NHS Designs - Graphic Design

Welcome to NHS Designs!

While you are in our design room, consider yourself an employee of an exciting new design company. I’ll train you and evaluate your learning, but sometimes you’ll train yourself or another student. As you gain more training, you’ll gain the confidence to take on projects for the clients of NHS Designs.

Who are our clients? We have a ton of people eager to use our services already, right here on campus. Each department, club and sport at Natomas High School may approach us with design jobs. We’ll get all kinds of great opportunities to make fabulous designs. Eventually we might even get clients from outside the school. You’ll learn the business aspects of being a graphic designer too, like how to create a contract for a project. We will also collaborate with other classes such as art, Web design, video and photography.

To get us started, beginning projects will be based on the California Standards for the Visual Arts for grades 9-12. They may include drawing, cartooning, painting, collage, printmaking, understanding the elements and principles of design, and more. Then you’ll get a great education on computer-aided design. We will use this variety of media with the goals of generating a personal style, learning design skills and language, and practicing problem-solving and creative brain-storming.

I will teach you how to be a professional. You will work hard, but expect to have fun too!

Basic Information

Instructor:	Dawn Pedersen
Room:	K201
Contact Me:	E-mail: dpedersen@natomas.k12.ca.us Phone: 916-641-4960, ext. 2201

About Miss Pedersen

This is my first year teaching design here. I have worked as a teacher for four years. I have also worked as a graphic and web designer for seven years, studied art-making and art history for countless years, and have enjoyed making art my whole life. I love teaching art and design. My goal is for everyone to find something inspiring, interesting, fun, or new. I look forward to learning from and being inspired by you too.

What Will I Learn?

As a result of taking this class, you should be able to:

Work professionally within a design team.
Identify numerous careers which are available with the right design skills and background.
Identify the various products created by graphic designers.
Use the elements and principles of design in a decisive fashion.
Manipulate various design tools to create the result you want.
Plan a graphic design project according to a client’s needs and follow the plan through.
Understand how to create an attractive layout that communicates a message effectively.
Explain how color works, and what various colors/color combinations communicate to others.
Understand how typography works, and use it effectively in a design.
Obtain legally, or create, imagery for a design and use it effectively.
Master the basics of digital design, such as image formats, layering and color notation.
Use Adobe Photoshop competently to create artistic imagery and to edit photographs.
Use Adobe Illustrator competently to create simple illustrations and logos.
Use Adobe InDesign competently to create publications such as flyers, advertisements and magazine articles.
Incorporate principles of prepress for offset lithography (the printing press) into your designs.
Identify various advanced topics that should concern a graphic designer.

Lab Fee

There is a $15 lab fee for this elective class. Please pay cash only at the bookkeeping window. Show me your receipt. KEEP that receipt so you don’t need to pay twice if records are lost. The deadline for payment is September 15, 2007.

What Should I Bring to Class?

You are responsible for bringing these every day to class:

Notebook with paper for note-taking
Pencil or pen

What Do I Do With My Planner?

Every day, I will write the day’s agenda on the white board. I will also write there any homework that might be assigned. Copy this into your student planner in the appropriate day and week. Every Friday I will check to see that this has been done.
You must have your planner with you if you need to leave the classroom for any reason, such as a bathroom break. The planner is your hall pass once I sign you out.
If you lose your planner, the replacement fee is $10.00.

How Will I Be Graded?

Grading is done on a semester basis: we start fresh again in the spring semester. Students’ grades will be based on (and what percent of the final grade):

design projects (40%)
homework (15%)
quizzes and tests (20%)
final exam (20%)
good conduct (5%)

I will use the standard final grade breakdown:

A 90-100% (outstanding)
B 80-89% (above average)
C 70-79% (average)
D 60-69% (below average)
F 59% or below (failing)

How Will the Design Projects be Graded?

Whenever possible, I will provide rubrics for each design project that tell you what I expect for Excellent, Good, Moderate, and Poor work. I consider three main things in evaluating student’s design work:

Effort (visible in the work and/or demonstrated in class; spend quality time on your work!)
Creativity (how original your work is)
Following Directions (did you explore the assignment as given?)

What Kind of Homework Will There Be?

There will be some homework in the form of research, materials collection, brainstorming, preliminary design work, or exercises. Frequently you will be instructed to access the class Web site for homework or class assignments: www.nhsdesigns.com. If you fall behind and have to finish work outside of class, it is your responsibility to make arrangements with me to use the materials at home or after school.

What Will the Quizzes, Tests and Exams Be Like?

You will be quizzed and tested regularly on vocabulary and concepts. These are necessary so that I may assess whether you are ready for the next level. Quizzes will be open-note. Tests will be closed-note: no notes, no Internet. Quizzes and tests will mainly be of the short answer, multiple choice, matching, or puzzle variety. The final exams will be comprehensive for the semester, and closed-note.

How Will My Behavior in Class Affect My Grade?

Good conduct is worth five percent of your grade! Everyone starts will full credit for Good Conduct. If your behavior in class is consistently a problem for me, it will reduce your Good Conduct grade.

How Do I Make Up Missing or Incomplete Work?

You are expected to keep up with projects in class and will be given a generous amount of time to finish them. Late or incomplete work can be turned in during the same quarter for a lower score. If the work is late due to an excused absence, you will have one extra school day per day of excused absence to complete it without a reduction in grade. If you are absent from the start to the end of a project, you will be given alternate work to do. If you will be/have been absent for an extended period of time, please ask for an Independent Study packet to receive credit for work done outside of school.

Classroom Library

I will have a certain number of art and design books from my personal library available for your reference during class periods. If you are done with the day’s work before class is over, I encourage you to check a book out from me. You must return the book to me before you leave the classroom for the day. You may not take them home unless I find you to be exceptionally trustworthy and make special arrangements with you. Use of my books is a privilege, not a right.

Class Dismissal

I dismiss you from class, not the bell. Make sure you have cleaned up your area and returned any supplies to their storage container. Return any books you have checked out from me before you go.

What Are My Responsibilities?

Since everyone learns about design here, everyone is considered a designer. Get used to thinking of yourself that way! My job is to teach you professionalism in addition to design skills. We do have rules:

Design Room Rules

Raise your hand to speak during instruction.
Stay in your seat unless you have permission to leave it.
Never use vulgar language in our design room.
Keep your hands, feet and objects to yourself.
No food, drinks or gum.

You will also be expected to follow all school rules. Refer to the Student Handbook in your planner.

What are the Consequences of My Behavior?

GOOD behavior:

A design room where you can have fun, solve tricky problems, and produce good design.
Praise from me for your outstanding professionalism.
I will treat you like a responsible adult.
Happy clients who love us to death.
100% of your good conduct grade.

POOR behavior:

If you have forgotten one of the school or design room rules, I will give you a verbal reminder. If the behavior continues, I will write your name on the board or on a clipboard as a warning. If there is a third infraction, there will be further consequences which may include one or more of the following, depending on severity:

an extra assignment
loss of privileges and/or materials
a reduction of your “good conduct” grade
a seat change
clean-up duty
parent contact
an in-class detention
an administrative detention
an office referral

What Can I Expect From Miss Pedersen?

A variety of challenging projects using different media and skills
Clear instructions and demonstrations on using the materials and doing the projects
Encouragement and guidance in evaluating your own and your peers’ work constructively
A clear grading policy and frequent formal or informal progress reports
Respect for your input, ideas, and interests

Class Contract

[Printable PDF file of this contract]

Students will receive 5 points for returning this contract fully signed by Friday, August 17.

Student

“I have received and read Miss Pedersen’s syllabus. I promise to follow the classroom rules and procedures, as well as all school rules.”

Student Name: _______________________________

Period: _______

Student Signature ____________________________

Date ________________

Preferred Email Address:

___________________________________________

Parent or Guardian

“I have read with my child the contents of Miss Pedersen’s syllabus and have helped him/her understand it. I will contact Miss Pedersen if I have any questions.”

Adult Signature _______________________________

Date ________________

Preferred Phone Number:

___________________________________________

Preferred Email Address:

___________________________________________