Meet the Instructor
Michael O. Johnson
Polished visual communications specialist in print and digital project management experience and knowledge of web production obtained from positions in publishing, graphic design and marketing communications. Offering a unique combination of creativity and analytical skill with the ability to assess both vantage points and knowledge from a variety of industries and life experiences.
N.C. TEACHER LICENSES: Art, Digital Media, Business, Marketing and Technology and Design Education
Adobe certification: Illustrator, InDesign and Photoshop (expert level); Dreamweaver and Premiere (associate level)
OFFICE HOURS
I am available for conferences and after-school tutoring (called "Fifth Block") via virtual appointments, including nights and weekends. You may schedule a meeting at michaelo.johnson@cms.k12.nc.us with your three best dates and times.
EDUCATION
Liberty University
MA - Visual Communication Design; MFA - Graphic Design
George Washington University
MPS - Publishing
West Virginia University
MS - Integrated Marketing Communications
EXPERIENCE
Prior to coming to the Northwest School of the Arts and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, I worked at the following:
Graphic Design Instructor - University of South Carolina Upstate
Digital Art and Design Instructor - Union County (S.C.) Schools
Digital Publications Editor - Berkshire Hathaway Media
Affiliate Marketing Manager - Hallelujah Acres
Studio Manager - Edward Jones
Design Editor - Gannett
Copy Editor - The New York Times Group
In addition to teaching, I own a graphic design studio (A Touch of Omari) where I work on publishing, marketing communications and graphic design projects.
ADOBE CREATIVE CLOUD
All students have access to their graphic design software -- the Adobe Creative Cloud -- available on campus and off campus. To access the Adobe Creative Cloud:
Go to www.adobe.com
Enter your student email address (Student ID number@cms.k12.nc.us)
Select Company or School Account (no password needed)
Once logged in, students can download their selected software or the entire Adobe Creative Cloud package.
NOTE: Students CANNOT download the Adobe Creative Cloud on a Chromebook; Students must use a desktop or laptop computer.
MICROSOFT OFFICE 365
In addition to the Adobe Creative Cloud, all Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools students have Microsoft Office 365 subscription-based online platforms (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, OneDrive, etc.). To access their software:
Go to www.office.com
Enter your student email address (Student ID number@student.cms.k12.nc.us)
Enter the password (usually the birthdate -two digits for the month, two digits for the date and four digits for the year)
Once logged in, students can access their online applications.
CLASSWORK POLICY
As a product-based curriculum, students are expected to complete all work ON TIME. Many projects can take several weeks to complete, so there is plenty of time for students to complete assignments. Even if a student does not have access to a computer at home, there is ample time for students to complete work on -- and often, ahead of -- time.
All assignments, syllabi and course objectives are located in Canvas. As a class focusing on digital production practices, there are no physical assignments delivered to students or accepted by the instructor.
All work -- including project designs, homework and writing assignments -- must be original work completed by the student. I use plagiarism detection software for all work, including graphic design files. Work considered plagiarism will result in a ZERO -- no exceptions.
As a flipped classroom, students complete assigned tests, reading assignments and discussion board posts outside of class. The benefit of a flipped classroom is that students complete instructional content online, outside of the classroom, while completing activities into the classroom.
It is imperative that students prepare for work assigned outside of class to succeed in a program such as graphic design.
Students will save their work in the Microsoft Office cloud-based platform, OneDrive. Students will have all the native files (default file format that an application uses to create or save files, such as a Photoshop file) in their folders, and usually will produce a high-resolution JPEG output file of all their graphic design work at a minimum. All work is submitted via a link in OneDrive to Canvas -- no physical files will be accepted.