Graphics Empower Live Course Instructions
Start Date: Monday 30th October 2023
Teachers Details
Alyse Bayles
Graphics Empower USA course Instructor and Cohort Instructor
Equipment Needed
Before your training session you will need the following equipment:
- High-speed internet connection
- Headset with microphone: It is advisable to use a separate headset and microphone as the inbuilt microphones pick up background noise.
- Webcam (An internal webcam is suitable. If your computer does not have a webcam inbuilt, you can purchase one online.)
- An external device to backup your work.
- Access to a scanner or camera for the first few weeks is helpful.
- Please ensure you are using Google chrome and not Microsoft edge browser.
How to Join Class
You will find your courses on your dashboard.
Click on ‘class’ button to join your class.
You will have to set your timezone
10 mins before your class join button will be orange and you can join.
Software Details
- You will need to have the programs, Photoshop, Illustrator and Indesign working on your computer for the first class.
- The only legal way to obtain the software is via the Adobe.com subscriptions which give you to use all the Adobe software online.
- Anyone who offers to install it on your computer (for free or for a minimal charge) is likely to be installing a copied version.
Instructions:
- Sign up for a monthly subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud.
- The student edition of Adobe Creative Cloud costs $19.99 per month for the first year (price will be different for subsequent years).
- Terms and conditions can be found here.
- To sign up for the student edition, you will be asked for the name and address of your school. Please note that Design Alive does not appear on the list of schools on their website, and it is usually sufficient to write Design Alive, Manchester UK.
- If Adobe requests proof of student status please request using this link.
Course Instructions
Course Structure
- Foundation studies in design covering areas such as gestalt, layout, typography, color theory
- Sketching and idea development
- Corporate Identity, Book Cover Design, Advertising.
- Packaging, Magazine Layout, Branding, Menu Design, Brochure Design
- Business classes, contracts/ pricing, job search
General info
- Each class is approximately 2-2.5 hrs
- Please log in on time
- Lessons generally build on the material and content of the previous lesson so it is important to attend each session.
- In case of any planned absence please inform your teacher prior to the class that you will not be attending.
- If you have missed a class, you are required to catch up via the recording before the next class
- This course involves considerable out of class input so please ensure you have allowed adequate time in your schedule for this course. If you require advice about this please email the office.
- The course is fast-paced so if you feel you are falling behind please liaise with your teachers as soon as possible so they can help you get back on track.
Homework Assignments
- There are assignments given after each class. These assignments will be posted on moodle. Assignments need to be uploaded to moodle.
- Unless otherwise stated the homework assignment is due the next class. It is in the student’s best interest to complete and upload the homework assignment before the next class and to review the material taught in the past class.
- You may email your teacher with short questions between sessions if you absolutely cannot wait until the next class to receive an answer. The teacher will either respond via email or address the question in the next class if she feels it can wait. We set up a google group so students can assist with questions.
- If you have not managed to do your homework it is still worthwhile attending the next class so as not to fall further behind.
- Your grades and comments can be viewed on moodle by checking the grade option in the left side menu under my profile unless the teacher prefers to email your feedback.
Filter/Whitelist Info
Design Alive recommends the following filters as students have been very happy with these filter companies and the support they provide.
- Techloq
- Gentech
- Nativ USA
- Netfree filter has also be approved for Design Alive but please note that having a filter which blocks skin content may be frustrating at some point
Before you begin the course please ensure that all the following sites below are unblocked: You can copy the list and send it to your filtering company.
- designaliveschool.webex.com
- webex.com
- designalive.com
- school.designalive.com
- for cisco webex- exclude multiple EXE
- You will need the cisco webex app working.
- autodesk.com (for Autocad students)
For more information regarding filter issues and troubleshooting please use this link
Credits
Design Alive are proud to be able to give credits for this course, there is a $240 fee and some extra assignments to be completed (5 written tests).
If you are interested in receiving credits, please use this link for more information and to register.
Computer Specs
Design Alive does not assist with helping you buy a computer suitable for the course, but below are suggested computer specs and details of a computer technician/salesperson who can help you.
Students doing 3D rendering or video editing/animation will need a top-end computer whereas students doing graphics only can get away with a slightly lower spec.
Please refer to these computer specs that are appropriate for all of our courses ranging from Interior & Graphic Design to the very robust 3D modeling applications (Autocad & Revit)
- An i7 or i9 CPU
- At least 16GB of RAM & 256GB of storage
- A 64-bit operating system
- A dedicated (internal) graphics card (ex. NVIDIA) – not integrated!
- Besides being more expensive, we do not recommend Apple especially because our instructors use a PC (and Revit is not supported on Macs.)
- While a 17 inch laptop is easier to see what you are designing, it would be too heavy to carry when visiting clients. Instead; we suggest a standard 15.6 inch screen and when working from home, you can opt for a secondary & larger 27” monitor (about $200).
- An (external) SSD drive to safely hold your projects and ensure that your computer does not get overloaded.
Design Alive has partnered with B&H Photo in NYC to handle all of these technical requirements and queries. They are a well-known and established company and are up-to-date with the most current specs and performance. Our contact is Boruch Berman and he can be reached at Boruchb@bhphoto.com. Please mention Design Alive when you send an email for his personal call back to select a machine that’s right for you (please do not call).
Here is a link to the current computers he currently suggests which are priced from low to high. Bear in mind that spending more money does not necessarily mean you are getting anything better and he will discuss this. Please feel free to do your own research for comparisons. (If this link becomes invalid then please let us know)
Please be aware that all class recordings, classwork and homework assignments are the property of Design Alive. No materials may be copied, reproduced, distributed, republished, transferred, sold, used to create derivative works, performed, posted or transmitted in any form or by any means, including, but not limited to, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written consent of Design Alive.
All downloads (recordings and assignments) must be deleted from your computer within 6 months of completing the course.