Graphic Design for Fiction: Visual Identities with Stories

A course by Tom Muller , Graphic Designer and Creative Director

Graphic Designer and Creative Director. London, United Kingdom.
Joined June 2004

Learn to translate powerful stories into memorable brand identities with a unique narrative spin using Adobe Illustrator and InDesign

100% positive reviews (32)
1,379 students
Audio: English
English · Spanish · Portuguese · German · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch

Learn to translate powerful stories into memorable brand identities with a unique narrative spin using Adobe Illustrator and InDesign

Tom Muller’s love for comics started at a young age. Since then, he’s found a way of combining that love with his passion for graphic design, by creating brand identities for iconic fictional titles including Marvel’s X-Men.

He’s collaborated with Magnum Photos, DC Comics, and Sony Pictures, using his experience as a creative director to design cohesive brand identities from start to finish. He aims to infuse his work with powerful narratives, and uses a storytelling approach to his creative process which he calls ‘branding stories and designing fiction.’

What do you get from this course?

“In this course you will learn the art of graphic design for fiction. For your final project you will have the opportunity to translate your favourite story into a brand identity for a book package”

• Learn the art of graphic design for fiction.
• Discover the creative process behind X-Men’s branding.
• Create a unique brand identity from start to finish, including logos, typography, and colors.

Read more ↓

What will you learn in this online course?

22 lessons & 11 downloads

What Is Designing for Fiction?
11 minutes, 20 seconds
Tools and Software
2 minutes, 9 seconds
The Brief
17 minutes, 50 seconds
Mood Board and References
16 minutes, 8 seconds
  • 100% positive reviews (32)
  • 1,379 students
  • 22 lessons (5h 18m)
  • 11 additional resources (2 files)
  • Online and at your own pace
  • Available on the app
  • Audio: English
  • English · Spanish · Portuguese · German · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch
  • Level: Beginner
  • Unlimited access forever

What is this course's project?

Create a brand identity for a book package based on your favorite story.

Projects by course students

Who is this online course for?

This course is for anyone with an interest in exploring graphic design in the world of fiction.

Requirements and materials

Knowledge of Adobe Illustrator and InDesign is required. Experience with Photoshop is a bonus.

In terms of materials, you will need access to a device with the above software installed, as well as pencils and paper for the initial sketches.


Reviews

1,379 Students
32 Reviews
100% Positive ratings

Tom Muller

A course by Tom Muller

Teacher Plus
Graphic Designer and Creative Director

Tom Muller is an award-winning graphic designer and creative director based in London. . Over the last 20 years, he’s made a name for himself in the comic and cult fiction industries, notably for his bold graphic work with Paramount Pictures, Image Comics, Darren Aronofsky, Hivemind and DC Comics. Through his studio helloMuller, he also creates logos, immersive visual worlds, and more for brands, storytellers, filmmakers, and entertainment companies.

His clients include Marvel Entertainment, Sony Pictures, Images Comics, Darren Aronofksky, 2000 AD, Star Wars, Disney, Google, WIRED, and Diesel. He is also the recipient of multiple awards including the Brand Impact Award for his design of X-Men’s Dawn of X[i], and his work has been recognised by The Eisner Awards, The Harvey Awards, [i]Entertainment Weekly, Wired, New York Magazine, and The Guardian.


Content

  • U1

    Introduction

    • About Me
    • Influences
  • U2

    Designing for Fiction: What Does It All Mean?

    • What Is Designing for Fiction?
    • Designing For Fiction: Case Studies 1
    • Designing For Fiction: Case Studies 2
    • Tools and Software
  • U3

    Creating the Visual Language: Concept and Design

    • The Brief
    • Mood Board and References
    • Sketching with Pen and Paper
    • Exploring the Title and Logo Design 1
    • Exploring the Title and Logo Design 2
    • Exploring the Title and Logo Design 3
  • U4

    The Final Design

    • Designing the Logo in Illustrator 1
    • Designing the Logo in Illustrator 2
    • Extending the Visual Language with Type
    • Colour Scheme 1
    • Colour Scheme 2
    • Colour Scheme 3
    • Building the Cover Design 1
    • Building the Cover Design 2
  • U5

    The Presentation

    • Presenting the Final Cover Design
    • Tips and Advice for New Designers
  • FP

    Final project

    • Graphic Design for Fiction: Visual Identities with Stories

What to expect from a Domestika course

  • Learn at your own pace

    Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.

  • Learn from the best professionals

    Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.

  • Meet expert teachers

    Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.

  • Certificates
    Plus

    If you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.

  • Get front-row seats

    Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.

  • Share knowledge and ideas

    Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.

  • Connect with a global creative community

    The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.

  • Watch professionally produced courses

    Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.


FAQs

Domestika's courses are online classes that provide you with the tools and skills you need to complete a specific project. Every step of the project combines video lessons with complementary instructional material, so you can learn by doing. Domestika's courses also allow you to share your own projects with the teacher and with other students, creating a dynamic course community.

All courses are 100% online, so once they're published, courses start and finish whenever you want. You set the pace of the class. You can go back to review what interests you most and skip what you already know, ask questions, answer questions, share your projects, and more.

The courses are divided into different units. Each one includes lessons, informational text, tasks, and practice exercises to help you carry out your project step by step, with additional complementary resources and downloads. You'll also have access to an exclusive forum where you can interact with the teacher and with other students, as well as share your work and your course project, creating a community around the course.

You can redeem the course you received by accessing the redeeming page and entering your gift code.

If you're a Plus member, when you complete a course you've purchased, you'll instantly get your personalized certificate. You can see all your certificates in the Certificates section of your profile. You can download your certificates as PDFs and share the link online. Learn more about certificates.
Graphic Design for Fiction: Visual Identities with Stories. Design course by Tom Muller

Graphic Design for Fiction: Visual Identities with Stories

A course by Tom Muller
Graphic Designer and Creative Director. London, United Kingdom.
Joined June 2004
  • 100% positive reviews (32)
  • 1,379 students