My teaching responsibility begins with a personal philosophy that informs pathways of inquiry, is student-centered and grounded in the idea of creativity, social constructs and humanity. I focus on unlocking students' levels of awareness and consciousness, encouraging critical thought and nurturing creative expression through media design forms. My teaching style is to help students discover their creativity and master the practical tools needed for them to maximize their work. Balancing group dynamics and personal projects is important so that students can learn from their peers while honing their own creative process.
Course I've Taught:
• Elements of Graphic Design
This course offers basic graphic design elements in an effort to help students develop a critical aesthetic and realize a creative style. Topics include project planning, use of balance, shape, color, text, page layout, grid systems, software applications and print production. Students bring their own project ideas to class. The project can be one project that is worked on throughout the course or a project module. The course culminates in presentation of final design projects.
• Introduction to Photoshop. This course is an introduction to the image manipulation software Photoshop. The course covers issues of image quality; image effects and how to use them in designing; using photoshop in tandem with other software applications such as In-Design and Ilustrator; basic graphic design elements such as color choices, fonts;
• How To Design Effective Newsletters and Booklets
This course is designed for adults who are working with non-profit organizations and creating their own newsletters. The course offers basic graphic design elements in an effort to help students develop a critical aesthetic and realize a creative style. Topics include project planning, use of balance, shape, color, text, page layout, grid systems, even choosing paper. We spend time learning basic page layout software applicatons and learn the pros and cons of various types of print production. The course objective is to introduce students to these broad concepts and techniques so they can develop their own style and aesthetic while utilizing the same skillset in a very pragmatic sense in their daily work.
Students are required to bring actual newsletter project ideas to the first class and we use them as case studies throughout the course. This creates an environment of shared investment, peer learning and collaboration. As well, the learning is more memorable when students work on actual projects.
• Project Planning & Design: Webpages!
This course is geared towards youth and adults working with non-profit organizations and focuses on the importance of organizing an effective webpage. Topics include introduction to the internet and internet structure, basic website hierarchy, html concepts, images and art design, introduction to webpage software tools, use of links and databases. The learning is more effective and memorable when students collaborate and work on real-life projects. Therefore, students are required to bring actual website project ideas into class and we share ideas and use them as case studies throughout the course.
