Graphic Design for Library Staff

• Do you need to create professional-looking posters, flyers, signs, bulletin boards, displays or brochures for your library?
• Would you like to create appealing graphics to share on websites or use in book trailers?
• Are you ready to develop a deeper understanding of visuals, including fundamental elements of composition and principles of design?

Library staff are often asked to communicate visually, yet many have never received formal training in graphic design. In this course, learners will gain practical skills and a deeper understanding of design principles, such as white and negative space. Discover software design tools and resources for images and fonts, and then use these tools and resources to create posters, flyers, and more. This class will provide you with the rules and tools for making design challenges not only possible, but fun.

In this four-week course, you will ignite your creative spark while learning the basic skills needed to produce practical projects using the hardware and software you already have. Learn what you wished you were taught about graphic design “before” you started working in a library. No prior art experience is needed or required to learn simple guidelines for making your graphic design tasks easier and more effective. All levels of ability will benefit from the instructor’s tips and guidelines for creating and improving graphic design projects.

Course Description: This four-week online course will utilize readings, examples, and supplementary resources to help you learn graphic design basics. You will be able to apply the concepts and techniques immediately creating projects for your own library and community. As part of the course, you will be encouraged to ask questions and participate in discussions with others.

Course Outline: When you log in to the Infopeople online learning site, you will see weekly modules with these topics:

• Week 1: Fundamental Elements of Design
  • Fundamental elements of composition and principles of design
  • Free online software that can be used to create graphic designs
• Week 2: Getting Started with Posters and Flyers
  • Analyzing good and bad design
  • Finding images that you can use
• Week 3: Design Projects: Beyond the Basics
  • The importance of white or negative space
  • Desirable (and undesirable) fonts
  • Design for social media, signs, displays, and more
• Week 4: Developing a Design Portfolio
  • Create a portfolio of graphic design projects
  • Identify resources for networking and idea sharing

Time Required: To complete this course, you can expect to spend 2 ½ hours per week, for a total of ten course hours. Each week's module contains readings and various options for assignments and discussions. You can choose the options most relevant to your work and interests. Although you can work on each module at your own pace, at any hour of the day or night, it is recommended that you complete each week's work within that week to stay in sync with other learners.

Who Should Take This Course: This class will benefit any library staff who want to develop more creative graphic design skills. No prior art or graphic design experience is needed.

Online Learning Details and System Requirements may be found at: infopeople.org/training/online_learning_details.

After the official end date for the course, the instructor will be available for limited consultation and support for two more weeks, and the course material will stay up for an additional two weeks after that. These extra weeks give those who have fallen behind time to work independently to complete the course.

Keywords: library graphics, graphic design