information graphics project

This week NPHS graphic design students will learning about information graphics.  Infographics allow people to tell a story or explain data creatively with images.  Students will research a topic of their choice, then will create an infographic over the topic and will include their sources of information and necessary images.

typography

We will be talking about typography today in graphic design class.  We will look at type-faces and discuss form and content and how they can affect the overall message of a project that is being delivered.  We will also look at some work of David Carson and will then start getting into our next project.  Students will be creating a typography design of their choice.

Term 3 Branding Guide Identity Standard

Now that we have posted our stationery to our portfolios, we are ready for our Branding Guide/Identity Standard Project..  The last part of our identity design unit involves creating an identity standard document for our company.  First, I want you to look at an example of one from Chadron State College (http://www.csc.edu/collegerelations/identity.csc).  

For an example of what your identity standard will look like, check this link http://graphdesportfolio.blogspot.com/2012/10/identity-standard.html Open up Microsoft Word.  You will create an Identity Standard for your business.  Your Business Stationary needs each of the following:

Title Page

Introduction (who you are, why it’s important to have a consistent identity)

Typography (what types of fonts, font colors will your organization be using in various forms)

Colors (what colors are you using for your logo?  Unofficial names, RGB and CMYK values)

Logos (Show logos, include examples and description of inappropriate and appropriate logo usage)

Promotional Material (include business stationery, banners, flyers, etc…)

Web Content (list a web page where your business would be found, list page colors, fonts, content, web banner, etc…

Conclusion (Tell how you find it important to ensure quality with your brand, give a contact where someone can find help when wanting to use your brand and identity standard)

Once the identity standard document is completed, we will print it off, staple it, and turn it in.  The project is worth 20 points.

Business Stationery and Promotional Materials

Students have all finished creating their logos and putting them on their online portfolios.  We are now going to create a business for those logos and apply what we have learned about identity design to business stationery and promotional materials.  Students will create a business card (2 x 3.5), a letterhead (8.5 x 11), and an envelope (9.5 x 4.125).  After we have these components finished, we will put them together to make a realistic spread that illustrates what all of their products would look like arranged on a work space.

Photoshop Skills for Class

After our planning step for our identity design, students will be taking a short break as they learn to use Adobe Photoshop CC as our primary software for class.  Students will be expected to demonstrate skills to me with this program throughout the term.  Here are the skills:

create, manipulate canvas

place, cut, copy, & paste

create, manipulate layers

rasterize

move objects

transform

selection tools

use brush, pencil, eraser

utilize filters

change layer properties

image adjustments

save as jpg vs psd vs png

other

When students demonstrate a skill, they receive 2 points (you may only demonstrate 1 skill per day, so plan accordingly), and will be recognized for their achievements along the way with NPHS Graphic Design Photoshop Ninja Badges.  The badges are as follows...

Hong-Kong Phooey 2 points

Michaelangelo 6 points

Steven Seagal 10 points

Bruce Lee 12 points

Chuck Norris 16 points

Yoda 20 points.

Showing me 10 skills gets you the full 20/20 score for your photoshop competence grade.

Identity Design

We have learned that graphic design is visual communication, and that we can use the design process to effectively create and improve our work.  The 4 steps to the design process are 1. Research, 2. Research, 3. Plan (sketches, plans, feedback, critiques), and 4. Production.

As we were introduced to the design process, we started our first project which is identity design.  Students are imagining that they are a self-employed graphic designer, and are creating a logo using their initials.  Below are some early sketches that students have turned in.  I'm excited to see how these ideas evolve into great creative final products!

Term 3 Graphic Design

I hope everybody had a great Holiday Break!  Graphic Design for third term will get started right away as students will become familiar with rules/procedures for class, and will start off with a research project about fields and areas of study in graphic design.  Students are required to have a notebook or sketchbook for this class, which needs to be brought with them every day.  We will be very busy this term creating a wide variety of designs from identity designs to info graphics to typography to photo manipulations.  I'm very excited to see what creative ideas these students can come up with.