What is taught in the Graphic Design (B. Des) course?

And we have finally reached my stop. Graphic Design falls under the umbrella of Communication Design. So let me play, fortune teller and a guide in this blog and show you around the educational world of Graphic Design.

The Bachelor of Design (B.Des) in Graphic Design is a four-year undergraduate program offered by several design colleges in India.

Everyday is filled with colours, creativity and a whole lot of caffeine! As a graphic design student, your day might start with a quick workout, an early morning sketching session in your pyjamas and some much needed coffee. You head to class, laptop and sketchbook in that cute tote bag of yours. Some days you have design theory. Some days you will learn graphic design on paper. Some days you will play with pixels, trying to perfect your designs. And some days you will head out into the world to see graphic design in action.

But it's not all work and no play - after class, it’s tea time — the drink and the gossip. You take a break to chat with your classmates about your assignments and the best memes of the week. As the day turns into night, you retreat to your dorm room, surrounded by sketches, books, and an ever-growing pile of sketchbooks. With a Netflix-show running in the background and some remaining shots of coffee, you work on your assignments until you are no longer able to keep your eyelids open.

Let’s zoom out a bit though. If a day in the life of a Graphic Design student, looks like this, what about the entire 4 years:

1. Foundation Courses

- The fundamentals of design and visual language

- Colour theory and its application

- Typography and layout design

- Communication and media studies

- Art history and criticism

- Cultural studies and theory

- Computer graphics and design software

2. Graphic Design Courses

- Theory and history of graphic design

- Visual storytelling Design research and strategy

- Branding and identity design

- Publication design and layout

- Environmental graphics and wayfinding

- User interface and experience design

- Information graphics and data visualisation

3. Specialization and Elective Courses

- Illustration and visual communication

- Animation and motion graphics

- Interactive and digital media design

- Packaging and product design

- Game Design

- Sustainable design practices

- Book and magazine design

- Web design and development

- Design for social impact and advocacy

- Sound design

Of course, the curriculum may vary depending on the specific program and institution.

A good comprehensive program in Graphic Design should have you shaped to become a successful graphic designer, who can create effective and visually appealing graphic designs for various media, including print, digital, and environmental design . It should also provide real-world projects, collaborations with industry experts, and portfolio development opportunities.

Now if we zoom out even further and play tarot cards and fortune with how the future of Graphic Design student could look like, they would probably be a/an :

- Graphic Designer

- Art Director

- UI/UX Designer

- Package Designer

- Brand Identity Designer

- Environmental Designer

- Illustrator

- Typographer

- Web Designer

- Advertising Designer

- Publication Designer

- Game Designer

-Animation Designer

- Freelance Designer

If this sounds like your future, embark on an exciting journey to learn the art and science of creating powerful graphics that inform, persuade, and engage.

Want to learn more about other courses offered in design? Do have a look at our other blogs! 🙂

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Nandini Seshan

Communication Design/NID Vijayawada

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