Things that you cannot express in words alone
Students at Innovation Diploma Plus High School (IDP) are diving into the world of computer graphics through a Creative Art Works in-school program in digital arts. They are being introduced to the basics of Adobe Photoshop and other digital-design software as well as the fundamentals of design, including composition, typography, photo-editing, and image manipulation. Many students are also learning to navigate the Mac Operating System for the first time. It’s a great opportunity and also a daunting challenge.
Projects include experiments with typefaces, digitally manipulating self-portraits, and a vision board in which students are asked to express where they will be in 15 years using only images.
We asked CAW Teaching Artist Lewis Porter about the digital arts program at IDP.
How did you learn graphic arts? I earned two degrees in art school but digital art was not one of them. I fell into graphic design with one job after college, and every job I have had since then has been in graphic design. I learned things on the job and studied independently.
What computer skills will your students learn by the time they finish the program? During this trimester, students are learning some of what Adobe Photoshop has to offer, but we will only scratch the surface of what Photoshop can do, because the application is enormous. If these projects inspire them to want to learn more, I'd be very pleased. But even if they don’t continue with digital design, I will still consider it a great success – knowledge and learning are always valuable even if you don't see an immediate reason for it.
What design principles will they learn? The program is project-centered. Students are learning the various elements of design and composition simply by doing.
Word Clouds of Personal Attributes
Students created a word cloud of personal attributes, turning a typography lesson into an exercise in self-awareness.