a Profession Principles; What Your Client Needs; Presentation Production
1. Using Clip Art
2. Printing
2. Legal Issues and Copyrights
3. Breaking the Rules
1. Thinking Outside the Box
2. Attitude and Freedom in Design
4. Marketing
1. Artist in a Foreign Land How to Work with Marketing Your Client
2. The Client's Customer
5. Art in the Electronic Age
1. Computers
1. Hardware and Software Color
1. RGB
2. CMYK
2. TIFs, GIFs, and JPEGs
2. The Internet
1. Websites Color Palettes Resizing Images
2. Speeding Up Your Image

Back to top

CERTIFICATE REQUIREMENTS

A 70% or better must be achieved in order to receive a Certificate of Completion.

Back to top

COURSE OBJECTIVES

By completing the Graphic Design program the student will:

• Learn the basics of Successful Design.
• Learn the "language" of visual design.
• Learn to apply basic design concepts to Commercial Design.
• Learn to creatively solve design problems.
• Learn to manage design projects.
• Learn to structure an ad campaign from a Graphic Designer's perspective.

Back to top

PDF BROCHURE

Please click here to download the PDF brochure for the Gatlin online courses offered by OCPE.

Back to top

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

There are no prerequisites pertaining to what a student must know. Although not required, we recommend having some sort of image producing/editing software, like Paintshop Pro or Photoshop, which will help the student to more easily create project assignments.

This course covers a broad range of topics, providing concepts and experience of the skills needed to gain employment as an entry-level Graphic Designer.

Back to top

Randy Rolen graduated from Colorado State University with a major in Graphic Design and is a part-time George Mason University, OCPE, Gatlin instructors. He worked his way up to Senior Graphic Designer in a large corporation between 1982 and 1993, and has been freelance consulting since 1993, designing everything from logos and brochures to 4-color magazine ads to trade show booths to over 30 websites. Although he learned with pencil and paint in his youth, and has taught several traditional art and design classes in traditional settings (human to human, private lessons and summer classes in classrooms), he has always been fascinated by the creative freedom that computers can afford to students. He created the online Graphics Design course for GES in January of the year 2002 and has been teaching it since then.

Back to top

1. How do I register for a Gatlin online course?

Gatlin does not offer courses directly to the public. It offers courses through George Mason University and other colleges and universities. Please contact our office at 703-993-2113 or click here for more information or to register for a course.

2. How much do Gatlin online courses cost?

To view the prices for all Gatlin courses that are offered by George Mason University, please click here.

3. Why do I have to take Gatlin courses through a participating school?

That is the only way Gatlin Education Services offers its courses. They do not deal directly with the public.

4. Do I have to travel to register for or to attend a Gatlin online course?

All Gatlin courses are delivered entirely online, so you do not have to go to a class or travel to a school. Please contact our office at 703-993-2113 or click here for more information or to register for a course.

5. How long does it take to complete a Gatlin course?

All of our Gatlin courses are asynchronous. You can start and finish the course at your own pace. Most courses are designed to be completed within 180 days. You may request an extension if you think you will need more time to complete a course. Please contact us at 703-993-2113 or click here if you have any questions or if you would like to register for a course.

6. Do I have to buy additional materials?

Please refer to the green Included Materials box located on the upper right hand side of this page. If materials are included in this course, they will be shipped by Gatlin to you via UPS ground service after you have registered for a course.

7. Can I get financial aid for Gatlin courses?

George Mason University offers financial assistance through the Sallie Mae Training Loan Program for qualifying students. Call 703-993-2113 for more information. GES also provides a loan opportunity for students (www.collegeloanapplication.com).

8. What happens when I complete the course?

If you obtain a final passing grade of 70% or greater in a course, we will award you a George Mason University certificate of completion.

9. Who will be my instructor?

Each student is paired up with a George Mason University, OCPE, Gatlin facilitator for one-on-one interaction. The facilitator will be available (by e-mail or by telephone) to answer any questions you may have and to provide feedback on your performance. All of our facilitators are successful working professionals in the fields in which they teach.

10. What are the system requirements in order to take an online course?

Please see the "PC requirements" section listed for individual courses.

11. When can I start the course?

You can register for a course at any time.

Back to top