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Design Fundamentals
An introduction to design with an emphasis on illustration and entertainment
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45 Video Lessons
A comprehensive introduction to design across 6 modules with 40+ individual video lessons, totaling over 20 hours of content.Â
Open Your Eyes!
With a deep and nuanced understanding of the Elements of Art and the Principles of Design, you'll begin to see art, and the world, in an entirely new light.
10 Fun Assignments
Create a portfolio-ready project that showcases your skills in design through a mockup video game inventory screen.
Learn the Principles
Whether you want to be a concept artist, illustrator, fine artist, or the most badass hobbyist on your block, you'll need an understanding of design in order to stand out from the crowd. A good designer has a mental framework for analyzing designs around them, and a process for arriving at something original rather than copying what already exists.
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Navigate Your Imagination
The course begins by establishing a design mindset to frame our future discussions. You'll then be introduced to the Elements of Art, the raw ingredients of all visual imagery. Next, we explore the Principles of Design, which define how these elements interact to shape a viewer's perceptions. Finally, you'll apply these ideas to a practical design assignment, developed from concept to completion. From foundational notions to more advanced principles, this course will equip you with the tools and confidence to begin executing your own independent projects.Â
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Who is Steven Zapata, Really?
I'm just some guy. But I'm very good at drawing and anyone who doesn't hate me will tell you that. I am a professional artist with 13+ years of experience in print, illustration, advertising, theme parks, architectural design, and video games. My experience in education includes teaching production design and narrative storytelling at Art Center College of Design, mentoring students one-on-one, conducting in-person and online workshops, and guest-lecturing at art schools across the US. I also have a YouTube channel that discusses the mental and spiritual aspects of being an artist.
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Course Syllabus
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Introduction
Learn about the nature of design and how to use this course.
Design Mindset
A series of discussions on how designers see the world, the power of opinions, project-based learning, managing your energy, project levels, and how materials impact design.
The Elements of Art
A multimedia exploration of the elements of art: line, shape, value, form, void, texture, and color.
The Principles of Design
A multimedia exploration of the principles of design: contrast, emphasis, rhythm, balance, variety, repetition, balance, ratio, movement, and unity.
Inventory Screen Assignment
Conceptualize and execute a creative project from scratch. Create a mockup inventory screen for a game of your own invention. Follow along with detailed demonstrations for the creation of each necessary asset: icon, item, and character.
Moving Forward
Tips for developing a broad practice, talking about your work, and sharing online.
Some of the tasks you'll tackle in the assignments:
- Establishing your project
- Creating a thematic treatment
- Creating an asset list
- Creating mood boards
- Studying theme and form language
- Laying out your inventory screen
- Designing items with silhouette, line, and value
- Creating color palettes
- Texturing and distressing items
- Character expressions
- Character in-game actions
- Character body type variations
- Costume variations
- Skill icons
- Illustrating inventory screen elements
- Setting text and creating mockup UI elements
Complete Course + Instructor Feedback
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