Project #1 Is In the Books!

Our class just completed their first assignment. After several rounds of peer reviews and revisions, the projects look fantastic! Mrs. Frederick and I were very impressed with the creativity and attention to detail that our students showed throughout the course design process. Take a look at the samples below! We are now printing these projects on our large-scale plotter. All pieces will be displayed in Room 203 of the Middle School.



We look forward tackling the next project which will involve designing an advertisement or a magazine spread.

Assignment #1: Illustrate a Phrase Typographically

When you hear the word "illustrate," you probably think of using images to paint a picture of a thought or idea. Well, in Digital Arts, we're going to use that word a bit differently.

Students will illustrate a phrase of their choice using type ONLY! We can't wait to see the creativity flow for this exercise. A few examples are below, but we encourage you to be original and stretch your designs to the limit. You can consult a phrase or quote reference book or discuss this with your family. Choose a phrase carefully and be certain you truly understand its meaning before you decide to typographically interpret it. The goal is to come up with an interpretation that explains the phrase, adds a new level of meaning to it, or makes the audience think about it differently than when it is simply spoken. Be creative and have fun!

Shout it out! With Typography!

Over the past few class periods, we've been discussing how to look at typefaces (or typography) with a critical eye. Why did Home Depot choose to make their logo look like it does? Was the ccolor choice of orange on purpose? Does it convey a specific message? Does it effectively reach its target audience? As part of the homework assignment, students were asked to collect samples of typography and were then told to write a brief analysis about their selected pieces. What does the typeface say to you? Consider the hierarchy of information (where does your eye travel first). Was the color choice effective? Students did a phenomenal job as we shared our examples in class.

One of the class favorites was the logo for "Cheerios." This is a typeface that everyone recognizes and many of us see it each morning on our breakfast table. One of our students writes, "The typeface is classic, like the cereal. Sometimes, 'Cheerio' can be written in a differnent color (yellow for Honey Nut Cheerios, green for Fruity Cherrios), but comsumers always know the familiar look of the logo."

Our First Day

We are excited to welcome you to Digital Arts: a class that promises to teach you new and innovative ways to express yourself creatively. We plan to have plenty of fun along the way, so get ready for the experience!