Skip to main content

Visual Language GDES 1255

Graphic Design Course

Subscribe
View cart
International Fees

International fees are typically three times the amount of domestic fees. Exact cost will be calculated upon completion of registration.

Course details

​Effective communication design projects elicit an emotional response from their target audience. To do this, text, image, and carefully chosen graphic elements bond seamlessly to direct the viewer's eye through the layout in a particular way. Students will analyze how Gestalt psychology establishes the hierarchical relationship between design elements in a composition. Examining historic design genres will provide insight into setting the stage for time and place. Applying knowledge of signs and symbols and manipulating content via design principles, students gain insight into complex visual systems. The outcome is a unique visual language, translating an idea into a visual form that clearly communicates a message to the target audience. ​

Prerequisite(s)

  • No prerequisites are required for this course.

Credits

3.0

Domestic fees

$598.54 - $625.65 See individual course offerings below for actual costs.

Course offerings

Winter 2024

Below are two offerings of GDES 1255 for the Winter 2024 term.

CRN 91711

Duration

Wed Jan 03 - Wed Mar 20 (12 weeks)

  • 12 weeks
  • CRN 91711
  • Domestic fees $598.54
    International fees are typically three times the amount of domestic fees.
Class meeting times
Dates Days Times Locations
Jan 03 - Mar 20 Wed 18:00 - 21:00 Online
Instructor

Giulia Bonforte

Course outline

Course outline TBD — see Learning Outcomes in the interim.

Domestic fees

$598.54

Important information
  1. Internet delivery format.
  2. Important course information will be sent to you prior to your course start date. Check your myBCIT email account to access this information.
  3. International fees are typically three times the amount of domestic fees. Exact cost will be calculated upon completion of registration.
  4. This is not a self-paced course. You will be expected to be available and online on the posted days and times shown on your registration schedule. It is important you have a stable and consistent internet connection to access course content. Please log into learn.bcit.ca using your BCIT student email and password on the first day of class. You will require access to the Adobe Creative Cloud in order to complete this course. Students who are currently registered in one or more part-time courses can purchase a subscription for Adobe Creative Cloud Pro at a discount through BCIT’s new software portal h kb.bcit.ca/student/adobe-creative-cloud-subscription-flexible-learning-student-3130/
Status

CRN 91712

Duration

Mon Jan 08 - Mon Mar 25 (11 weeks)

  • 11 weeks
  • CRN 91712
  • Domestic fees $625.65
    International fees are typically three times the amount of domestic fees.
Class meeting times
Dates Days Times Locations
Jan 08 - Mar 25 Mon 18:00 - 21:15 Downtown DTC Rm. 875
Instructor

Pauline Lai

Course outline

Course outline TBD — see Learning Outcomes in the interim.

Domestic fees

$625.65

Important information
  1. Important course information will be sent to you prior to your course start date. Check your myBCIT email account to access this information.
  2. International fees are typically three times the amount of domestic fees. Exact cost will be calculated upon completion of registration.
  3. No classes on February 19, 2024. You will require access to the Adobe Creative Cloud in order to complete this course. In order to access the Adobe Creative Cloud on your personal devices for off-campus use, a subscription will be required. The cost of your Adobe subscription will be in addition to the tuition fee for this course. Information explaining how to obtain a discounted Adobe subscription is available on the BCIT Software Access webpage kb.bcit.ca/student/adobe-creative-cloud-subscription-flexible-learning-student-3130/
Status

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

  • Use terminology relating to visual form to engage in design discussion.
  • Demonstrate the use of Gestalt theory (similarity, proximity, alignment) in a visual communication.
  • Use design essentials (such as balance, unity, tension, hierarchy, etc) to reinforce the message and meaning in a composition.
  • Choose imagery, including symbols and signs, that strengthens the key message beyond its elemental context.
  • Apply a specific design genre (Art Deco, Futurism, etc) to capture a sense of time, place and ideology.
  • Apply colour psychology to build impact and enhance the meaning of a message.
  • Use colour to affect a sense of space in a composition.
  • Demonstrate how compositional principles can be applied to elicit an emotion.
  • Investigate colour relationships as a means of strengthening a message.​

Effective as of Spring/Summer 2023

Related Programs

Visual Language (GDES 1255) is offered as a part of the following programs:

School of Business + Media

  1. Graphic Design
    Certificate Full-time/Part-time

Subscribe

Interested in being notified about future offerings of Visual Language (GDES 1255)? If so, fill out the information below and we'll notify you by email when courses for each new term are displayed here.

  • Privacy Notice: The information you provide will be used to respond your request for BCIT course information and is collected under Section 26(c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA). For more information about BCIT’s privacy practices contact: Associate Director, Privacy, Information Access & Policy Management, British Columbia Institute of Technology, 3700 Willingdon Ave. Burnaby, BC V5A 3H2, email: privacy@bcit.ca.

Programs and courses are subject to change without notice.