Artwork © Christopher Martin
Design
MR. MARTIN, MP4
Design (aka Introduction Design, Design I) is a foundation course recommended for anyone with an interest in art. Students will develop their understanding of visual communication through study of the Elements and Principles of Design in a variety of activities including printmaking, computer graphic design, and three-dimensional design. Students will also investigate and develop the habits and behaviors for artistic success. This class is a prerequisite for Advanced Design and 3-D Design, and may be used as the prerequisite for Ceramics I. There is no prerequisite for this course. This course satisfies 1/2 credit of Humanities, part of your graduation requirement.
WEEK ONE AND TWO:
Course overview and the design process
In week one, students will become familiar with course objectives, classroom facilities and teacher expectations. We will study the artistic process and examine the idea of creativity as well as the Elements and Principles of Design. We will become familiar with Internet resources for our class and Edmodo (our classroom social media).
In week two, we will begin work in graphic design by examining and using the design process, a system used to help design work flow efficiently and successfully to completion. We will begin learning Adobe Illustrator, a powerful, professional-level graphics program used in professional design studios everywhere.
In week two, we will begin work in graphic design by examining and using the design process, a system used to help design work flow efficiently and successfully to completion. We will begin learning Adobe Illustrator, a powerful, professional-level graphics program used in professional design studios everywhere.
ASSIGNMENT RESOURCES:
Adobe Illustrator is a fantastic professional tool for creating graphics and manipulating the appearance of text, but the learning curve is steep. Click above for a great resource to help you master this powerful software
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This fun video uses a combination of Paul Rand's actual words and animations based on his graphic design work to express thoughts on the elements and principles of design.
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This great video explores the truths and myths that surround creativity and provides insight in how to be creative.
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The design process is an important system to develop your work. Use this graphic organizer to make the design process happen for you.
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WEEKs THREE and four:
Branding and logo design
During this two-week unit, you'll study logos and logo design as well as branding. You'll recreate a classic logo using Adobe Illustrator to both study design and to familiarize yourself with Illustrator controls and functions. Finally, to cap off the unit, you'll work as a graphic designer to create a logo for a fictional business.
ASSIGNMENT RESOURCES:
STUDY MASTERWORKS! How do you learn best? From the best! Here's a list with pictures of 25 of the greatest corporate logos of all time. These classics were selected by the editors of practicalecommerce.com
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LOOK BEHIND THE SCENES! Here is an interview with the art director who developed the FedEx logo, widely regarded to be among the best logos of all time... How the sausage is made from thesneeze.com
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Aaron Draplin is the designer of the moment. In this video, Draplin explains in his very down-to-earth way, how to design a logo.
WEEKS Five AND Six:
Three-dimensional Design- The Paper Mask
The mask is a powerful and ancient form of art. Masks mean many things to many different cultures. In our own culture, masks are often used for purely utilitarian purposes (as protection from chemicals and impacts, cold weather, etc.) or strictly for play and entertainment (Halloween masks, toys), but in other cultures throughout history, masks are and have been a key part of religious ceremonies, theater, medicine rituals and more.
In cultures such as those of Sub-Saharan Africa peoples or Native Americans masks allow wearers to escape their everyday being and become a part of the spiritual world. Their powerful influences have crept into Western Culture through the visual arts. Artists like the Cubists and Fauves incorporated the imagery and stylistic ideas from aboriginal cultures into their own art.
The influence of mask-making cultures continues to be felt today. Walt Disney Company's stage play, "The Lion King," based upon the animated film of the same name, was a revolution on Broadway. The use of masks, costumes, and puppets in director/artist Julie Taymor's play forever changed the way we view theater. Tamor studied many world cultures and brought their unique mask-making and costuming ideas into the design of "The Lion King." The influence of "The Lion King" has stretched beyond theater, too, as a mask-making Renaissance is sweeping through the fashion industry.
For our three-dimensional design product, we will embrace mask-making. Using only paper, we will design and build masks/headpieces to create fully IN-THE-ROUND (designed to be viewed from all sides) sculptural masks. This project will challenge you to redefine your ideas about paper's function and how to work with it. You will learn practical construction to build a well-fitting, stable, and wearable mask. You will also learn to develop ideas from concrete, real world imagery toward more symbolic, abstract, and stylized concepts.
In cultures such as those of Sub-Saharan Africa peoples or Native Americans masks allow wearers to escape their everyday being and become a part of the spiritual world. Their powerful influences have crept into Western Culture through the visual arts. Artists like the Cubists and Fauves incorporated the imagery and stylistic ideas from aboriginal cultures into their own art.
The influence of mask-making cultures continues to be felt today. Walt Disney Company's stage play, "The Lion King," based upon the animated film of the same name, was a revolution on Broadway. The use of masks, costumes, and puppets in director/artist Julie Taymor's play forever changed the way we view theater. Tamor studied many world cultures and brought their unique mask-making and costuming ideas into the design of "The Lion King." The influence of "The Lion King" has stretched beyond theater, too, as a mask-making Renaissance is sweeping through the fashion industry.
For our three-dimensional design product, we will embrace mask-making. Using only paper, we will design and build masks/headpieces to create fully IN-THE-ROUND (designed to be viewed from all sides) sculptural masks. This project will challenge you to redefine your ideas about paper's function and how to work with it. You will learn practical construction to build a well-fitting, stable, and wearable mask. You will also learn to develop ideas from concrete, real world imagery toward more symbolic, abstract, and stylized concepts.
ASSIGNMENT RESOURCES
A YouTube playlist of behind the scenes videos of "The Lion King" stage play. Part 6: Masks and Puppets is required viewing for all class members. The rest of the videos are highly recommended because they will help with the assignment,
and because they are... well, awesome.
and because they are... well, awesome.
Some great paper masks by designer Phillip Valdez. Valdez creates masks that are based both in reality and myth.
Online gallery of African art including MANY masks. The museum is organized by ethnic group.
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Amazing masks, headpieces, and wigs by Nikki Nye,
Amy Flurry and other artists at the Paper-Cut Project. An excellent online presentation by African art curators at the world-famous Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
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WEEKS seven to nine:
Pop Art and social commentary
Pop Art is an artistic movement that emerged in the late 1950's. It's aesthetic involved elevating images and public figures from popular culture and mass media to make commentaries on society. Pennsylvanian Andy Warhol is widely considered to be the most famous and influential American Pop Artist.
In today's culture, celebrity can also equal influence. Like it or not, celebrities (whether politicians, tv or movie personalities, rock stars, or other famous people) wield the power to sway public opinion. In our Pop Art unit, ALL students will approach the subject of celebrity from their own perspectives. Students are free to visually comment on socially relevant aspects of the personalities themselves, or to use the celebrity image as a metaphor to comment on the larger subject of American society.
For the assignment, students will capture an image from the Internet of an important person from today's culture. It should be one that demonstrates high contrast (lots of light and shadow). This will be converted into two or more hand-cut stencils which will be applied to a collaged, patterned substrate (paper) to create the finished work. For inspiration, one should initiate an Internet search for Andy Warhol's Icons or Shepard Fairey's Obama Hope poster and other works. Although each student's artwork will be uniquely her own, it never hurts to explore other artists' treatment of similar subjects.
In today's culture, celebrity can also equal influence. Like it or not, celebrities (whether politicians, tv or movie personalities, rock stars, or other famous people) wield the power to sway public opinion. In our Pop Art unit, ALL students will approach the subject of celebrity from their own perspectives. Students are free to visually comment on socially relevant aspects of the personalities themselves, or to use the celebrity image as a metaphor to comment on the larger subject of American society.
For the assignment, students will capture an image from the Internet of an important person from today's culture. It should be one that demonstrates high contrast (lots of light and shadow). This will be converted into two or more hand-cut stencils which will be applied to a collaged, patterned substrate (paper) to create the finished work. For inspiration, one should initiate an Internet search for Andy Warhol's Icons or Shepard Fairey's Obama Hope poster and other works. Although each student's artwork will be uniquely her own, it never hurts to explore other artists' treatment of similar subjects.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Please be aware that in our classroom, we respect the rights of peers to have differing opinions and celebrate our freedom to have intellectual disagreements. Respect for each other is critical to our educational experience. The teacher and all students will respect every student's rights to voice (or withhold) school-appropriate opinions and to disagree without penalty. Additionally, artistic treatment of images must fall within the bounds of school rules, including all rules of good behavior and school appropriate subject matter.
If you have a question as to the appropriateness of your handling of the subject, please consult with the teacher before moving forward.
Please be aware that in our classroom, we respect the rights of peers to have differing opinions and celebrate our freedom to have intellectual disagreements. Respect for each other is critical to our educational experience. The teacher and all students will respect every student's rights to voice (or withhold) school-appropriate opinions and to disagree without penalty. Additionally, artistic treatment of images must fall within the bounds of school rules, including all rules of good behavior and school appropriate subject matter.
If you have a question as to the appropriateness of your handling of the subject, please consult with the teacher before moving forward.
ASSIGNMENT RESOURCES
Click the button above to view a Powerpoint about
Pop Art and the elements of society and culture from which Pop Art draws its power and popularity.
Pop Art and the elements of society and culture from which Pop Art draws its power and popularity.
Click the button above for video instruction on
how to cut the stencil for the Pop Art project. |
ALL STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO VIEW THE VIDEO ABOVE ON SAFE USE OF THE X-ACTO KNIFE (approx. 15 minutes long).
All students must pass a quiz on knife use and safety with a 100% before being allowed to use the X-acto knives. |