Brian created and has taught a half-day course entitled Taking Up Space: Basic Lessons in Graphic Design. The principle focus of the course is to look at documents from the reader’s perspective. Theoretical as well as practical tools for effective design and layout are discussed. Considerable examples drawn from all kinds of documents have been produced on overhead transparencies are used to illustrate the points that are discussed. Questions are encouraged as well as the submission of design challenges by the course attendees.
The content will include, but not necessarily limited to, the following objectives:
•The stages of the production process
•What makes good design
•How to better plan your design
•Designing as you write
•Using fonts as elements in good design
•Using graphic elements to improve design
The diverse groups that have enjoyed this course include the Toronto and Southwestern Ontario chapters of the Society for Technical Communication, the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, the Toronto chapter of the Editors’ Association of Canada, and the trade-magazine editors at Maclean-Hunter.
For more information on this seminar or to book it, bgrebow@weareyourtype.com
Brian has also taught public relations and communications at Toronto’s George Brown College, been a participant on panels dealing with professional ethics, choosing the right graphic designer, and responsibilities, and was the author of “Elements of Design”, a series of monthly articles in Communication Times, the newsletter of the Society for Technical Communication.