Graphic Design Curriculum
To be successful, the Northwest School of the Arts must recruit, select and retain students seeking a career in graphic design and preparing for a successful post-secondary education career.
As part of the North Carolina Career & Technical Education Arts, Audio/Visual Technology and Communications cluster, NWSA seeks to offer pathways, courses and certifications for the Graphic and Digital Design program. The following listed are current and tentative future classes offered in the curriculum.
Introduction to Adobe Applications
NWSA Designation: Introduction to Graphic Design
Students will learn the fundamental skills relevant to the discipline of graphic design. Through studio projects, students learn the vocabulary of visual communication design and become familiar with graphic design digital and analog production processes.
Ideal students: Literary Magazine, Yearbook; Introduction to Studio Art, 2D Media, Methods, 3D Art, Photography; Marketing
Adobe Visual Design
NWSA Designation: Visual Communication Design
Prerequisite: Introduction to Adobe Applications (minimum grade: C, instructor approval)
Students will learn the theory and practice of publication and interactive design with an emphasis on advertising design, corporate identity and integrated marketing communications.
Ideal students: Literary Magazine, Yearbook; 2D Media and Methods, 3D Art, Photography; Marketing (all classes)
Adobe Digital Design
NWSA Designation: Digital Art and Design
Prerequisite: Introduction to Adobe Applications (minimum grade: C, instructor approval)
Students will create digital images in this directed-study course. Students will learn the fundamentals of topics such as anatomy, character design, sequential art and drawing from life.
Ideal students: 2D Media and Methods, 3D Art, AP Studio
Adobe Video Design
NWSA Designation: New Media Art
Prerequisite: Introduction to Adobe Applications (minimum grade: C, instructor approval)
Students will gain a command for creating time-based work. Students will employ animation principles as well as introducing new tools to assist in developing motion design.
Ideal students: Visual Arts – 2D Media and Methods, 3D Art, Music, Theatre
CERTIFICATIONS
Successful completion of each class (a final letter grade of a B or higher) qualifies the student to test for certification in one of five graphic design platforms from the multimedia and creativity software company Adobe. The benefits of a student receiving certification include:
* Communicate proficiency in Adobe products to colleges.
* Allow instructors to quickly assess a student’s design skills.
* Hiring managers can notice applications faster.
* Adobe certifications map to specific career paths.
The world’s most known graphic design software, Adobe Photoshop is a raster graphics editor. The industry standard for graphic design, digital art and photography.
Adobe Illustrator is a vector graphics editor. Ideal for creating logos, icons, drawings, typography and illustrations for print, web, video and mobile devices.
Adobe InDesign is the industry-leading page design and layout program that lets you create and publish posters, books, digital magazines, e-books and interactive PDFs.
A proprietary web development tool, Adobe Dreamweaver provides faster, easier ways to code, design and publish websites and web applications.
The leading video editing software for film, TV and the web, Adobe Premiere Pro features creative tools, that help craft footage into polished films and videos.