Graphic Design Course, Advanced Level

Required software: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator. Required materials: sketchbook, pencil, eraser

Software is not included in the cost of training at Ampli.

HARD SKILLS SOFT SKILLS
Lesson Description Subject Description
1 Logo part 1. Abstract minimalism. Monogram. 1 Getting acquainted What am I like? What can I learn about myself? The inner world and methods of exploring it — self-diagnosis in objective and projective variants.
2 Logo part 2. Literal logos. Mascot. Illustration and storytelling 2 We are a team Team building. How does communication work within a team? How does a team differ from a group of people? Interaction and teamwork in practice: developing teamwork skills.
3 Logo part 3. Font logos. Word Mark and Letter Mark. Lettering 3 Teamwork Continuation of the team building theme. Policies within the team and interaction among participants. Simulation game — creating your own project from A to Z.
4 Patterns. Visual language. Merch. 4 Intelligence is our everything A look at intelligence as a basic human resource, and the necessity and possibilities for its development. Focusing on intelligence rather than knowledge and skills. Research into ways of developing one’s intellectual abilities in a non-competitive game format quest.
5 Stationery kit. Visiting cards. Letterhead. Envelope. 5 Project thinking How to develop project thinking and the habit of turning problems into tasks and projects, solving them.
Formats for setting goals using SMART systems and creating a list of personal goals for developing your soft skills during the course.
6 Stationery kit 2. Media kit 6 My portrait Self-presentation. The external as a projection of the internal. How do others see me, and how do I want them to see me? Managing impressions. How does feedback affect me?
7 Printing. Booklet. Grids 7 Self-awareness Our most enduring traits during periods of active “breakdown” are values, goals, and meanings. Stereotypes and influences that oppose identity.
I am growing up and developing — in what areas, where are the gaps, and where am I overdoing it? Where do I feel successful, and what do I want to improve?
8 We finish all the work, upload the best to Behance 8 Personal space The boundaries of their awareness of space. How to determine a comfortable distance for communication. How to prevent others from invading your space and not violating the boundaries of others. Areas of communication and its differences for representatives of different nations and social groups.
9 Order from the tutor. Brief. Technical specifications. Logo. 9 My areas of influence The activities we engage in. Our roles and how we play them. Results and success. Ambitions and aspirations. The circumstances I surround myself with and that surround me. Sphere of influence.
10 Patterns. Visual language 10 Creativity within limits Creativity and creativity. Characteristics and key indicators of creativity. Methods of systematic innovative thinking and the use of five techniques for innovation. Practical exercises for developing creative thinking.
11 Stationery kit 1. Visiting cards. Letterhead. Envelope. 11 Resource management How to learn to maintain high energy levels, show initiative, perseverance, and internal locus of control.
12 Stationery kit 2. Media kit 12 Stress resilience Types of stress and its effects. Stress factors. How to cope with stress
13 Printing. Booklet. Grids 13 Methods for developing soft skills We work on soft skills. Methods for developing various areas of soft skills. Ways to work on all personal skills.
14 We finish all the work and upload the best pieces to Behance. 14 Fundamentals of Communication Actualization of the importance of communication. Why and how do we communicate? What tasks do we solve through communication? What opportunities does communication give us? Opportunity #1 – getting acquainted, contacting others. How can we communicate without words?
15 Orders from freelance platforms 15 Information flow The essence of communication — transmission and reception of information. Channels and flows. Barriers and pitfalls in communication. Mutual understanding.
16 Logo. Contest 2. Playful 16 Nonverbal communication Communication without words. Nonverbal means of communication. The art of freely using and “reading” nonverbal signals in various life situations.
17 Logo. Contest 3. Luxury 17 Emotional intelligence Emotions, their emergence and manifestation, experiences and feelings. Emotional outbursts that go off the scale — affect. The influence of emotions on life. Expression of emotions. Managing emotions. Recognizing emotions. Emotional intelligence.
18 Logo. Contest 4. Sophisticated 18 Emotional synergy Developing and practicing empathy skills. We learn to empathize, tune in, establish contact, see other people’s feelings, and “build bridges.”
19 Logo. Contest 5. Youthful&Mature 19 Personality types and communication formats How to recognize a person’s personality type in order to understand how best to communicate and negotiate with them.
20 We finish all the work, upload the best to Behance 20 Conflict management Conflict as a norm in communication and interaction. The energy of conflict. Strategies for behavior in conflict. Practices of constructive communication in conflict situations.
21 Infographics. Grids. CV 21 Non-conflict communication Communication without words. Nonverbal means of communication. The art of correctly
using and “reading” nonverbal signals in various life situations
Overview of complex, tense situations in communication.
22 Creating infographics based on research 22 Manipulation in communications Destructive communication and manipulation
23 We finish all the work, upload the best to Behance 23 Argumentation The aim of this lesson is to develop and practice the skills of speaking confidently and persuasively, and arguing one’s point of view.
24 Posters. Geometry 24 Networking How to consciously approach building your social circle so that it helps you grow and achieve your goals, and how to build this circle directly
25 Posters. Collage 25 My time Exploring your own time perspective. Do I live in the past, present, or future? What is my orientation in time?
26 Posters. Brutalism 26 Decision-making The problem of decision-making in the life of a teenager. Different types and circumstances of choice situations. Decision-making techniques – intuitive and proven by experience. Individual and group decisions in the first approximation.
27 Cover art/ Control 27 Time management How to divide one large task into smaller ones? How to prioritize? Where to start? Timing when working on tasks? Optimizing actions within tight/set time frames.
28 We finish all the work, upload the best to Behance 28 Time optimization We figure out what time is, practice prioritizing and planning tasks, and choose an approach to managing tasks that works for us.
29 Navigation. Research. Mind map. Lecture and examples. 29 Planning and objectives How to effectively plan and solve problems, achieve goals using special programs and technologies.
30 Navigation. Premises. 30 Public speaking skills Working through the main fears of public speaking. Analyzing the structure and preparation for a speech. Techniques for self-adjustment and reducing anxiety before a speech.
31 Navigation. Street. 31 Analysis of public speeches Reviewing famous public speeches and analyzing their structure and key features. Creating your own list of successful speeches.
32 We finish all the work and upload the best pieces to Behance. 32 Self-presentation How to present yourself in the best light, your strengths, how to present yourself at a job interview.
Employment module
33 Introduction to the module. What awaits us? Briefing: theory and preparation 33 Employment
A brief overview of the employment module.
The basics of product development strategy.
Class with a guest lecturer (PM) who will talk about:
– Employment. What you need for it
– Choosing a path:
FOR IT: outsourcing, freelancing, product, or entrepreneurship
FOR DESIGN: digital and advertising agencies, freelancing, or entrepreneurship
– Growth in a company
– The importance of English for employment
– The value of unpaid internships and experience working on real projects
– What is pitching/presenting projects, what you need to prepare for
– What the final presentation of the finished product should look like and what you need to pay attention to
34 Getting to know the customer. Customer briefing. Work planning. 34 Fundamentals of Project Management – What is a roadmap, what is it for, and how to create one?
– Agile, waterfall, kanban
– Other basics of project management
35 Full design project cycle: pipeline, roles, typical failures 35 Working with clients Classes with a guest lecturer (PM),
– first meeting with a client: how to prepare and what questions to ask
– how to communicate with a client throughout the project
– how to write letters to clients, give feedback, arrange follow-up meetings, etc.
– When to follow up after a meeting with what to discuss and what needs to be done before the next meeting
– Working with official letters
– Working with briefs
36 A brief guide: what a modern designer/illustrator needs to know 36 SCRUM Introduction to Scrum as a project management method. Opportunities and strengths of using it in your work.
37 Workplace: productivity, balance, and options 37 Working with clients. Part 2 – Responsibility in working with clients and employers.
– Working with deadlines
– Prioritizing tasks
– Presenting demo products to clients
– Working with client feedback
– Working on mistakes
38 The right to creativity: copyright protection 38 Customer focus What is the value of a customer-oriented approach, how can it help in further work, in business, in life. Analysis of customer needs, basic strategies for customer behavior. How to retain existing customers.
39 Freelance: an introduction to the world of freelancing 39 Burnout How not to overload yourself?
What to do when you have a large number of projects?
How to work when there are difficulties in the team, with clients, etc.
How to get everything done on time and not burn out?
40 Freelance practice: trying to find your first client 40 Resume writing We compile a comprehensive CV with a guest lecturer (HR).
41 The reality of freelancing: difficulties, stress, and feedback 41 Profile creation – Working with cover letters
– Setting up a LinkedIn profile
– Finalizing your CV
42 Working on the project: presenting drafts and ideas 42 Personal brand development IT/design market. Market situation
Job search. Job search platforms.
Personal branding. How to behave on social media?
43 Career paths: designer, art director, freelancer, manager 43 Interviewing — written and oral. Theory What to pay attention to during an interview.
How to prepare? We consider all aspects that you need to focus on when preparing for an interview.
44 Technical interview and “selling yourself” 44 Passing an interview. Practice Simulated interview with a guest lecturer (HR).
45 Social projects, volunteering, and “non-commercialism” 45 Search for customers and companies Resources for finding companies or clients. General approaches to the search process.
46 Final iterations of the project: presentation + feedback 46 Labor relations About labor relations with companies.
About concluding contracts.
About working through an individual entrepreneur.
About copyright.
47 Final revisions + resume and portfolio 47 Pre-pitch We give presentations. We practice being great speakers. We watch and give feedback on other presentations.
48. Final pitch to the customer
1. Team presentation of the project
2. Q&A session
3. Client feedback and discussion