The Graphic Design School
Frequently Asked Questions About The Course & School
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the course?
Can I get a discount for Adobe products?
What is the criteria for enrolment?
How do I enrol?
When can I enrol?
What aspects of Graphic Design does this course cover?
How long does the course take to complete?
I've read the course outlines, so I know there are 12 modules. Are there assignments at the end of these modules?
How do I get my assignments marked?
I have work and family commitments, are there strict deadlines and due dates for assignments?
Will I graduate with a portfolio in hand?
Will I be able to use my Certificate IV qualification to help gain entry into further study?
I already work in the design industry, I am a more or less self taught. Does your course apply to me?
Will I receive any kind of certification at the end of the course?
What kind of software will I need to own to study?
What will I need in order to complete this course?
What kinds of interaction can I expect from my instructor and my fellow students in the Graphic Design School?
How does e–learning in the online graphic design school vary from a real life classroom?
More Questions?
How much is the course?
All information on payments and payment plans can be found on the enrolments page of this site.
Can I get a discount for Adobe products?
Yes you can. It is very important to understand the type of discounts that you are entitled to when you study with The Graphic Design School. Adobe has very little documentation about this and it can be very confusing. So lets set the record straight!
There are two types of Adobe discounts for students. One is called a ‘Student Discount’ and the other is called an ‘Education Discount’.
Student discounts are eligible only for students who study at least 2 years full time this discount is generally 80% off retail price; As a student of The Graphic design School you are not eligible for this type of discount.
Education discounts are eligible for other students undertaking serious study courses, this discount is generally 60% off retail price. As a ‘The Graphic Design School’ student you are entitled to the Education Discount. TGDS has partnerships with certified Adobe dealers in various parts of the world. If you wish to take advantage of Adobe product discounts, once enroled with the school, just let us know and we will send you out an official letter stating your enrolment status along with the best point of contact to purchase your education package. We have established relationships with friendly Adobe dealers, they know which Adobe products are needed for course completion and they are also happy to offer The Graphic Design School students.
For a an official guide on the above mentioned see this handy chart by registered Adobe Reseller http://www.studica.com/images/storage/EU-Adobe-Student.htm
What is the criteria for enrolment?
There are few requirements for enrolment. Firstly, you must be able to operate an SLR camera at a basic level. Secondly, you must possess the drive and motivation needed to undertake e-learning. Thirdly, you must be 18 or over. If you are under 18 and wish to study, please ask a parent or guardian to contact the school via email or phone and we can discuss your particular case to see whether you would be eligible to study with us. Lastly, a love of design... Of course.,
How do I enrol?
You may enrol directly through the site on the enrolments page. Once you have paid your fees, we will send you your unique username and password. You will have direct access to your very own student site, called the Schoolyard. In the Schoolyard you will have access to an e-library, training videos, forum, and your course. You may begin learning straight away.
When can I enrol?
Enrolments couldn't be easier. The school takes enrolments all year round, and as the course is self paced you can start your first module at anytime. Just go to the enrolments page, choose your method and payment plan and enrol, you will be online and learning within a matter of hours!
What aspects of Graphic Design does this course cover?
The graphic design course online curriculum page on this site explains in detail the aspects of design covered in this course.
How long does the course take to complete?
The Intensive Foundation Course takes an average of 30 weeks to complete. You have up to one year to complete the course as it is self paced. The Certificate IV in Design Upgrade Course takes an average of 30 hours to complete the five extra assessments. You have up to 3 months to complete the Certificate IV upgrade course. This course is also self paced.
I've read the course curriculum page, so I know there are 12 modules in the Intensive Foundation Course. Are there assignments at the end of these modules?
Yes, each module has an engaging and portfolio building assignment at the end. There are also studies that need to be completed throughout the modules to help you start to process and think like a professional designer. If you decide to upgrade to the the Certificate IV in Design Upgrade Course one of our experienced tutors will go back to the assignments you submitted in Modules 1–12 and mark it against the accredited qualification and its units of competency.
How do I get my assignments marked?
All communication is done online through the student secure site, you will never have to send assignments via the post. There is an easy to use upload facility for your assignments once you have finished them within the student site. The Assignments are sent directly to your graphic design tutor. He or she will promptly mark your assignment and give you valuable and concise feedback along with your grades.
I have work and family commitments, are there strict deadlines and due dates for assignments?
In a word, no. The graphic design course online is self paced, you will never be harassed to hand in your next assignment. With this in mind however we ask students to be responsible for their own learning and development by participating actively and positively and by ensuring that they maintain progress with learning modules.
t is important for students to monitor their own progress by ensuring that assessments are submitted in a timely manner. It is our aim that students complete the course, we offer learning support when you need it and also have a six month extension available should life get in the way and hinder your study efforts.
Will I graduate with a portfolio in hand?
The course has been designed so that each assignment will have a final role in establishing a professional and dynamic portfolio. Your tutor will help you shape your portfolio, resume and cover letters to get you the job in the area of design that interests you the most.
Will I be able to use my Certificate IV qualification to help gain entry into further study?
The qualifications are part of the Australian national system. This means that when you gain a Certificate IV in Design, it can be used towards a Diploma ,then advanced Diploma or a Bachelors degree. So, if your career goals include a pathway to further study at a university, the Certificate IV in Design is a great start. You can use it at a University or College with higher levels of study and it will help with admission and possibly credits. Plus your portfolio of course. Fantastic.
I already work in the design industry, I am a more or less self taught. Does your course apply to me?
Many of our students are practicing designers from different disciplines of design. These days it is very easy to teach yourself over the net by persisting with free software training videos on you tube or the like. The fact of the matter is that software training is the least important element when it comes to learning about graphic design. There are many people who are very proficient in the Adobe suite, yet do not have the design foundations to make the ‘right’ design decisions during the design process. Software execution and design concepts are worlds apart, ask any designer. Depending on how proficient you are in the Adobe suite: you may find the first few modules of Adobe teaching a little too basic. No need to worry. The course focuses on tying software skills together with solid design foundations. We focus on creating designers that can react creatively and thoroughly to a design brief, who employ knowledge and notion of great design. Please read the course outlines thoroughly to get a better understanding of whether what we are teaching is right for you and your career path.
What kind of software will I need to own to study?
The course is taught in the Adobe creative suite: Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign. Although not obligatory owning Acrobat Pro will make you life a lot easier throughout the course. Adobe do a package called the Adobe Creative Suite Standard. This package has all you need to study with us.
What will I need in order to complete this course?
As you will be studying from home there will be a certain amount of equipment that you will need to undertake the course successfully. These are as follows; a Computer: PC or Mac is fine, the course runs on any operating system. The Schoolyard itself functions like any other internet site, no special requirements are needed to run the Schoolyard. You will however be using graphics software throughout the course. These softwares require a minimum amount of system requirements to run fast and efficiently.
System requirements to run design software are:
Windows
- 1.5GHz or faster processor
- Microsoft® Windows® XP with Service Pack 2 or Windows Vista® Home Premium, Business, Ultimate, or Enterprise with Service Pack 1
- 512MB of RAM
- 1.8GB of available hard-disk space
- 16-bit video card
- DVD-ROM drive
Mac OS
- PowerPC® G5 or multicore Intel® processor
- Mac OS X v10.4.11–10.5.4 or above
- 512MB of RAM
- 1.6GB of available hard-disk space for installation
- 1,024x768 display (1,280x800 recommended) with 16-bit video card
- DVD-ROM drive
Software
You will be required to own your own copy of the Adobe Creative Suite Standard edition, CS3, CS4 or CS5. Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign. This can be purchased at Education prices through certain suppliers. Please contact the school for a list of our suppliers in your area.
Internet
Connection to Internet is also required. There are no particular speeds or access that is a minimum requirement as all modules can be downloaded and saved to your computer. Training videos can be streamed at an optional dial up speed level if needed. This option has been provided for people in remote areas and limited access to high speed Internet. If you do have the option to have access to higher speed internet (cable or broadband), this will help you have a more timely access when you need to conduct design research on the web.
Camera Equipment
Module 7 and 10 requires you to have access to an SLR camera: analogue or digital is fine. If you choose to use a digital camera it must be of at least 3 mega pixels. Module 11 and 12 will require that you photograph your work for packaging and portfolio projects, the camera you choose to work with in these projects is up to you, however if digital it must be of at least 3 mega pixels to ensure work quality. You must also possess basic knowledge of how to operate an SLR camera.
Illustration Supplies
Throughout the course you will need to complete design sketches, we ask that students have a small range of lead pencils HB-4B, A4 and A3 sketching pads.
Printing and Scanning equipment
In order to record evidence as part of your design processes you will be required to have access to a scanner and a printer. A colour printer is a personal preference, but not necessary for your assessments, Black and White printing is acceptable.
What kinds of interaction can I expect from my instructor and my fellow students in the Graphic Design School?
Our tutors grade and give you valuable feedback on all twelve of your assignments. Throughout the graphic design course you will be introduced to the idea of keeping a visual journal. We will guide you step by step in ways throughout each module, that you can build your own visual library of ideas in this journal. This journal is also a great way for you to communicate ideas to your fellow students and staff. You can also ask questions or exchange inspirational ideas or links to share on the student forum. Communication with fellow students and tutors is a great way for you to ‘nut out’ issues that you might be having throughout the course. Learning can be a challenge, and we find that there is always somebody out there that will be experiencing the same kind of challenge as you. Our strong student and tutor community is of the utmost importance to us, and we believe a key part of our success.
How does e–learning in the online graphic design school vary from a real life classroom?
A great question without a single answer, each student discovers for his or herself the conveniences of e–learning from home in their own way. Besides passing on the costs that we save on infrastructure and rent, the most reported convenience for students is not needing to travel to a classroom,costly parking and the time involved for such an exercise. But do all of the conveniences really outweigh being in an interactive classroom environment... the answer is simple YES, YES, YES! The Graphic Design School has dedicated thousands of man hours to fine tuning our online graphic design courses so that our students can benefit MORE from an e–learning experience with us than a real life classroom environment. We have many experiences of both tutors and students of other colleges reporting how long it takes a tutor to 'get around' to giving one individual the attention needed, should she or he have a problem. In a classroom of 30-50 students, its understandable that one teacher cannot satisfy everybody's demands. In an e-learning environment however, your instructional videos and course materials can be re-watched and re-read as many times as you like in the case you feel you have missed anything first time around. The online support forum is also jam packed with questions and answers from past students, students use this as a quick reference too. Students can also post their own question to the forum and tutors quickly reply.
More Questions?
If you have another question we would love to hear from you, drop us a line info@thegraphicdesignschool.com
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