At Trinity High School in Ohio, they have such a great program for graphic design and three dimensional animation, starting in tenth grade. This program is funded by spirit services, and is targeted for poverty stricken areas. When I was in high school, I felt like the graphic design classes came no where near what this showcased school offers. The courses available to me gave a brief inside to how to use standard design programs, but it ended there. The best part of what this program offers in the video is the opportunity to work with real life clients. Students that excel in graphic design and art making will be facing several job opportunities and avenues, and without encouragement in high school, that message is weakly conveyed. The misconception of a "starving artist" prevents students in high school to take the risk of entering the competitive world of graphic design. If my high school offered something like this I would hop on the opportunity to get involved. As a teacher, it is a goal of mine to really have a knack with Photoshop and illustrator, as I know I will need to be prepared in the field for my students, so they can benefit the way these students seem to be benefiting.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruZGWkly9SI
Thanks for sharing that video! As a non art major it is always so fascinating to me to see technology embrace a discipline that is so often associated with the tangible of paint, pens, etc. My high school never offered any graphic design courses so what you said is exactly true. If students interested in art are not exposed to the different options to use art in their professional lives, students may decide to take a different path. It would be unfortunate to see a student deny his love just because he/she was not educated on the options available. Further, these classes give students who never had an interest in art a chance to become engaged. These classes would work great in conjunction with English to create a cross curricular curriculum. For example, students could create and market a business for which they created a logo.
ReplyDeleteHi Evan, my high school did not offer graphic design either. I think its important to expose students in art classes with as many resources as possible. Even in a district where there is limited computer/software availability, there are some really great free or cheap apps these days which can be used to introduce students to graphic art. Creating with digital media may also appeal to students who are sensitive to odors, textures, and messy qualities of more traditional art-making materials. Any vehicle for getting kids excited about creating and sharing their work is worth introducing to them. I would love to have my students create their own personal logos one day, which they can use on projects for the entire year.
ReplyDeleteTo continue on what Laura was saying, I think it's interesting how Graphic Design is still art- without the mess. Being an art major and lover, I enjoy and look forward to the mess, textures and odors that come with all types of art materials. Recently, after doing a lesson with colleagues, I discovered that not all people feel the same. Graphic Design is an important area in art that can also help expose the 'neater' type of student to art elements, concepts and ideas. The downfall is the lack of computers and technologies available to students depending on the district. I was lucky enough to have a program in my high school called Computer Art, that accomplished just this- art without the mess (but students were still exposed to art terms concepts and life styles).
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