Visual Graphic Design & 21st-Century Workplace Skills

Unit 1 – Visual Graphic Design

Roles & Responsibilities of a VGD

• Generate visual concepts via hand tools / software.
• Convey messages clearly to target audience.
• Research brand history, users, competitors.
• Develop layouts for logos, packaging, UI, displays.
• Test graphics across media; revise per feedback.
• Coordinate with IT (UX/UI), copywriters, clients.
• Final QA before publishing.

Careers

• Visual Graphic Artist/Designer
• Creative/Art Director
• Multimedia (Animation) Artist
• UI Designer • UX Designer
• Package Designer
• Booth / Window Display Designer

Key PH Laws for VGD / ICT

• $RA\ 11904$ – Philippine Creative Industries Dev.
• $RA\ 8792$ – E-Commerce Act (validates e-docs).
• $RA\ 8293$ – IP Code: patents, utility models, trademarks, copyrights.
• Attribution types: All-Rights-Reserved, Creative Commons (CC BY, BY-SA, BY-NC-SA, BY-ND, BY-NC, BY-NC-ND), Public Domain.

Elements of Design

• Line • Shape • Form (positive space)
• Space (negative) • Color • Value
• Texture

Principles of Design & Communication

• Balance (sym/asy) • Rhythm • Scale
• Contrast • Hierarchy
• Color: wheel (primary, secondary, tertiary); RGB vs CMYK; schemes—Monochromatic, Complementary, Split-Comp, Triadic; basic color meanings (e.g., Red = action/alert, Blue = trust/calm).
• Typography: Serif, Sans Serif, Display; combine max 2 fonts, use hierarchy, contrast, leading, tracking, kerning, negative space.
• Layout & Composition: Proximity, Negative Space, Alignment (grid, rule of thirds), Contrast, Hierarchy, Repetition.

Basic Measurements

• Pixel = screen dot.
• Point = $1/72$ inch (font size, leading).
• Pica = 12 pt = $1/6$ inch (column width).

Visual Graphic Design Process

• Creative Brief → Research → Concept (mood board) → Creation (sketch→digital) → Client Revision (3 studies) → Finalize & deliver (file specs).

Common Applications

• Editorial & Digital Publishing (covers, e-books).
• Packaging (boxes, labels).
• Advertising & Display (social media, billboards, UI, merch).

Unit 2 – 21st-Century Workplace Skills

Communication Essentials

• Verbal: intonation, pitch, vocabulary, gestures.
• Non-verbal: facial/bodily cues.
• Email basics: correct address, clear subject, proper tone, reference attachments, avoid ALL CAPS.
• Info sources: internal (heads, supervisors, peers), external (clients, media, web).

Leading Discussions & Small Teams

• Show professionalism & meeting etiquette.
• Foster open, honest communication; set SMART collaborative goals; celebrate wins; enable problem-solving; supply resources; model empathy & respect; keep accountability & big-picture focus.

Goal-Setting & Action Plans

• Personal & team goals must be SMART.
• Steps: vision → plan → track → adjust.
• Performance expectations: clarify early, give feedback, motivate.

Supervising & Performance Management

• Delegate by strengths; monitor via observation, updates, logs.
• Use feedback types: Positive (praise) vs Constructive (improve + solution).
• Coaching tips: clarify roles, share info, accept ambiguity, set boundaries, be patient.
• Common performance issues: low output, poor quality, lack of accountability, resistance to change, misconduct—address via clear rules and dialogue.

Core Workplace Policies

• Occupational Health & Safety
• Equal Opportunity / Anti-harassment
• Code of Conduct
• Leave of Absence rules
• Disciplinary action process
• Shift rostering