Start Your
Design Career.
Spring / January 15 – May 11, 2018
Fall / September 3 – December 14, 2018
Over 360 Studio Hours in one year
Switch students work on projects for real-market clients and they absorb very rich hands-on experience
Design Theory
Lectures cover the mandatory design principles, fundamentals and thinking of visual communication. Balance, hierarchy, contrast...
Design Programs
We are going to introduce you with the world’s best design applications. Industry standard - Adobe softwares (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop)
Drawing Skills
Switch students acquire the essential drawing skills using different media and techniques. Classes are conducted also outdoors and in museums
GD1
Junior Designer
FIRST YEAR
SEMESTER 1 [20cr.]
GRA101
Graphic Design 1a / Fundamental [3cr.]
This studio course provides an in-depth understanding of the fundamental elements and principles of graphic design. Students experiment, exploring visual elements (point, line, colour, shape, texture…) and design principle (contrast, hierarchy, alignment, balance, proximity, repetition…). The foundation of any successful designer relies upon an understanding of the fundamentals of design.
GRA 102
Sketching/Drawing [3cr.]
This course is an exploration of basic drawing techniques whilst using different media: pencil, ink, markers, charcoal, and conte crayons. Students learn about composition elements, such as perspective, light/dark values, highlights/shadows as they draw landscapes, still-life objects and human anatomy. Classes are not only conducted at school but also outdoors, in the city of Florence and its museums.
GRA103
History of Design [3cr.]
This course is an overview of the graphic design evolution. As being a main component of society and culture, the course highlights the major movements in graphic design according to historical, social and political circumstances. Students examine the development of typography, layout design, advertisement, publishing, branding and digital media.
GRA104
Typography 1 [3cr.]
In this course the students are introduced to the basic principles of typography through in-depth lectures about letterforms, type classification, type expression, typeface selection, font families and styles, typographic communication, and text layout composition.
GRA105
Design Programs 1 [3cr.]
This is an introductory course to the basics of Adobe Suite softwares (mainly Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign). Students in-depth explore the tools/panels of each program and learn how to generate visual elements, layout compositions, and manipulate images using digital media.
GRA 000
Yoga, Jogging, Cycling [1cr.]
A physical education course that allows the students maintain a healthy lifestyle during their stay in Florence. The classes are conducted outdoors and in groups whereby the students explore Florence in a safe and fun environment. Main activities are yoga, jogging and biking.
SWP100
Switch Studio [4cr.]
Switch Studio provides plenty of time to put your new skills into practice and develop your design eye. Before long, you’ll be thinking like a designer and tackling most current technological tools so you can produce innovative and quality (real-world) design solution.
SEMESTER 2 [20cr.]
GRA111
Graphic Design 1b / Corporate Identity [3cr.]
This studio class introduces students to corporate identity and much more. Students will learn about the whole concept of creating a logo and its usage manual, applying it on stationey and promotional materials. The projects will be from real-market clients whereby the students experience their first entry to the design world.
GRA112
Drawing /Painting [3cr.]
This course allows students to learn more drawing and painting techniques and discover colors by using different media. Students learn about more advanced composition elements with colors, such as contrast, saturation, transparency, tints and shades as they draw real-life scenes, abstraction, distortion and comics. Classes are not only conducted at school but also outdoors, in the city of Florence and its museums.
GRA113
GD Contemporary [3cr.]
GRA113 CONTEMPORARY GD [3cr.] The course examines the contemporary trends in Graphic Design for the past 30 years. Main emphasis will be on the major development of the visual communication and its methods in print, multimedia, digital and experimental design, whilst highlighting on famous designers, typographers, illustrators and digital media specialists of our times.
GRA114
Design Programs 2 [3cr.]
This is an advanced design softwares’ course through which students develop technical proficiency. The classes cover complicated techniques of Adobe Suite softwares whereby the main focus is on image manipulation and rasterisation, effects application, editorial production, and output techniques for end-result projects.
GRA115
Typography 2 / Editorials [3cr.]
In this course the students examine more advanced typographic elements, such as kerning, leading, hierarchy, spacing, contrast and legibility. At this stage students develop editorial designs, such as brochures, catalogues, magazines and digital material as mobile application and website templates.
GRA000
Yoga, Jogging, Cycling [1cr.]
A physical education course that allows the students maintain a healthy lifestyle during their stay in Florence. The classes are conducted outdoors and in groups whereby the students explore Florence in a safe and fun environment. Main activities are yoga, jogging and biking.
SWP100
Switch Studio [4cr.]
Switch Studio provides plenty of time to put your new skills into practice and develop your design eye. Before long, you’ll be thinking like a designer and tackling most current technological tools so you can produce innovative and quality (real-world) design solution.
* Program may be subject to change
YOU WILL LEARN
Your Portfolio Skills
Skills & Expertise
- Design Principles
- Design Thinking
- Design Fundamentals
- Typography
- Illustration
- Drawing
For Your Portfolio:
Projects examples
- Tattoo & Self Portrait
- Poster
- App
- T Shirt
- Album Cover
- Corporate Identity
Some clients that Switch designers work with.
