Chevron Left
Back to Introduction to Imagemaking

Learner Reviews & Feedback for Introduction to Imagemaking by California Institute of the Arts

4.5
stars
2,942 ratings

About the Course

This course for serious makers, and for students new to imagemaking. Imagemaking is a fluid and exciting area of graphic design that comes out of practice and process: experimenting fearlessly, showing and sharing ideas, and giving and receiving knowledgeable and constructive input. For the sake of this online platform, we have applied some structure to our investigations, but for the most part imagemaking is loose and unstructured. If we must adopt a rule in this course it is only this: you will not become a graphic designer by watching videos alone. Or, don't just make stuff just in your head. So here, the focus here is on making, and you are expected to devote serious time and intellectual energy to that activity in this course. Specifically, you will: - experiment with a range of materials and techniques to make images for graphic design - expand your visual vocabulary both in terms of making and talking about work, in order to discuss your work and work of others - learn how to make, manipulate and arrange images to create compositions, eventually culminating in the design and production of an-image-based book. The first half of the course is an opportunity to experiment and explore imagemaking in order to expand your visual vocabulary. You will create pieces that are expressive, meditative, or 'design-y' to instigate, evoke, experiment, record, explain, or try out a media. In the second two weeks, we’ll invite the images to deliberately and intentionally carry meaning and communication through relational moves like juxtaposition, composition, and context. We’ll look at developing and expanding the range of approaches for putting things together by composing page spreads with your images. Since nothing exists without context, we look at how to intentionally drive the image’s connotations, meanings, and associations generated through elements of composition and “visual contrasts.” Ultimately, we will take the images that you create and make a book from them. The results of your assignments (and experiments) may generate something completely unknowable now or in the future—and that's the goal....

Top reviews

LS

Sep 23, 2019

The assignments are really fun and put the videos into practice very efficiently! The only thing that troubles me is sometimes the "design language" is too unfamiliar for beginners.

LC

Oct 8, 2017

I'm so happy i did this course. Gail, you're amazing and you made my imagination go wild with just your words. I can see you love your craft and that's very inspiring. Enjoyed this course all the way!

Filter by:

251 - 275 of 661 Reviews for Introduction to Imagemaking

By Teresa S

•

Apr 18, 2021

I had good time taking this course and it help me learn more about imagemaking.

By Laura B D R

•

Mar 21, 2019

We learn really good tools and methodologies to abstract and create new images.

By Manash G

•

Mar 9, 2017

I really learned a lot of things and this course will really help me in future.

By Brian P

•

Dec 1, 2016

This course opened up a new avenue of expression for me. Insightful instruction

By Richard B

•

Oct 28, 2020

With this course it's possible to get creative and complete some art projects.

By David M

•

Oct 14, 2019

Fond of the book exercise, great way to explore creativity if taken seriously.

By Scott W

•

Dec 20, 2022

Was a good but difficult course to learn. I had a lot of fun being creative

By Aditya S

•

Oct 25, 2022

Whatever the expectations are, this course will fulfill those expectations!

By Fernando C F

•

Apr 19, 2020

Amazing course. Really pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me think

By Shaimaa E

•

Apr 1, 2023

I really learned a lot from this course and iI did enjoy every single week

By Angel D M G

•

Apr 3, 2020

Excelente curso. Fundamentos de composiciones fáciles de entender y claros

By Giovanny V

•

Dec 4, 2019

great instructors, accurate consistent lessons and challenging assignments

By Carla B

•

Apr 13, 2021

Excellent to who want learning about a little about book design concepts!

By Martha W

•

Jun 7, 2016

I like how the weekly projects built up until we had our book at the end.

By think m

•

Nov 30, 2017

Fantastic teacher who is able communicate how to make a range of images.

By Estefanía

•

Jul 4, 2016

I really loved the course and am extremely thankful for the opportunity.

By Maya S

•

May 1, 2016

Excelente

Los ejercicios son tremendamente didácticos y de muy buen gusto

By Rafaya N

•

Nov 15, 2021

IT helped me alot to learn new things and i enjoyed i lot learning it

By Zayd B

•

Aug 18, 2020

Interesting course. Really appreciate the teaching! Thanks to CalArts

By Karla M L

•

Apr 27, 2019

Super! I've studied very interesting subjects on this course, thanks!

By Evangelia B

•

Jun 8, 2016

I really enjoyed the course and it helped me to start creating again.

By Tomelilla G

•

Mar 26, 2020

Great way to give designers a process for creating meaningful images

By Mariel L

•

Feb 1, 2019

I learned a lot from this course, especially in the last assignment.

By Anastasia D

•

Nov 6, 2016

This course encouraged me to start learning InDesign Adobe program!

By Yolanda I I M

•

Aug 8, 2025

Realmente me fascino este curso estoy muy contenta con lo aprendido