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The Digital Arts program at Esperanza High School allows students to explore creativity through digital design and visual media. Through courses such as Digital Design and Illustration, Visual Communications, and Honors Graphic Design, students develop skills in digital illustration, layout, and visual communication while using industry design tools.
The course descriptions below outline the focus of each class and include information about course expectations, placement, graduation requirements, and UC/CSU college eligibility.
*Students enrolling in higher-level courses should make sure they have completed any required prerequisites or courses.
Any required prerequisites or courses will be listed in the course description.
Digital Design & Illustration
Digital Design & Illustration
College Prep
UC approved List F
10 credits
Digital Design and Illustration trains students in the essentials of professional graphic design software used for electronic and print-ready artwork. Students learn digital layout, design, and illustration through project-based learning. Topics include foundational principles and elements of design, concept development, color theory, and typography. Current graphics software are used and assessed to verify proficiency in skills and concepts.
Visual Communications
Visual Communications
College Prep
UC approved List F
Prerequisite: Digital Design & Illustration recommended
10 credits
Visual Communications is a creative process that combines the visual arts and technology to communicate ideas. In this course, students will learn digital layout, design, and illustration as well as the elements and principles of design, color theory, typography, and art history. Students will become involved in the creative process, research, analysis, and application of historic and contemporary artists' styles. This course meets the UC Visual and Performing Arts (“f”) requirement for admission. This course integrates the California Career Technical Education Model Curriculum Standards, which are aligned to the Common Core State Standards. Course instruction emphasizes career ready behaviors in communication, ethics, interpersonal/team skills, critical-thinking and problem solving, safety, technology, and employability skills.
Honors Graphic Design
Honors Graphic Design
College Prep
UC approved List F
Prerequisite: Visual Communications
10 credits
Honors Graphic Design students will gain a progressive understanding of theory and concepts of visual communication used to present information or promote a message to a consumer driven market. This course will build upon techniques developed in previous coursework including fundamental principles and elements of visual communication and the historical development of design through exploring graphic art history. Students will explore, in an independent manner, the various facets of visual communication including the principles of design and layout, design theory, advertising principles, technology and practice. They will practice the art of conceptualizing projects, reinventing clichés, distilling complex information, and motivating an audience. Students will be able to apply skills learned in previous classes such as typography, image development, layout, manipulating photographs, and creating digital artwork. Honors Graphic Design projects may include: logos, posters, brochures, billboards, flyers, websites and packaging. Students will be assessed on their use of the elements and principles of design, concept originality, workmanship, ability to analyze competitor approaches, and technical proficiency in each project undertaken. Students will prepare individual portfolios suitable for presentation for transfer to another college, art school, client, or job interview. Students’ skills will be enhanced through experiences that simulate the graphic design industry using school-based and work-based learning opportunities.
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