Introduction to Imagemaking from Coursera

This course for serious makers, and for students new to imagemaking. Imagemaking is a fluid and exciting area of graphic design that comes out of practice and process: experimenting fearlessly, showing and sharing ideas, and giving and receiving knowledgeable and constructive input.

For the sake of this online platform, we have applied some structure to our investigations, but for the most part imagemaking is loose and unstructured. If we must adopt a rule in this course it is only this: you will not become a graphic designer by watching videos alone. Or, don't just make stuff just in your head. So here, the focus here is on making, and you are expected to devote serious time and intellectual energy to that activity in this course. Specifically, you will:

- experiment with a range of materials and techniques to make images for graphic design

- expand your visual vocabulary both in terms of making and talking about work, in order to discuss your work and work of others

- learn how to make, manipulate and arrange images to create compositions, eventually culminating in the design and production of an-image-based book.

The first half of the course is an opportunity to experiment and explore imagemaking in order to expand your visual vocabulary. You will create pieces that are expressive, meditative, or 'design-y' to instigate, evoke, experiment, record, explain, or try out a media.

In the second two weeks, we’ll invite the images to deliberately and intentionally carry meaning and communication through relational moves like juxtaposition, composition, and context. We’ll look at developing and expanding the range of approaches for putting things together by composing page spreads with your images. Since nothing exists without context, we look at how to intentionally drive the image’s connotations, meanings, and associations generated through elements of composition and “visual contrasts.” Ultimately, we will take the images that you create and make a book from them.

The results of your assignments (and experiments) may generate something completely unknowable now or in the future—and that's the goal.

What's inside

Syllabus

Week 1: Image-based Research

Welcome! This week we will introduce image-based research and investigate these images in a design context using a range of techniques. You will then choose a subject of your own to research that will become the basis for your experiments and designs in the coming weeks.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Develops and expands range of approaches for putting things together by composing page spreads with images

Experiments with a range of materials and techniques to make images for graphic design

Provides hands-on making and creating process

Taught by Gail Swanlund, who has a strong reputation for work in imagemaking

Builds strong foundation for beginners in image making

Focuses on making and expects students to devote serious time and energy to the activity

Reviews summary

Experimental hands-on imagemaking process

Learners say this course offers a highly experimental and hands-on approach to imagemaking, deeply emphasizing the creative process and making physical or digital images rather than passive learning. Students often praise the inspiring and unique assignments that encourage exploration and help expand their visual vocabulary. The capstone book project is seen as a challenging yet rewarding culmination. However, some reviewers point out a lack of specific technical guidance, especially concerning software like InDesign needed for the final project, and feel that assignment instructions could be clearer at times. The course is best suited for those comfortable with self-direction and ambiguity.

Requires significant time and effort for making.

"Be prepared to spend a lot of time actually making things; this is not a passive course."

"The course demands serious intellectual energy and time dedicated to creating images."

"The amount of making required means you need to allocate substantial time each week."

"It's a rewarding time investment if you commit to the process."

Prompts encourage creativity and exploration.

"The assignment prompts were incredibly inspiring and pushed me to experiment in new ways."

"Each weekly assignment was thought-provoking and built well towards the final project."

"I found the assignments challenging but rewarding, really helping me develop my own visual language."

"The freedom within the assignments allowed for true creative expression."

Focuses heavily on hands-on making and exploration.

"The hands-on experiments and focus on process were incredibly valuable for expanding my creative thinking."

"I appreciated the emphasis on making things, not just theory. It's very experimental and freeing."

"This course truly makes you dive in and create, encouraging exploration with different materials and techniques."

"The focus is on the journey of making images, which is a refreshing approach."

Quality of reviews from peers varies.

"The quality of peer reviews I received was inconsistent; some were very helpful, others not at all."

"It was often hard to get constructive criticism from fellow students."

"The peer review system could be improved or better guided for participants."

Some instructions could be more precise.

"Sometimes the assignment instructions felt a bit vague or open to too much interpretation."

"More specific guidance on what was expected for grading would have been helpful."

"I occasionally struggled to understand the exact requirements of a task."

"A little more structure in the prompts could benefit beginners."

Minimal guidance on software or digital tools.

"I wish there had been more instruction on using InDesign or similar software for the final project."

"The course doesn't teach you the technical skills for digital production; you need to figure that out."

"If you're looking for software tutorials, this course is not for you. It's purely conceptual and process-based."

"Completing the digital book required learning the software separately, which was a challenge."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Introduction to Imagemaking with these activities:

Practice creating sample materials

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Test your experience with graphic design tools to help refresh these skills for the course and prepare you for the imagemaking exercises.

Browse courses on Imagemaking

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Select an image
Experiment with color correction
Adjust image settings and crop the image

Create a visual vocabulary sheet

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Expand your knowledge of design terms by creating your own visual vocabulary sheet.

Browse courses on Visual Vocabulary

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Create a list of design terms that you're not familiar with
Find images that represent each term
Create a visual vocabulary sheet with your list of terms and images

Read 'Making Meaning: Rhetoric and the Interpretation of Images' by Gunther Kress and Theo van Leeuwen

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Explore the theoretical foundations of imagemaking and visual communication with this comprehensive text.

View Reading Images: The Grammar of Visual Design on Amazon

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Read the introduction and chapter 1
Identify the key concepts and theories presented
Apply these concepts and theories to your own imagemaking work

Five other activities

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Follow tutorials on digital image manipulation

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Enhance your imagemaking skills by following guided tutorials and practicing various techniques in digital image manipulation.

Browse courses on Image Manipulation

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Find tutorials on a specific image manipulation technique
Follow the steps in the tutorial
Practice the technique on your own images

Participate in a peer review session

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Engage with classmates to provide and receive feedback on your imagemaking work.

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Present your work to your peers
Provide feedback on your peers' work
Reflect on the feedback you receive and make revisions to your work

Design and create a series of images that explore a specific theme or concept

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Apply your imagemaking and design skills to create a cohesive series of images that convey a specific message or narrative.

Browse courses on Imagemaking

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Brainstorm a theme or concept for your image series
Gather inspiration and research visual references
Create a storyboard or plan for your image series
Design and create your images
Compile your images into a cohesive series

Offer to mentor a new student in imagemaking

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Contribute to the learning community by sharing your skills and experience with a new student.

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Reach out to a new student who is interested in imagemaking
Offer to provide guidance and support
Meet regularly to discuss their work and progress

Compile a portfolio of your imagemaking work

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Showcase your imagemaking skills and progress by creating a portfolio of your best work.

Browse courses on Portfolio

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Select your best images from your assignments and projects
Edit and refine your images for presentation
Create a website or online portfolio to display your work

Career center

Learners who complete Introduction to Imagemaking will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Art Director

Art Directors oversee the visual aspects of various projects, ensuring that the visual elements are consistent with the overall brand and message. To be successful in this role, you need to have a strong understanding of visual composition, image manipulation, and design principles. This course will provide you with the necessary skills to excel in this field by teaching you how to make, manipulate, and arrange images to create visually appealing designs.

See salaries and explore the career path for Art Director

Graphic designer

Graphic Designers create visual concepts, using computer software or by hand, to communicate ideas that inspire, inform, and captivate consumers. To be successful in this role, you need to have a strong understanding of visual composition, typography, and color theory. This course will provide you with the necessary skills to excel in this field by teaching you how to make, manipulate, and arrange images to create visually appealing designs.

See salaries and explore the career path for Graphic designer

Web Designer

Web Designers create and maintain websites. To be successful in this role, you need to have a strong understanding of visual composition, typography, and color theory. This course will provide you with the necessary skills to excel in this field by teaching you how to make, manipulate, and arrange images to create visually appealing designs for the web.

See salaries and explore the career path for Web Designer

User Experience (UX) Designer

UX Designers research, design, and evaluate the user experience of products and services. To be successful in this role, you need to have a strong understanding of visual composition, user research, and interaction design. This course will provide you with the necessary skills to excel in this field by teaching you how to make, manipulate, and arrange images to create user-friendly interfaces.

See salaries and explore the career path for User Experience (UX) Designer

Product Designer

Product Designers create and develop new products, from concept to launch. To be successful in this role, you need to have a strong understanding of visual composition, human-centered design, and prototyping. This course will provide you with the necessary skills to excel in this field by teaching you how to make, manipulate, and arrange images to create visually appealing and user-friendly products.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Designer

Marketing Manager

Marketing Managers develop and execute marketing campaigns to promote products or services. To be successful in this role, you need to have a strong understanding of visual composition, branding, and audience research. This course will provide you with the necessary skills to excel in this field by teaching you how to make, manipulate, and arrange images to create visually appealing and effective marketing materials.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Manager

Social Media Manager

Social Media Managers create and manage social media content to engage with audiences and promote brands. To be successful in this role, you need to have a strong understanding of visual composition, social media platforms, and content marketing. This course will provide you with the necessary skills to excel in this field by teaching you how to make, manipulate, and arrange images to create visually appealing and engaging social media content.

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Art Curator

Art Curators research, acquire, and display works of art in museums, galleries, and other public spaces. To be successful in this role, you need to have a strong understanding of art history, visual composition, and exhibition design. This course will provide you with the necessary skills to excel in this field by teaching you how to make, manipulate, and arrange images to create visually appealing and educational exhibitions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Art Curator

Photographer

Photographers capture images using cameras to create works of art, document events, or tell stories. To be successful in this role, you need to have a strong understanding of visual composition, lighting, and camera techniques. This course will provide you with the necessary skills to excel in this field by teaching you how to make, manipulate, and arrange images to create visually appealing and impactful photographs.

See salaries and explore the career path for Photographer

Illustrator

Illustrators create visual images to communicate ideas and stories. To be successful in this role, you need to have a strong understanding of visual composition, drawing, and color theory. This course will provide you with the necessary skills to excel in this field by teaching you how to make, manipulate, and arrange images to create visually appealing and engaging illustrations.

See salaries and explore the career path for Illustrator

Art teacher

Art Teachers teach students about art and help them develop their artistic skills. To be successful in this role, you need to have a strong understanding of art history, visual composition, and pedagogy. This course will provide you with the necessary skills to excel in this field by teaching you how to make, manipulate, and arrange images to create visually appealing and educational lesson plans.

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Museum Educator

Museum Educators teach visitors about museum collections and exhibitions. To be successful in this role, you need to have a strong understanding of art history, visual composition, and public speaking. This course will provide you with the necessary skills to excel in this field by teaching you how to make, manipulate, and arrange images to create visually appealing and educational presentations.

See salaries and explore the career path for Museum Educator

Art Librarian

Art Librarians manage and organize art collections in libraries and museums. To be successful in this role, you need to have a strong understanding of art history, visual composition, and library science. This course will provide you with the necessary skills to excel in this field by teaching you how to make, manipulate, and arrange images to create visually appealing and accessible library collections.

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Art Therapist

Art Therapists use art to help people express themselves and heal from trauma. To be successful in this role, you need to have a strong understanding of art therapy techniques, visual composition, and human psychology. This course may be useful in providing you with a foundation in visual composition, which can be helpful for creating art therapy exercises and activities.

See salaries and explore the career path for Art Therapist

Interior designer

Interior Designers create and design interior spaces, including homes, offices, and public buildings. To be successful in this role, you need to have a strong understanding of space planning, visual composition, and color theory. This course may be useful in providing you with a foundation in visual composition, which can be helpful for creating visually appealing and functional interior designs.

See salaries and explore the career path for Interior designer