An exploration of what branding is and how it works, through the eyes of a designer.

📕 COURSE CONTENT

⬇️ For weekly lecture slides and HW submission go to Spring 2026 Page below!

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Spring 2026

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Fall 2025

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ℹ️ Applications for Spring 2026 due February 2nd! Scroll down to apply and find out more!

🗺️ LOGISTICS

<aside> 🖼️ DES INV 198

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<aside> 🏫 Jacobs Room 10

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<aside> ✏️ 2 Units P/NP

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<aside> 🕕 Every Tuesday 5:30pm-7:00pm

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<aside> 📬 Feedback and absences send to [email protected]

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🖼️ ABOUT

🎨 The DeCal is a graphic design class, with an emphasis on branding. Over the semester, each student will come up with a brand concept for a company/business that's imaginary or real.

🌱 Students will cultivate skills of conceptualizing and visualizing, and learn the basic skills of graphic design as a means to make those ideas a reality. They will also learn about branding, and how to use graphic design tools such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and Figma.

🧑‍🏫 Students walk away with a branding project they can add to their portfolio. Check out Fall 2020's and Spring 2020's works!

Local Transit, by Chenghao Meng, FA'20

🚌 JOIN THE SP26 COURSE

📝 APPLICATION LINK:

Brand Identity and Graphic Design (BIGD) DeCal Application - Spring 2026

📱 FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM:

BIGD Decal (@bigddecal) • Instagram profile

⚠️ DISCLAIMER:

A decent understanding of how to use Photoshop, Illustrator, Figma or other digital design tools is necessary.
The course will teach some tips and tricks about these programs, but it is not an introductory course.
However, we will accept a wide range of students of different skill levels. Having a strong foundation will help you execute the more complex ideas you have.

📋 SYLLABUS

Our syllabus is constantly evolving and being updated as we teach it. Feel free to look at past semesters' works!

noods*, by Zoe Young, FA'20*

📣 FAQs

Does this course require experience in graphic design?
How is lecture structured?
Will class be recorded?
What are the assignments like?
How do I pass this class?
What can I gain from this course?
Can I audit the class?

🎬 INSTRUCTORS AND TEACHING ASSISTANTS

Meet the team! 🤙