Welcome to the Introduction To Mac Proficiency Test

You are here to take an exam to test out of the AIU-London foundation class for computer graphics.

The exam can take up to two hours to complete.

Once you have been shown where the Public Folder is, you can begin by carefully reading the following brief…

…The Brief - Please Read Carefully

Make a graphic design to the dimensions of a CD booklet cover [120mm x 120mm] in just two hours.

The design does not have be aesthetically perfect or make complete sense.

The design must include raster and vector artwork.

The design must also include InDesign typography that works with the artwork.

You must quickly sketch out a visual of your idea and compositional intentions in the first 15 minutes of the session. There is layout paper available by your side for this purpose. I will collect your visual(s) at the end along with the digital files.

Make each of your component documents to the following final artwork dimensions - 120mm x 120mm. [If you know how to use bleed then feel free to set up your artwork with bleed.]

Nine Stage Guide to Executing The Brief

Execute The Brief With The Following Stages in Mind. The time amounts are a guide to how long you should take on each stage.

1. Briefing & Pre-Production - planning artwork to brief - quickly sketch out a design that anticipates using vector, raster, and typographic components - 15 mins


2. File Management - set up a folder for the job on the desktop and take care to work with consistent naming protocol throughout test - 5 mins


3. Building Raster Artwork - create your Photoshop artwork to CD booklet cover dimensions - 15 mins


4. Building Vector Artwork - create your Illustrator artwork to CD booklet cover dimensions - 15 mins


5. Page Layout - composite your artwork in InDesign - 15 mins


6. Typography - add text in Indesign derived from your initial sketch plan - 15 mins


7. Packaging & PDF - create a Package [File > Package] from InDesign and export a High Quality PDF - 10 mins


8. Web Graphic - create a jpg file of your final artwork for use on the web. Make the file a 500px square. Store the image in your Packaged folder with the rest of your work - 10 mins


9. Archive - create a zip file of the final job directory and back it up to the Public folder - 5 mins

Thankyou

When you have saved your work to the Public Folder, hand in your visual(s) and you are free to leave.

Your program chair will let you know the results in the near future.

Thankyou.