So, you may be wondering: What is this class? Well, this course focuses on two different disciplines, Desktop Publishing and Graphic Design. The combination of these two subjects makes up nearly every piece of commercial art. For example, who designs the cards they use to announce the winners at the Oscars? That's kind of a big deal, right? Well, I always assumed those guys were called "Graphic Designers", and I was right... sort of.

Desktop Publishing vs. Graphic Design

Graphic design and desktop publishing are very similar. Both jobs involve using Desktop Publishing software to create visually effective and appealing documents for print. Both jobs require an understanding of design principles, typography, color theory, and how to use images properly in a document. Both jobs require tons of caffeine and the patience of a fence post. So, how are they different?

Graphic Design

Graphic design jobs "involve the creative process of coming up with concepts and ideas and arrangements for visually communicating a specific message" [1]. Wow, that's a complicated definition. It really means that graphic designers are more focused on the creative aspect of these projects. They are the "Idea Men" (or Idea Women, or Idea Helicopters, or Idea She-Hulks, whatever)...

Desktop Publishing

Desktop Publishing, or DTP as I call it, is "the mechanical process that the designer or non-designer use to turn the ideas for newsletters, brochures, ads, posters, greeting cards, and other projects into digital files" [1]. It sounds to me that these aren't different jobs, just different parts of the same job. I've included a handy graphic to illustrate this point.

So, if graphic design is the creative part and desktop publishing is the process, which of these will we learn in this class? Well, both actually. You will plan new documents, design them, and prepare them for printing; essentially, you will do both jobs in this class.

Next, you will learn about the design process as it pertains to this subject. See you there!

References:

[1] Bear, Jacci Howard. "The Difference Between Graphic Design and Desktop Publishing." ThoughtCo, Jan. 13, 2018, thoughtco.com/difference-graphic-design-and-desktop-publishing-1078771.