ARTT 120 at the University of Maryland Global Campus is a project-driven study of the design elements of a composition as they relate to its overall expression.
UMGC states the aim as applying the elements and principles of design, including color theory, to create a variety of compositions that effectively communicate ideas and emotions. The listed prerequisite is GRCO 100 (Introduction to Graphic Communication).
ARTT 120 is the foundation for visual communication work. It asks you to move from instinct ("it looks good") to intention: knowing why a layout feels balanced or tense, why a color scheme feels calm or urgent, and how to arrange elements so a viewer reads them in the order you want.
Students who find it hard usually struggle with the explanation, not the making.
Course at a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| University | University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) |
| Course code | ARTT 120 |
| Credits | 3 |
| Prerequisite | GRCO 100 |
| Format | Project-driven |
| Typical work | Composition projects, color studies, design rationales, critiques |
What ARTT 120 Covers
| Area | Includes |
|---|---|
| Elements of design | Line, shape, form, space, texture, value and color |
| Principles of design | Balance, contrast, emphasis, rhythm, movement, unity, scale and proportion |
| Color theory | Hue, value, saturation, color wheels, harmonies and temperature |
| Expression | Using arrangement and color to communicate ideas and emotions |
Key Concepts Explained
Emphasis and Visual Hierarchy
Viewers look first at the area of greatest contrast in size, value or color. Controlling contrast lets you decide what is seen first, second and third.
Example: In a composition of gray squares, making one square larger and saturated orange instantly creates a focal point. Placing it off-center, roughly on a third of the frame, adds energy, while lining up the gray squares behind it creates rhythm that leads the eye towards it.
Color Harmonies
Complementary colors (opposite on the wheel) create strong contrast; analogous colors (neighbors) feel harmonious; a monochromatic scheme varies one hue in value and saturation. Each sets a different mood.
Balance
Symmetrical balance feels stable and formal; asymmetrical balance, achieved by weighing a large light shape against a small dark one, feels dynamic.
Typical Assignments and How to Approach Them
| Assignment type | What it tests | How to approach it |
|---|---|---|
| Element and principle studies | Controlled use of one concept | Isolate the concept; make several variations |
| Color scheme projects | Applying color theory | Plan the harmony first, test swatches, then execute |
| Expressive composition | Communicating an idea or emotion | Choose the emotion, then pick arrangement and color to match |
| Design rationale or critique | Explaining decisions | Name the principle, show where it appears, say what it achieves |
Writing a Design Rationale
A design rationale explains why your composition looks the way it does. Start with the goal (the idea or emotion), then walk through the key decisions: the focal point and how contrast creates it, the color scheme and its mood, the balance and how the eye moves. Keep each point tied to something visible.
Honest reflection strengthens a rationale. If a color scheme did not produce the mood you intended, say what you would change. This shows you understand the principles even when a result falls short.
Where Students Get Stuck
- Too many ideas in one piece. Simplify so the concept being tested is clear.
- Muddy color. Plan value contrast as well as hue.
- Centered everything. Experiment with asymmetry and the rule of thirds.
- Generic explanations. Point to specific areas of the composition.
Showing Your Design Process
Because ARTT 120 is project-driven, process often matters as much as the final piece. Keep thumbnails, color tests and discarded versions, and be ready to show how a composition developed.
A short sequence of three or four stages, each with a sentence on what you changed and why, makes your thinking visible and gives your instructor something specific to respond to.
Digital tools make iteration easy, so use that advantage deliberately. Save versions rather than overwriting, try the same layout in two or three color schemes and compare them side by side. Choosing between options, and explaining the choice, is exactly the skill the course is building.
Study Tips for ARTT 120
- Make thumbnails before every final piece.
- Convert designs to greyscale to check value contrast.
- Keep a swatch book of color schemes you like and why.
- Look at posters and layouts around you and name the principles at work.
How We Help with ARTT 120
Send the project brief, rubric, images of your compositions and any feedback. A tutor with a design background can give specific feedback, explain color theory and help you write rationales, critiques and reflections. For longer critique writing, see our critical analysis essay guide.
GradeEssays is independent of the University of Maryland Global Campus. We never create design work for you to submit; your compositions must be your own, and written help is a study aid under UMGC's academic integrity policy. Written work includes free revisions within the scope of your original request.
Strengthen Your ARTT 120 Projects
Share your compositions, brief and feedback. We give specific design feedback and help with written rationales and reflections.
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Frequently Asked Questions
UMGC lists GRCO 100 (Introduction to Graphic Communication) as the prerequisite.
The elements and principles of design, including color theory, applied in compositions that communicate ideas and emotions.
Yes. UMGC describes it as a project-driven study.
Complementary colors sit opposite each other on the color wheel and create strong contrast; analogous colors sit next to each other and feel harmonious.
State your goal, then show how specific choices such as contrast, color and balance achieve it, pointing to areas of the composition.
No. Your design work must be your own. We give feedback and help with the written explanations.