Term 3: Graphic Design: Week 1

We are all ready for another section of visual storytelling, or graphic design!  Students will be creating a great assortment of visual projects that can be used in a large variety of settings.  This week we will learn about the topics and disciplines of graphic design.  We will also spend some time getting to know each other.  The next part of this week will deal with learning about the history of graphic design and its role in our daily lives.  Students will research information about graphic design, and we will finalize it into a report.  Students should have a very good idea of all of the career opportunities that are available in graphic design.  I can't wait for class to start and to see everybody on the first day of term 3!

graphic design: Typography

Graphic design students have finished their work with branding and identity designs, now we are on to typography.  Be sure to ask you kids about Mr. Petersen's commandments of typography!!    We have been discussing effective typography practice, and how a different message can be delivered just by changing the space and weight of the letters.  We have also looked at some different styles including grunge design by David Carson.  We are practicing putting together some typography prints and will then finally put together one of our own.  This is such a great group of students, and I am really enjoying seeing their work this term!

adv graphic design Project Work

Students have all turned in their project proposals, their outlines, and their mood boards.  Now it is time to roll up our sleeves and get to work on our projects.  For the next several weeks, students will be working on their projects.  They need to have a one on one meeting with me at least one time each week where we can have conversations about our work and progress to see if any changes need to be made to our timeline or overall project goals.  Students have great ideas and now it's time to start making them become a reality.

Mood Boards

Advanced Graphic Design students are finished with their planning for their projects!  This week they will turn in their mood boards.  This is a poster that includes a collage of similar materials that they have found when researching their idea for their term-long projects.  The most important part of the project is their included sources from where they found all of their resources.  These boards are a critical part of their project as they will be used to help guide their work from here out for the rest of the term.

Branding

Graphic Design students have done a great job with their logos and learning about branding.  We are working on our stationery this week.  This will consist of a letterhead, an envelope, and business card.  Once we finish this project, we will finish the week by creating a branding guide.  This class has done great work, and show a lot of promise and talent with their work so far early this term!

adv graphic design: Project Planning

We are in our first section of advanced graphic design which deals with project planning.  Students will be working on a term-long project of their choice this term.  The first thing they did was create a project proposal that tells me the idea that they came up with.  The next part of the project involves creating a timeline.  Students will make a list of all the components that they will be creating for their projects, then come up with a schedule that will let them finish their projects in a set amount of time.  The next part of the project will involve collecting resources that can be placed on a mood/project board.  This will be a resource that students can look to throughout the term to influence the direction they should go with the design of their project.  There have been some very good proposals turned in, and I'm excited to see how these turn out!

graphic design: design process/identity design

We are in a new term and have started a new section of graphic design class!  Last week, students did some research on careers and education in graphic design.  This paper was due by the end of class on Thursday.  If students did not get this complete, they are expected to finish this at home, or come in before/after school to get caught up as it is for a significant grade.  Next week, we will be learning the design process.  This is a list of steps that we will follow for each of our projects we do this term.  Once we are introduced to this concept, we will use it together to complete our first design, which will be an identity design.  Students will be creating a logo with their initials.  We will eventually create a digital image of their design, and will also try and 3D print their logos.  I have really been impressed with this group of students so far, and can't wait to see the great things they make this term!  It's going to be a lot of fun!