TCM 2060 - Communication Graphics for Professionals

• Design and develop graphics that apply principles of visual design (i.e., information hierarchy, contrast, repetition, alignment, and proximity; appropriate use of line weights, fonts, colors, textures, space utilization, and aesthetics)
• Analyze situational, contextual, and audience characteristics and apply this analysis to the development of useful graphics
• Sketch simple and more complex concepts and ideas using basic lines and shapes 
• Identify report text that would benefit from or require graphic illustration and prioritize information that should be included in graphic illustrations
• Identify the ​appropriate contexts for low-, medium-, and high-fidelity graphics 
• Identify and adhere to conventions of introducing, placing, and referencing report graphics 
• Select and utilize widely available manual and digital graphics tools appropriate for the type of graphic being created

• College-level writing skills
• Familiarity with technical/workplace communication documents and formats

• Visual design principles (information hierarchy, contrast, repetition, alignment, proximity)
• Elements of design (color, shape, value, texture, size, space, line weight) 
• Digital tools and manual tools for creating graphics
• Sketching basic shapes (including freehand and using hand-held tools such as rolling rulers and protractors)
• Iterative nature of design (creating and refining low-, medium- and high-fidelity graphics)
• Adapting complex graphics (e.g. “chart junk” or Google Street Maps) for clarity and context of use; avoiding information overload by distinguishing between beneficial features of report and presentation graphics
• Data literacy principles (as applied to using data displays effectively)
• Enhancing technical descriptions
• Integrating graphics into report text and presentation content (introducing, labeling, captioning, documenting sources)