Lesson Plan: Class 1

What will students be able to do by the end of Lesson 1?

Students will be able to list several examples of graphic design from everyday life, and they will know the names of two iconic graphic designers and key pieces of their work. They will know what a thumbnail layout is, and how to sketch one as a precedent to starting their work on the computer.

Learning Plan: Facilitating the Activity

A: Hook

Students will be introduced to the work of Milton Glaser and Massimo Vignelli. These two designers’ work are well known to most New Yorkers. Glaser designed the iconic I [heart] NY logo, and Vignelli designed the signage for the NYC subway.

Massimo Vignelli: http://www.vignelli.com/home/identity.html

Milton Glaser: https://www.miltonglaser.com/the-work/

B: Ice Breaker/Warm Up

Students will introduce themselves, and mention one of their learning goals for the class. They will attach their name badges and will receive their Graphic Design Sketchbooks as well as a USB drive.

We will discuss the Graphic Designer’s role in society, and learn what the job of a graphic designer entails. Students will learn how to see the world through a designer’s eye, taking notice of messages and communications they encounter on TV, in magazines, online and outside in the world around them.

C: Key Terms

• Thumbnail
• Layout
• Typography
• Font
• Centered
• Left justified
• Right justified
• Image formats: .jpg, .gif, .png

D: Main Activity: List Steps

The main activity is to create a business card. The business card will be sized 3.5” wide x 2” tall, and will include student’s name, address, and email address (if they have one).

1.The class will look at several examples of business cards, and then they will learn how to sketch a thumbnail layout in their sketchbooks.

2. After coming up with a layout, they will open a new document in Photoshop to create their business card. The instructor will walk them through the steps needed to create this document.

3. The instructor will talk briefly about using images found online, and why it is important to understand copyright rules. Students will be introduced to free sources of images and clip art online.

Resources

• Business card designs: https://designschool.canva.com/blog/business-card-design/
• Pinterest board: https://www.pinterest.com/shopalicious/cool-business-card-designs/ 
• Flikr Creative Commons: https://www.flickr.com/creativecommons/
• PhotoPin: http://photopin.com/
• FreeImages: http://www.freeimages.com/
• NYPL Public Domain images: https://www.nypl.org/research/collections/digital-collections/public-domain
• Unsplash free photos: https://unsplash.com/
• Pixabay free images: https://pixabay.com/
• Free clip art: http://all-free-download.com/free-vector/vector-clip-art/

E: De-brief: List Questions