Homeschool Course Outline: Exploring Graphic Design

Here is a homeschool elective course outline that I put together for my 15 year old who is interested in graphic design.

Course Title: Exploring Graphic Design (Intro to Graphic Design)

Reading/Viewing List

Take notes (written or electronic/blog). Be sure to:

• Take down key points; include diagrams where helpful/applicable
• Summarize what you read
• Tell how this information is useful or relates to you
• Tell what you don’t get after reading
• Tell what you finally get after reading
• Tell what you would like to know more about
• Briefly review the article (was it well written, confusing)
• Cite the article source and title, date you took notes
• Check off the article on this list

I. Introduction to Graphic Design

Teach Yourself Graphic Design: A Self-Study Course Outline, Hodge,Sean

The Importance of a Graphic Designer

Beware Of Tools Vs. Talent

Be Creative!

II.Career Exploration

Graphic Design: A Career Guide, American Institute of Graphic Arts

Graphic Design Basics: Spotlight on Multimedia Careers, Graphic Design Basics.com

Graphic Designers, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor

Summary Report for:27-1024.00 – Graphic Designers, O*Net Online

25 Graphic Design Career Preparation Tips, (Youthedesigner.com)

Graphic Design Career Tips : A Day in the Life of a Graphic Designer (Video)

Graphic Design Career Tips : About Jobs in Computer Graphic Design (Video)

Cool Careers: Graphic Designer (Video) (really inspirational)

Cool Careers: Multimedia Designer (Video)

The 36 Point How To Be a Freelance Designer (Video)

How to Become a Graphic Designer or Web Designer

So, You Want to be a Graphic Designer… Now What?

Career: Graphic Designers (CollegeBoard.com)

III. Graphics Design Education

Graphic Design Education and You – Part I, Graphic Design Basics.com

Graphic Design Education and You — Part II, Graphic Design Bascis.com

Graphic Design Courses: What You’ll Study

Deep or Wide: Between Education and the Design Profession, Zerillo, Pete

A Brief Guide To Design Education, Richardson, Adam

IV. Graphic Design History

History of Graphic Design

V. Introduction to the Elements of Graphic Design

The Basics of Graphic Design (Elements and Principles)

Classic Graphic Design Theory, Skaalid, Bonnie

What is Graphic Design? Overview, Basics of Design Principles, and Design Elements

Introduction to the Elements of Design,Bear, Jacci Howard

Elements of Design, (from “Art, Design, and Visual Thinking: An Interactive Textbook) Jirousek, Charlotte (start with Language Design section before moving onto this section)

VI. Introduction to the Principles of Graphic Design

The Principles of Design, Joshua David McClurg-Genevese (Digital Web Magazine)

Introduction to the Principles of Design, Bear, Jacci Howard (Desktoppublishing.about.com)

Principles of Design, (from “Art, Design, and Visual Thinking: An Interactive Textbook) Jirousek, Charlotte

Graphics Design Principles Index,

VII. The Design Process

Graphic Design Publishing Process From Start to Finish, (All Graphic Design.com)

http://www.allgraphicdesign.com/graphicdesignprocessworkflows.html

VIII. Real World Graphic Design Application

Working Within Limitations to Achieve Great Designs, Hodge, Sean

IX. Learning from Professional Designers

X. Developing Your Skills

a. Tools and Technology (listing under O*Net’s Job Summary for Graphic Design (see above)—software

Graphic Design Career Tips : Best Graphic Design Tools

b. Soft Skills (non technical skills—e.g listening, critical thinking, problem solving, speaking, etc).

http://www.allgraphicdesign.com/design101.html (how to’s)

XI. Putting Together a Portfolio

12 Steps to a Super Graphic Design Portfolio

Creating A Successful Online Portfolio by Sean Hodge

10 Steps To The Perfect Portfolio Website by Lee Munroe

XII. Participate In Online Communities

To Do List

• Start Career Exploration/Management Binder
• Explore Graphic Design as a Career & Develop a Career Plan
• Study Basics of Graphic Design
• Start Portfolio
• Learn graphic design/photo editing software
• Complete design briefs (projects) and get feedback
• Take Art Lessons
• Find suitable online graphics community to participate in (optional)
• Develop non-technical skills needed

 

Graphic Design

My 14 year old thinks she wants to go into graphic design.  Ma sha Allah, I think she has the aptitude for it. She is my color analyst for projects. She has a flair for laying things out;  whereas I may just put pictures or clip art straight on a page, she may slant them, or if I go with a basic skinny line border, she may take it and just make the line bolder and what a difference it makes.

So, I have scoured the net looking for resources to help her get some of the theory behind graphic design.  I think I’d like to take some of the tutorials myself……………….

I thought these resources would be great for her, as well as material for elective courses for high school.

 

Exploring Graphic Design as a possible career choice

• Teach Yourself Graphic Design: A Self Study Course Outline (really helpful)
• Graphic Design Courses: What You’ll Study
• Careers in Graphic Design: How to Become a Graphic Designer
  

Free Tutorials and Online Introductory Courses (and reading that can be used for HS coursework)

• The Basics of Graphic Design (really good!)
• What is Graphic Design? Overview, Basics of Design Principles, and Design Elements
• Introduction to Elements of Design (About.com)
• The Principles of Design
• The History of Graphic Design
• Graphics Design Principles Index
  
• Graphic Design 101 Tutorials (Loads of links here!)
  

Standards/Objectives

PMSD – Graphic Design

 

Homeschool Career Exploration

1. Exploring Jobs – Job Profiles http://www.homeschoolchristian.com/curricula/careers/explorejobs.php

2. Article: Career Exploration for High School Students: http://www.thehomeschoolmagazine.com/How_To_Homeschool/articles/career_explorations_for_high_school_students.php

3. College and Career Development Articles for Homeschoolers. Links lead to more links, LOADS to explore here..really good articles and links to other online resources!

http://eclectichomeschool.org/departments/department_manager.asp?deptid=15

4. Not designed for homeschoolers, but many links to online and offline resources for career exploration:

http://teens.tulsalibrary.org/collegeandcareers/choosing_career.htm

 

Homeschool Career Exploration – Medical/Health Careers

My oldest is interested in the medical profession so I am gathering resources for him. Here are a few that I have found:

1. Medical Field Worksheets:  A set of worksheets designed for scouts to receive a badge, but I think these are a great resource for introducing students to the medical field. They require students to research to find out about different aspects of the medical field.

http://usscouts.org/mb/worksheets/Medicine.pdf

2. Health Careers at About.com – Nice resources for those exploring the health field including reasons to consider this field, things to think about before choosing this field,  steps toward a medical career and more.

http://healthcareers.about.com/

 

3. Free Ed.net has health courses for free, no credits, grades, etc, but still a great resource, insha Allah. 

http://www.free-ed.net/free-ed/HealthCare/default.asp

 

Career Exploration

 

As my kids are getting older, I want them to explore and get an idea of the careers that they might be interested in.

I came across this neat interest profiler: http://www.onetcenter.org/IP.html and sat down last Jumuah evening with my two older kids and went through it. I had downloaded the desktop version which consisted of pdf files. There were three main files that I used, the profiler (which is like 180 questions, and the student answers whether or not that job task would interest them, then they score the survey and then based upon their scores they see which of the six interest areas are highest from that and after that they look at jobs in those interest areas.  It took a little bit for us to figure our way through it but it was definitely worth it. It was amazing how after they scored and found out which interst area was strongest, the descriptions of each area fit each one of the kids to a T. And they selected jobs that sounded interesting and then insha Allah my plan is to have them explore those jobs. I think o net has some resources for that as does www.bls.com