Art teachers support their students in recognizing and understanding the part that design plays in their everyday lives. Students express emotions through physical drawings of robots with digital symbolism, create visually impactful infographics inspired by real or imagined travels, develop real-world skills by collaborating with clients on design-related projects, and more.
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Incorporating design into our curriculum not only strengthens our programs but also produces higher-level thinkers who are technologically creative and innovative. In response to the growing number of design-related careers, teaching design from kindergarten through high school and higher education provides students with substantial knowledge about design and communication tools that will last them a lifetime.
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This project originated from my desire to develop a lesson for my first-graders that would combine physical drawings and digital animations to amplify student voice, foster creative expression, and incorporate social-emotional learning (SEL) goals. Students studied the works of 17th-century painter Rembrandt van Rijn and created unique 21st-century “emotional robots” while addressing multiple National Core Arts Standards and the ISTE Creative Communicator Standard.
Designing infographics allows students to interact with fonts, colors, symbols, and composition in a fun and engaging way. They become fully involved in the design process, and I enjoy circulating the room to see their designs in progress. This project typically takes three days to complete, and students who finish early often ask if they can make another one just for fun.
Animation is a way for students to express themselves in a unique and visual manner. It also promotes digital literacy by introducing them to software and techniques that they’ll need to know in the future. I’ve made animation a part of my art program for years, and it’s fun and exciting subject to teach to elementary students.
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On a popular and very useful art teacher social media page, I saw a project that used the Google Drawings app and mimicked vector-style drawing, which is traditionally done using more advanced software. I was confident that my eighth-graders could handle this simple drawing application because they had done well using it on a comparable but easier assignment the previous year.
What happens when you combine digital creation with physical manufacturing? You get students who are engaged, ready to see themselves as designers, and excited to try something new! Getting a laser cutter for my classroom was a huge step toward developing opportunities for students to act as designers. Students have made earrings, charms, and necklaces that reflect their interests, are designed as gifts for others, and have been recognized in regional compositions.
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Art is an amazing tool for communication, and when the message and images are well-designed, it can have a lasting impact. This is the goal of an environmental art project we developed at my school to help bridge classroom learning with the school district and larger community. Our storm drain painting project has expanded beyond the school walls, educating the community about water conservation and sustainability.
The classroom is abuzz with activity as students perform a variety of tasks to complete their work, such as signing out to interview clients, heading to the innovation center to use the 3D printer, laser engraving or cutting vinyl, using the software in the computer lab, creating illustrations on their tablets, designing websites to show their portfolios, and working in the art studio with traditional materials to create new versions of their concepts. In all of these instances, authenticity and student choice are at the heart of learning through design.
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Our field does a wonderful job of preparing us to teach art, but because design is relatively new to our profession, there is considerable uncertainty about how it should be taught. As a champion of teaching design, I have developed a course for preservice and undergraduate students. The following overview of the course objectives will provide teachers with some direction on how to get started.
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Graphic design is a multifaceted, rapidly developing, and competitive field that requires designers to understand trends in technology and culture while developing their craft. Joseph Bastardo, a contemporary designer, illustrator, and musician, balances technology, creativity, and a passion for electronic sounds through his innovative designs. Much of his work springs from music—he has designed posters, fliers, logos, t-shirts, and album covers for musicians, record labels, and collaborators from around the world.
