Digital Media (Napa County Regional Occupation Program)

Instructor: Carmel Crane
Length of Course: 1 Year

Course Description:
This course is for students seeking a variety of skills in the career fields of graphic design, media and digital production. It will introduce the student to the principles of design including typography, perspective, color theory, and layout, with an emphasis on current industry equipment and practices. Students will develop an appreciation of traditional artistic expression as well as an understanding of the role of contemporary media as a verbal and visual means of communication in today’s society, and the related career paths. Students will work together to design, create, critique, and present digital media art projects.COURSE TITLE: ROP Digital Media Design & Criticism Level 1

GRADE LEVEL: 9 - 12

Length of Course:
Students receive up to 180 hours of classroom instruction and an optional 100 hours of work-based learning at community classroom/cooperative vocational education sites

Course Goals and Major Student Outcomes:

• Demonstrate ability to create printed and electronic media for effective visual and verbal communication using computers and graphics programs.
• Understand the historical and cultural impact on the principles of design with the introduction of digital media in such areas as typography, perspective, color theory, and layout.
• Exhibit the ability to critique other artwork created using digital and contemporary media.
• Understand skills and language of art in order to communicate in a professional environment.
• Involve students in real-world situations that allow them to compare and contrast design and production systems to make the most of available media with regard to message and audience.
• Provide students with the opportunities to research and explore a full range of advanced studies and occupations connected with multimedia communications. Offer opportunities to practice current business theory and protocol to enhance employability and self-esteem.

Course Objectives:

• The student will analyze their own artwork and the works of others, utilizing terms of art principles and digital media.
• The student will demonstrate an increasing skill in utilizing a variety of artistic tools with an emphasis on digital media.
• The student will understand of the principles of art and elements of design as they relate to contemporary media artwork.
• The student will be aware of the influence of past generations on digital and contemporary media.
• The student will use contemporary media to effectively present concepts of other subject areas and practical applications to industry.
• The student will develop the skills of time management and resource usage to help in any career, and will be aware of practical applications of their skills.
• The student will identify different career options available in the digital art field.
• California State Visual and Performing Arts Standards

Course Outline:

• Introduction to Digital Media Design and Criticism
  • A. Course objectives.
  • B. Trends in digital media technology and industries
• 2. Technology Overview 30 hours
  • A. Software: Photoshop, InDesign, DreamWeaver
  • B. Computers/Scanners/Printers
  • C. Digital Photography
• 3. Principles of Design 20 hours
  • A. Elements of Art
  • B. Color Theory
  • C. Composition and Layout
  • D. Typography
• 4. The application of Art and Design 20 hours
  • A. Traditional Tools
  • B. Contemporary Tools
  • C. Illustration
  • D. Illustration
  • E. Working with shapes, type, and layout
  • F. Scanning, Digital Photography, Photo Manipulation
• 5. Composition
  • A. Putting the principles of design together
  • B. Website development
  • C. Applying skills learned about visual arts to other subject areas
• 6. Visual Communication in Society
  • A. Modern marketing/advertising
  • B. Critiquing visual communication
  • C. Client Needs
  • D. Message development
  • E. Logo design
  • F. Copyright and federal laws related to digital printing
• 7. The Professional Digital Portfolio
  • A. Terminology and Techniques
  • B. Design and Presentation
  • C. Critique and Evaluation
• 8. Advanced Studies & Occupations in Digital Media
  • A. Industry guest speakers
  • B. Career path research project
• 9. Employment Preparedness
  • A. Online employment research
  • B. Employment applications, interview, resumes

Instructional Materials:

Primary Textbooks:

• The Non-Designers Design Book – Robin Williams
• Adobe Classroom in a Book – Adobe Press
• Clients and Designers – Ellen Shapiro

Supplemental Textbooks:

• Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain – Betty Edwards
• Drawing on the Artist Within – Betty Edwards
• Rolling Stone – The Illustrated Portraits
• The Artist’s Way – Julia Cameron
• Lynda.com Learning CDROMS – Lynda.com
• History of Art – H.W. Jansen
• The Principles of Design – Andrew Mundi
• EBSCO/Follett Electronic Databases
• Caricatures – Rich Mondillus
• The Designer’s Guide to Color Combinations – Leslie Cabarga