Elmbrook Graphic Design Academy

WHAT IS THE ELMBROOK GRAPHIC DESIGN ACADEMY?

Elmbrook Graphic Design Academy is a creative educational program offered to grades 10-12 interested in pursuing creative careers in visual communication.  Brookfield Central and Brookfield East students are eligible to enroll.

Students will be introduced to the Adobe Creative Suite through Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign.  Students will also learn introductory drawing skills, color theory, basic production for commercial art, and industry standards for a variety of career fields.


Potential Careers: 

Designers are tasked with coming up with creative communications materials used in numerous industries.

what are the benefits?

Enrolled students will work to earn transcripted college credit that corresponds to the Graphic Communications program at Waukesha County Technical College (WCTC).  This is the equivalent of 15 credits.  

Upon successful completion of the Elmbrook Graphic Design Academy, a student will earn a Digital Production/DTP Technical Certificate through WCTC and become an Adobe Certified Professional. 

required courses AT BEHS

Page Layout/InDesign (3 credits)

Create documents that are typographically correct and constructed according to industry design standards.  Integrate type and images, use tabs, manage layers, apply master pages and style sheets, and create complex tables and forms. 

Length: 1 term/9 weeks

Digital Illustration (3 credits)

Enhance your ability to draw on the computer with Adobe Illustrator. Create artwork for both print and web design projects using features such as brushes, perspective and mesh. Learn the importance and proper use of layers as well as the pen tool. Apply coloring techniques using Industry Standards.

Length: 1 term/9 weeks

Design Drawing & Color Theory 

(3 credits)

Design Drawing and Color Theory will help the student develop basic freehand drawing skills, while providing a fundamental knowledge of color. Using digital media, participants will study the concepts of form: 1, 2, and 3-point perspective; proportion; line; value and texture as well as evaluate color characteristics; and examine the colors used in compositions; illustrations; and rendered still life's. In addition, students explore how color is incorporated in drawings as they develop an understanding of color models: including RGB, CMYK, Pantone, and the Web.

Length: 1 term/9 weeks

Image Editing/Photoshop (3 credits)

Learn to use Adobe Photoshop to create sophisticated graphics for print and the web. Describe, discuss and demonstrate the procedures for producing color files and documents of professional quality. Become acquainted with layers, channels, paths, masks and other techniques that are used to create the highest quality graphic elements for electronic digital documents.

Length: 1 term/9 weeks

required courses AT WCTC

Integrated Digital Production (3 credits) *must be taken last in sequence*

Develop brochures, flyers, posters and other related publications using software applications such as Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, and others. Follow accepted industry prepress standards to indicate bleeds, color, fold and trim marks, die lines, color bars and other technical requirements that demonstrate mastery of page layout, illustration and image editing. Create PDF files to Industry Standards for output to both offset and digital presses. Create Interactive PDF's for digital portfolios.


Length: 2nd semester @ WCTC (3 hour AM course meeting twice weekly)

Frequently asked questions

What is Adobe Certification? 

"Adobe certification can help you differentiate yourself from competitors, advance your career, and improve customer satisfaction. It demonstrates your ability to meet complex challenges with a mastery that comes with training and real-world product use." - Read more HERE about becoming an Adobe Certified Professional.

Are there any prerequisites for taking these courses? 

The only requirement is that you must be in grades 10-12 to qualify to earn credit for these courses.  

What if I am a freshman? 

You are able to enroll in these individual courses as a freshman, but you are not able to earn college credit.  We encourage that if you are interested in pursuing this program, that you plan for it during your last three years of high school.  These courses are also repeatable for 0.5 high school elective credits.  

I am interested in this program but I am a full time student at Brookfield Central.  Am I eligible to be in this program? 

Yes! If our program is running in one high school and not another, the district will provide transportation between the schools so that every interested student in the Elmbrook School District has the opportunity to take these courses.  

What supplies will I need for this? 

Just your school-issued Chromebook and maybe some pencils.  Students who are enrolled in the full program will be loaned out a classroom iPad with Apple Pencil to create their work inside and outside of class.  Students will also have dedicated studio time in our Digital Imaging Lab using computers equipped for the Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop).  

What if I don't plan on going to WCTC after high school? 

That's okay! Depending on your postsecondary plans, some or all of these credits may transfer to an undergraduate degree at a different college/university (this is a case by case basis so we may have to look into it with your school counselor).  However, an Adobe Certification is industry-recognized and your Digital Production/DTP Certification will help open professional doors for your career in Graphic Communications no matter what your specific path after high school looks like.  

Can students enroll in the Elmbrook Graphic Design Academy and LAUNCH: Media Solutions?

Yes! In fact, if students are seriously interested in a career in Graphic Communications, both are recommended to have an impressive array of skills and certifications prior to graduating high school.  It is recommended to avoid scheduling issues that students reserve one year for each program and do not overlap.  Ex: A student dedicates their junior year to LAUNCH: Media Solutions and then their senior year to the Elmbrook Graphic Design Academy.  

What are the major differences between the Elmbrook Graphic Design Academy and LAUNCH: Media Solutions?

The Elmbrook Graphic Design Academy and LAUNCH: Media Solutions are both programs for aspiring Graphic Designers to pursue knowledge and develop skills in graphic design, photography, social media, graphic web design and digital production.  The programs are year-long commitments.  

These opportunities differ in that The Elmbrook Graphic Design Academy offers WCTC transcripted college credit for its courses.  LAUNCH: Media Solutions does not, but instead works collaboratively on professional projects with real businesses/clients (ex: Milwaukee Tool, Children's Hospital, Milliman, etc.)  The Elmbrook Graphic Design Academy is geared more towards the individual growth of a student's fine art practice and production, whereas students in LAUNCH: Media Solutions share experience rotating roles as a designer, videographer, social media manager, and more.

If you have any more questions/concerns, please reach out to any of the following individuals:

Elmbrook Graphic Design Academy Instructors: 

Rachel Broge (broger@elmbrookschools.org)

Vicky Molitor (molitorv@elmbrookschools.org) 


Director of College, Career & Life Readiness: 

Amie Farley (farleyam@elmbrookschools.org)