Give your career the gift of Coursera Plus with $160 off, billed annually. Save today.

California Institute of the Arts

Introduction to Imagemaking

This course is part of Graphic Design Specialization

Gail Swanlund

Instructor: Gail Swanlund

123,447 already enrolled

Included with Coursera Plus

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
4.5

(2,875 reviews)

Beginner level
No prior experience required
Flexible schedule
Approx. 11 hours
Learn at your own pace
98%
Most learners liked this course
Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
4.5

(2,875 reviews)

Beginner level
No prior experience required
Flexible schedule
Approx. 11 hours
Learn at your own pace
98%
Most learners liked this course

What you'll learn

  • Make informed design choices using image-based research

  • Create ranges of representation using images

  • Compose spreads for your own book

  • Design a book with your own images

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Taught in English

See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

Placeholder

Build your subject-matter expertise

This course is part of the Graphic Design Specialization
When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.
  • Learn new concepts from industry experts
  • Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
  • Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
  • Earn a shareable career certificate
Placeholder
Placeholder

Earn a career certificate

Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV

Share it on social media and in your performance review

Placeholder

There are 4 modules in this course

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.

What's included

7 videos11 readings2 peer reviews1 discussion prompt

This week is a making session! You will take the subject you selected last week and think about it in different ways. From simple to complex, hand to digital, realistic to abstract and everything in between, we'll explore and experiment freely. We'll also consider different modes of representation, and try a hand at creating our own ranges of representation with images.

What's included

3 videos7 readings2 peer reviews1 discussion prompt

In this third week, we will define and investigate core principles of composition, and begin to compose simple spreads for your book.

What's included

7 videos1 reading1 peer review

In this final week, we will pull together your work from the previous weeks to make spreads using 10-20 of your favorite images from your assignments and compile them into a 8-page book. I am also sharing with you a few image-based books to give you some ideas on how to structure your book. Note that for the final assignment I am asking you to submit a digital book through Issuu (instructions are included in the assignment). If you choose to create your images by hand, you will still need a computer loaded with InDesign or a similar program to clean up the images and prepare the files for upload to the Coursera platform.

What's included

8 videos14 readings1 peer review1 discussion prompt

Instructor

Instructor ratings
4.4 (371 ratings)
Gail Swanlund
1 Course123,447 learners

Offered by

Recommended if you're interested in Music and Art

Why people choose Coursera for their career

Felipe M.
Learner since 2018
"To be able to take courses at my own pace and rhythm has been an amazing experience. I can learn whenever it fits my schedule and mood."
Jennifer J.
Learner since 2020
"I directly applied the concepts and skills I learned from my courses to an exciting new project at work."
Larry W.
Learner since 2021
"When I need courses on topics that my university doesn't offer, Coursera is one of the best places to go."
Chaitanya A.
"Learning isn't just about being better at your job: it's so much more than that. Coursera allows me to learn without limits."

Learner reviews

Showing 3 of 2875

4.5

2,875 reviews

  • 5 stars

    68.18%

  • 4 stars

    18.49%

  • 3 stars

    7.82%

  • 2 stars

    3.37%

  • 1 star

    2.12%

SW
4

Reviewed on Apr 19, 2020

SL
5

Reviewed on Jul 14, 2016

LS
4

Reviewed on Sep 23, 2019

Placeholder

Open new doors with Coursera Plus

Unlimited access to 7,000+ world-class courses, hands-on projects, and job-ready certificate programs - all included in your subscription

Advance your career with an online degree

Earn a degree from world-class universities - 100% online

Join over 3,400 global companies that choose Coursera for Business

Upskill your employees to excel in the digital economy

Frequently asked questions