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Course Description

Creating compelling gig posters is both a fun and challenging pursuit for any graphic designer. This hands-on course equips you with the essential tools and techniques to craft eye-catching posters that not only capture attention but also communicate a powerful visual message. Each week, you’ll take on a new design challenge that focuses on foundational skills—typography, photography, illustration, composition and color—while pushing your creativity through conceptual thinking and experimentation. Whether you’re designing for punk shows, jazz nights or electronic acts, you’ll explore how to tailor your visual voice to match the music.

We’ll examine the evolution of gig poster design, from psychedelic prints of the 1960s to modern screen printed collectibles, while analyzing how cultural context shapes visual storytelling. By the end of the course, you’ll have a diverse portfolio of gig posters and a confident grasp of poster design fundamentals you can apply to real-world projects and creative careers.

Prerequisites

Students must be an adult age 18 or older to participate.

Instructors

Applies Towards the Following Certificates

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Enroll Now - Select a section to enroll in
Type
Studio
Days
Th
Time
6:45PM to 9:45PM
Dates
Oct 30, 2025 to Dec 11, 2025
Schedule and Location
Contact Hours
18.0
Delivery Options
Course Fee(s)
Tuition non-credit $575.00 Click here to get more information
Service charge(s)
  • 3% Service Fee  
Drop Request Deadline
Nov 20, 2025
Transfer Request Deadline
Jul 29, 2025 to Oct 28, 2025
Withdrawal Request Deadline
Oct 30, 2025 to Dec 11, 2025
Instructors
Necessary Supplies

Students are responsible for purchasing their own art supplies, equipment, and/or books. For most classes, the cost is under $125 (estimate). A supply list will be available on the course site in Canvas at least 30 days prior to the first day of class. 

Once you have received your enrollment confirmation and logged in to Canvas, navigate to Upcoming Courses on the left-hand side of your dashboard. Supplies will be listed on your course homepage under the supplies heading. Some or all of your course supplies are available at the RISD Store.

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