Design for Art Direction Short Course
Course description
Course overview
Learn the methods of contemporary art direction and how to visually communicate creative solutions and concepts through intelligent use of narrative components such as image, colour, mood and pace. You will learn how to generate new ideas through a wide range of media: photography, illustration, typography, graphic design, interactive components, animation and video, and be encouraged to incorporate mixed media to produce strong art direction and a clear visual narrative.
Innovation is at the heart of this course, and you will learn how to use and interpret images and reference points to create unexpected and engaging ideas that clients will embrace. Through a series of group discussions, active participation, workshops and visits you will learn how to develop ideas that can be communicated both online and offline. Towards the end of the course you will focus on rationalising your ideas and take one idea through the process to produce an end result that embodies that idea and communicates it effectively. You will be encouraged to critique each other's visuals and concepts.
There will be mini briefs for you to work on throughout the course, and you will have an opportunity to analyse existing commercial campaigns. You are encouraged to have an idea of your own to work on throughout the course. With the support of the tutor you will be able to develop the idea into a clear brief and create appropriate content around it. Alternatively, you may work on briefs created by the course tutor.
Who this course is for
This course is aimed at students and professionals from a wide-range of backgrounds, including photography, film, graphics UX and animation. The focus is on visual narrative and creative thinking rather than technical skills - by the end of the course you will be confident to approach idea generation in a creative, innovative way.
This course is also a great refresher for anyone who has become stuck in old habits, or professional designers looking to move from one discipline into art direction. Previous studies or work experience in graphic design and knowledge of design principles would be an advantage. If you wish to use Adobe products on this course, a good working knowledge of Adobe InDesign and Photoshop is recommended.
Key information
Topics covered
- At least one offsite visit to galleries and/or commercial spaces
- Interpreting sources, analysis and discussion in small group
- Using areas of interest and ideas to hybridise bold new ideas
- Developing and analysing research
- Shaping ideas through written words, and design using animation, sketches, drawings and digital collage
- Creating concepts suitable for a range of media
Learning outcomes
- Engage and interpret creative references across many disciplines
- Draw connections between sources that appear diverse
- Find and test ideas quickly
- Generate ideas that are precise, communicative and ready to be fully executed
- Articulate and present ideas with confidence
- Receive feedback on your outputs from the tutor and the course participants
- Digital badge and certificate of attendance.
Materials
- A laptop
- A pen
- A notepad
IMPORTANT - Adobe ID Login for Short Course students. There is the option of using Adobe on this course. If you wish to access the suite onsite you will need to create an account in advance with Adobe (unless you already have one) in order to access the Adobe suite at the college; instructions are included below. You will need to use a personal email address to create this. If you already have an account with Adobe, please make sure you bring your login details with you on the first day of the course. Please note:
- Creating an Adobe account is free
- The software will only be accessible when logged into a UAL networked computer
- The same account can be used outside of the University, but software will only be accessible through a personal paid subscription that students will need to set up independently
- You can still create an account on the day but doing this beforehand will save time and avoid delays to the start of the class
- If you already have an Adobe ID/ subscription you can use this on your short course rather than setting up a new account.
To create an account students will need to:
- Go to Adobe Sign in page
- Select 'Create an account'
- Enter your details and select 'Create account'
Tutor
Hedieh Anvari
Hedieh Anvari is a Senior Art Director & Creative with professional experience in London and Paris. She has worked with clients such as COMME des Garçons, Lanvin, Mulberry, Topshop, Agent Provocateur, Zalando and had the opportunity to redesign Frieze magazine at the very beginning of her career. In Paris she worked on a number of fragrance commercials and social media activation for LVMH and Puig. Hedieh Anvari works as Associate Lecturer in the School of Design at London College of Communication and teaches Design for Art Direction on the master's degree. She is also the founder of Ooh Any Day Now, a fashion-female-health start up with emphasis on creative collaborations and product partnerships.
Hedieh started her career as a Graphic Designer & Assistant Creative Director at niche boutique agencies. She has also worked independently with clients and has headed creative teams at fashion houses – always passing on her enthusiasm for problem solving and the importance of making great use of one’s creativity when met with budget boundaries and the everyday reality of restricted creative freedom. Critical thinking and forming concepts is at the heart of her approach to any brief, which is a key learning from her BA Graphic Media Design studies at London College of Communication.
The most cherished memories of her career so far are commissioning and working with photographers, set designers, illustrators, postproduction houses and other instrumental creatives and crafts practitioners, for realising campaigns and visual content.
Book a course
Loading