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Course | Graphic Design Updated

Multi-pathway

Graphic Design presents a hands-on introduction to the technical and creative skills of a professional designer. First, learners find out the distinguishing features of communicating visually through graphic design. Next, they gain technical skills in Adobe Photoshop to equip them for graphic design work. From there, learners master the basic principles of graphic design and then delve into graphic design elements such as color, typography, and images.

Planning Tools
For Learners

PLANNING TOOLS provides a guide to course implementation, including scope and sequence, lesson plans, and the culminating project overview.

FOR LEARNERS: This resource encourages and supports students on their learning journey by providing opportunities to deepen their knowledge, feed their passion, build their Future Ready skills, and deepen their career identity through NAF's "Take Charge of Your Learning" framework of REFLECT, STRETCH, INNOVATE, and SHOWCASE.

Staff Pick

Dentsu - The Code

The Code is dentsu’s global creative marketing challenge for young people aged 14+. Students are partnered with mentors to create their own advertising campaign and put ideas ideas into action!

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Instructional Units

Unit 1 Designing for Communication
Unit 2 Photoshop Basics
Unit 3 Principles of Graphic Design
Unit 4 Elements of Graphic Design
Unit 5 Creating a Design Portfolio
Unit 6 Careers in Graphic Design

Featured Resources

Design with Canva

Design Platform

Get inspiration and hone your design skills with Canva's learning resource.

Earn a Design Badge

Module

This module covers the basic principles of design. It was created by Adobe and IBM

Cool Color Palette

Palette Selecting Tool

Fabrizio Bianchi created the Coolors design tool which creates new palettes with the touch of the keyboard

Race in America

Pen Pal Project

Students choose from multiple project options and share their work with the PenPals Schools global community.

Create your own Google Logo

Challenge

Have you ever noticed the Google image looks different every day? That's because artists just like you upload...

Adobe Spark

Graphic Design Platform

Turn your photo collection into a professional, attention-grabbing experience with the addition of video and...

Become an Imagineer!

Unit

Did you ever wonder what it takes to design a new land at Disney? This course from the Khan Academy will turn...

Design with Purpose

Mouse Create unit

Teams work through the course conducting research, brainstorming, prototyping and sharing their technology...

Public Library of America

Digital Library of Primary Sources

Students can access thousands of images, videos and sounds to include in their digital projects

YoungArts

Competition

YoungArts holds an annual competition for visual, literary or performing artists. The prestigious award gives...

Pics4Learning

Photo Library

Curated for school projects and unrestricted access to great graphics

Multimedia Resources on Typography

Check out articles and talks on Typography from AIGA-- the oldest and largest professional membership...