8/31/2025 2:15:17 AM	GD 53 Course Outline as of Fall 2026	Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  GD 53	Title:  DESIGN WITH ILLUSTRATOR
Full Title:  Design Techniques with Illustrator
Last Reviewed:8/25/2025

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	3.00	Lecture Scheduled	3.00		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	52.50
Minimum	3.00	Lab Scheduled	0		4 min.	Lab Scheduled	0
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	3.00			Contact Total	52.50
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  105.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 157.50

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade or P/NP
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly: 

Catalog Description:

An intensive graphic design course utilizing Adobe Illustrator as an essential tool for exploring design problems and creating solutions. Students will create vector images including logo design, brand identity, and digital illustrations, while utilizing graphic design principles.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:
Course Completion of CS 71.11

Recommended Preparation:

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

An intensive graphic design course utilizing Adobe Illustrator as an essential tool for exploring design problems and creating solutions. Students will create vector images including logo design, brand identity, and digital illustrations, while utilizing graphic design principles.

(Grade or P/NP)
Prerequisites:Course Completion of CS 71.11
Recommended:
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:		Inactive:
Area:
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
CSU Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 2009	Inactive:
UC Transfer:		Effective:		Inactive:
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Both Certificate and Major Applicable

COURSE CONTENT

Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1.  Use Adobe Illustrator in the completion of vector based design solutions.

 

Objectives:

At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Create effective logos, type treatments, illustrations and informational graphics for professional visual communications using the tools and features in Adobe Illustrator.

2. Modify digitized images and type using Adobe Illustrator tools.

3. Use various resources, such as Pinterest or similar web inspiration sharing sites, other online resources, books, journals, scrap files, nature, other design and art disciplines as research for use in design projects.

4. Apply design elements effectively to design projects.

5. Use graphic design terminology, methodology, and tools correctly.

Topics and Scope

I.   Overview of Contemporary Design and Visual Communication using Adobe Illustrator

II.  Introduction to visual brand identity

    A. Logos

    B. Colors and schemes

    C. Signs

    D. Symbols

    E. Typography

    F. Environmental Graphics

III. Advanced Topics in Adobe Illustrator Tools

    A. Selecting, Stroking and Filling

    B. Color

         1. Overview of color dynamics

         2. Color modes in Adobe Illustrator

    C. Building

         1. Appearance panel

         2. Layers and groups

    D. Transforming

         1. Transformational tools

         2. Filters effects and stylizing

    E. Importing and Tracing

         1. Scanning and placing

         2. Live trace, Live Paint

    F. Bezier Curves

         1. Pen tool

         2. Pencil tool

         3. Cutting tools

         4. Manipulating paths

    G. Libraries

         1. Capture

         2. Library options

         3. Managing libraries

    H. Path Manipulations

         1. Anchor points and handles

         2. Manipulating paths

         3. Compound paths

         4. Pathfinders panel and patterns

    I. Typography

         1. Text

         2. Text effects

         3. Type styles

         4. Choosing typefaces, type contrasts, type refinements and using open type

    J. Working with Images

         1. Placing images

         2. Linked files

         3. Embedding images

         4. Manipulating images

         5. Masking images

     K. Creating Oversized Graphics

         1. Creating graphics and oversized graphics with impact

         2. Printing oversized graphics

    L. Blending

         1. Styles and blends

         2. Creating masks

         3. Gradient mesh

    M. Panels

         1. Layers

         2. Brushes

         3. Swatches

         4. Graphic styles

         5. Symbols

         6. Transparency

         7. Color panels  

     N. File Formats and Cross Platform Integration

         1. GIFS, JPEG, PNG, EPS, PDF

          2. Importing into Adobe Photoshop

         3. Importing into Adobe InDesign

    O. 3D Tools in Adobe Illustrator

Assignments:

1. Weekly reading assignments (1 - 50 pages)

2. Design projects requiring the effective use of advanced Adobe Illustrator techniques and fundamental design principles (1 - 6), such as:

    a. Design a flyer and/or brochure executed in Adobe Illustrator

     b. Fabric design related project, with the potential of getting final designs printed/created

    c. A brand-based project, such as a design of an icon or logo based on instructor provided criteria

    d. Redesign of provided case studies

    e. Design of web based graphics based on criteria outlined by the instructor

    f. Design a problem based on visual identity topic outlined by the instructor or selected by the student

     g. Social justice poster design for a cause outlined by the instructor or selected by the student

3. In-class assignments/exercises exploring the weeks topic in-depth (6-16), such as:

     a. Worksheets

    b. Observation based assignment that requires students to explore, document, and examine case studies, created in Adobe Illustrator

    c. Group activities

4. Participation in class discussion and critiques

5. Written evaluation of case studies

6. Exams and/or quizzes

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.

Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.		Writing 0 - 10%
Written evaluation of case studies
This is a degree applicable course but assessment tools based on writing are not included because this course includes essay exams that fulfil the writing component of the course.
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 40 - 60%
Projects requiring the effective use of Adobe Illustrator and fundamental design principles
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 20 - 40%
In-class assignments/exercises exploring the weeks topic in-depth
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 0 - 20%
Exams and/or quizzes
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 5 - 15%
Participation in class discussion and critiques.

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

Instructor prepared materials

Print PDF