CURRICULUM FOR 6 MONTHS DESIGN REAKTOR PROGRAM
Program Duration: 6 Months
Schedule: Twice Weekly
- Teaching Day: 1 Class per week (2-3 hours)
- Tutorial Day: 1 Tutorial per week (2-3 hours)
- Total Weeks: 24 Weeks
- Class Structure: 50% Theory + 50% Practical
Month 1: Foundations of Design
Week 1: Introduction to Graphic Design & UI/UX Design
-Class:
- Overview of Graphic Design and UI/UX Design
- Differences and Similarities between Graphic Design and UI/UX
- The Design Process and Methodology
- Understanding User-Centered Design
Tutorial:
- Project: Create a Simple Personal Branding Project
- Design a personal logo and a business card using basic design principles.
Week 2: Principles of Design
Class:
- Elements of Design: Line, Shape, Color, Texture, Space, Form
- Principles of Design: Balance, Contrast, Emphasis, Proportion, Hierarchy, Rhythm, Unity
- Introduction to Color Theory and Typography Basics
Tutorial:
- Project: Create a Poster or Flyer
- Apply design principles and color theory to create a balanced and visually appealing poster or flyer
for an event.
Week 3: Introduction to Design Tools
Class:
- Overview of Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign for graphic design
- Introduction to Figma and Sketch for UI/UX design
Tutorial:
- Project: Design a Set of Icons
- Use Adobe Illustrator to create a cohesive set of icons representing various concepts or services.
Week 4: Branding and Identity Design
Class:
- Fundamentals of Branding: What makes a good brand?
- Designing a Brand Identity: Logos, Color Schemes, Typography, and Imagery
- Case Studies: Successful Brand Designs
Tutorial:
- Project: Develop a Brand Identity
- Create a logo, choose brand colors, and design a business card and letterhead for a fictional
company.
Month 2: Advanced Graphic Design Concepts
Week 5: Layout and Composition
Class:
- Advanced Composition Techniques: Grid Systems, Alignment, and Spacing
- Creating Effective Layouts for Print and Digital Media
Tutorial:
- Project: Design a Multi-Page Brochure
- Use InDesign to create a multi-page brochure, applying grid systems and advanced layout
techniques.
Week 6: Typography in Depth
Class:
- Advanced Typography: Type Pairing, Hierarchy, and Readability
- Exploring Different Typeface Categories: Serif, Sans Serif, Script, and Display
Tutorial:
- Project: Create a Typographic Poster
- Design a poster that emphasizes typography, focusing on type pairing, hierarchy, and readability.
Week 7: Digital Imaging and Photo Manipulation
Class:
- Advanced Techniques in Photoshop: Retouching, Compositing, and Image Manipulation
- Working with Smart Objects, Filters, and Blending Modes
Tutorial:
- Project: Create a Composite Image
- Use Photoshop to create a surreal or conceptual composite image by combining multiple photos.
Week 8: Branding and Visual Identity
Class:
- Creating Consistent Visual Identity across Platforms
- Building Brand Guidelines: Colors, Fonts, and Visual Elements
- Case Studies: Strong Visual Identities
Tutorial:
- Project: Develop a Brand Guideline Document
- Create a document that outlines brand colors, fonts, and visual elements for a cohesive brand
identity.
Month 3: UI/UX Design Essentials
Week 9: Introduction to User Experience (UX) Design
Class:
- Principles of UX Design: Usability, Accessibility, and Interaction Design
- Understanding User Research: Personas, User Journeys, and Scenarios
- UX Design Tools and Techniques
Tutorial:
- Project: Create User Personas and Journey Maps
- Conduct user research to develop detailed personas and journey maps for a fictional product.
Week 10: Wireframing and Prototyping
Class:
- The Role of Wireframes in UX Design
- Tools for Wireframing: Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD
- Introduction to Prototyping: Low-Fidelity vs. High-Fidelity Prototypes
Tutorial:
- Project: Design Wireframes for a Mobile App
- Create wireframes for a mobile app concept, focusing on layout and navigation.
Week 11: Visual Design for UI
Class:
- Visual Design Principles: Consistency, Clarity, and Aesthetics
- UI Elements: Buttons, Icons, Navigation Bars, and Grids
- Designing for Different Devices: Responsive and Adaptive Design
Tutorial:
- Project: Design a Responsive Website Layout
- Create a responsive website layout that adapts to various screen sizes.
Week 12: Interaction Design and Microinteractions
Class:
- Basics of Interaction Design: Feedback, Affordance, and Perceived Functionality
- Designing Microinteractions: Hover States, Transitions, and Animations
- Tools for Interaction Design: Figma, Principle, and InVision Studio
Tutorial:
- Project: Create Microinteractions for a UI Design
- Design and implement microinteractions such as hover states or button animations in a UI project.
Month 4: User Testing and Iteration
Week 13: User Testing and Feedback
Class:
- Understanding User Testing: Types, Methods, and Best Practices
- Conducting Usability Tests: A/B Testing, Heatmaps, and Clickstream Analysis
- Analyzing User Feedback for Iterative Design
Tutorial:
- Project: Conduct Usability Testing on a Prototype
- Set up and conduct usability tests on a prototype, then analyze the results to identify areas for
improvement.
Week 14: Advanced Prototyping Techniques
Class:
- Creating High-Fidelity Prototypes: Adding Interactions, Transitions, and Animations
- Tools for Advanced Prototyping: Framer, Protopie
Tutorial:
- Project: Develop a High-Fidelity Prototype
- Create a high-fidelity prototype for a web or mobile app, including interactions and transitions.
Week 15: Designing for Accessibility
Class:
- Introduction to Web Accessibility (WCAG) Guidelines
- Designing Accessible Interfaces: Color Contrast, Typography, and Navigation
- Tools for Testing Accessibility
Tutorial:
- Project: Evaluate and Improve Accessibility of a UI
- Use tools like Axe or Lighthouse to evaluate the accessibility of a UI design and implement
improvements.
Week 16: Design Systems and Style Guides
Class:
- What is a Design System? Components, Patterns, and Guidelines
- Creating and Maintaining a Design System
- Building Style Guides for Consistency
Tutorial:
- Project: Develop a Design System
- Create a design system for a brand or product, including a style guide with components, patterns,
and guidelines.
Month 5: Real-World Applications
Week 17: Portfolio Development
Class:
- What Makes a Good Design Portfolio? Structure, Content, and Presentation
- Curating Projects: Showcasing Your Best Work
- Case Studies: Analyzing Successful Portfolios
Tutorial:
- Project: Create Your Design Portfolio
- Organize and curate your best design projects into a professional portfolio, using platforms like
Behance or WordPress.
Week 18: UI/UX for Mobile Devices
Class:
- Understanding Mobile Design Principles: Touch Targets, Navigation, and Gestures
- Designing for iOS vs. Android: Guidelines and Best Practices
- Mobile-First Design and Progressive Enhancement
Tutorial:
- Project: Design a Mobile App Interface
- Create a complete mobile app interface design, focusing on usability and adherence to platform
guidelines.
Week 19: Collaboration and Teamwork in Design
Class:
- Working in Design Teams: Roles, Responsibilities, and Communication
- Collaborative Tools: Figma, Zeplin, InVision, Miro
- Agile Methodologies in Design: Sprints, Stand-ups, and Retrospectives
Tutorial:
- Project: Collaborate on a Design Project
- Work in teams to complete a design project, using collaborative tools to manage tasks and ensure
consistency.
Week 20: UI/UX Case Studies and Analysis
Class:
- In-Depth Case Studies: Analyzing Successful UI/UX Projects
- Learning from Failures: Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
- UI/UX Trends and Future Directions
Tutorial:
- Project: Redesign a Popular App or Website
- Analyze and redesign a small aspect of a popular app or website, focusing on improving usability
and user experience.
Month 6: Capstone Project and Career Preparation
Week 21: Capstone Project Kickoff
Class:
- Introduction to the Capstone Project: Objectives, Guidelines,
