GRAPHIC & DIGITAL DESIGN LESSON IDEAS

In the Fall of 2012, I developed my own teaching methodology for curriculum and instruction for inquiry-based learning in the visual art and design classroom. I have found it works best in a studio art classroom (vs. digital studio) but I believe it can be "flexed" to be applicable to any content-area. A detailed write-up about it can be found HERE.

[ Digital Animorph portraits ]

[ Digital Cartoon self-portraits ]

Uses Adobe Illustrator CS2

 

[ Illustrated Recipes ]

Inspired by work seen on They Draw & Cook, illustrations created in Adobe Illustrator CS2, student work from Spring 2012

[ Infographics ]

Illustrations created in Illustrator CS2, this lesson came after the Illustrated Recipes above

[ Typography portraits ]

Uses Photoshop or other digital media platform that allows for use/manipulation of layers, student work from Fall 2011

[ The Unfinished Puzzle ]

Uses Photoshop to render a photograph into a realistic looking unfinished jigsaw puzzle. Works as a really wonderful introductory lesson to using Photoshop since it uses simple functions of the software to produce a complex and high quality finished piece of digitally rendered artwork.

[ Photocubism inspired by David Hockney ]

Uses Photoshop to combine multiple smaller views into one large collage/assemblage-style image

[ Alter Ego/Clone Photography ]

Uses Photoshop and requires students to do self-photography

[ Levitation Photography ]

Uses Photoshop and requires students to do self-photography, inspired by surreal art stylings 

[ Digital Graffiti ]

Uses Photoshop and can require installing specialty fonts and/or stock photography

[ Personal Logo Design on coffee mug ]

Uses Photoshop and applies instruction of a tutorial from the textbook

[ Tilt shift effect with Photoshop ]

Utilizes a tutorial found online and linked within the posting

[ Cartoon Planets ]

Utilizes Illustrator

[ Smart Phone Menu Illustration ]

Utilizes tutorial found online and linked within posting for illustrator 

[ Digitally Rendered Painting ]

Not my original lesson idea and came from tutorial from the class textbook

[ Fruits of the Spirit - study of contemporary Propaganda ]

Examination of the work (and fall) of Shepard Fairey's Hope poster from the Obama campaign as well as an examination of what propaganda seeks to do and promote. Turned the idea of propaganda around so that it would promote something positive like the fruits of the spirit as scripture defines it but this could also be changed our for character principles for a public school assignment. Students were assigned a word that had to be visually communicated.

 

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All lessons listed have been tried at least once in my classroom. Some I have originated but ones that were derived from inspiration elsewhere are noted with links and source information as best as I was able to compile for the purposes of giving credit where credit is due.