Commercial Art Disclosure & Syllabus

Amanda Campos | Utah Online School

Email: acampos@utahonline.org
Google Voice: 435-849-8871
Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–12:00 PM

🎨 Welcome to Commercial Art!

Welcome to Commercial Art! I’m excited to have you in class.

My name is Amanda Campos, and I have been teaching high school art for 15 years. Commercial Art is a little different from a traditional art class because we aren't just creating art—we are learning how artists and designers use creativity, technology, communication, and problem-solving to create work for a purpose and an audience.

You do not need to consider yourself an artist to be successful in this course. What matters most is that you are willing to learn, experiment, follow directions, solve problems, and put effort into your work.

Before beginning the course, please take some time to read through this disclosure. If you have questions at any point, please reach out. I’m here to help!

🎯 Course Overview

Commercial Art is a beginning course in applied visual arts that focuses on the principles and techniques used for effective visual communication in illustration and graphic design. Students will explore drawing, design, typography, advertising, branding, digital graphics, and other forms of visual communication.

The course is designed to help you understand how art and design are used in the real world—from logos and advertisements to packaging, social media graphics, and other forms of visual communication.

According to Utah's current Commercial Art 1 course standards, the course prepares students in applied art media including drawing, painting, computer graphics, and related areas.

🎯 Learning Objectives

By successfully completing this course, you will be able to:

1. Apply the elements and principles of design to create effective visual compositions.

2. Explore and apply the concept of simplification in visual communication.

3. Explain the history, purpose, and function of typography.

4. Apply typography concepts such as readability, hierarchy, and appropriate type selection.

5. Apply fundamental concepts of advertising and visual communication.

6. Develop ideas and design solutions for a specific audience or purpose.

7. Create and evaluate logos, branding, and graphic designs.

8. Use digital tools to research, create, edit, and manipulate images.

9. Demonstrate an understanding of professional practices related to commercial art and graphic design.

10. Explain how artists and designers use creativity and problem-solving to communicate ideas.

Course learning objectives are aligned with applicable Utah Visual Arts and Commercial Art standards. Utah's Fine Arts standards are organized around the strands of Create, Perform/Present/Produce, Respond, and Connect.

💻 What Do I Need for This Course?

Because this is an online course, you will need:

• A reliable computer

• Reliable internet access

• Your UOS student email/account

• Access to Edgenuity and any other platforms required for the course

• A way to create and submit digital work

Art Supplies

Many projects can be completed digitally. However, some assignments may require basic drawing materials or paper.

Recommended supplies may include:

• Pencil

• Black fine-tip pen

• Colored pencils

• Ruler

• Plain white paper

• Sketchbook or notebook

You do not need expensive art supplies to be successful in this course.

🖥️ Design Software & Technology

Commercial artists use a variety of digital tools. Depending on the assignment, you may use tools such as:

• Canva

• Adobe Photoshop

• Adobe Illustrator

• Other approved design or image-editing programs

Specific software requirements will be communicated within the course.

If an assignment requires the use of an outside program, students and parents/guardians should follow UOS requirements regarding approved applications and permissions.

[INSERT CURRENT UOS TECHNOLOGY/APPROPRIATE USE FORM LINK]

🔐 Logging Into Your Course

Your course login and enrollment information will be provided through your UOS enrollment process.

Check your student email/inbox for the automatic enrollment email. This email contains important information about accessing your course.

If you have difficulty accessing your course, contact your teacher, mentor, or the appropriate UOS support person.

We will use Edgenuity for the course unless otherwise noted.

📅 Course Structure & Assignments

This course contains several types of learning activities, including:

• Lessons

• Self-check questions

• Quizzes

• Discussions

• Design projects

• Reflections

• Video assessments

• Other course activities

Course content is organized into units/modules. Follow the course sequence and complete activities according to the directions provided.

Self-Check Questions

Self-check questions are designed to help you review what you have learned and prepare for assessments. They are opportunities to check your understanding and identify areas where you may need additional help.

Unit Quizzes

Unit quizzes assess your understanding of the concepts covered throughout each unit.

Design Projects

Projects are an important part of Commercial Art. You will use what you learn to create designs and solve visual communication problems.

Do not wait until the end of a unit to begin a project. Work on projects as you move through the related lessons.

🎨 How Art Projects Are Graded

Commercial Art is not a contest to see who can draw the best.

Your projects are evaluated based on things such as:

• Following directions

• Understanding and applying design concepts

• Craftsmanship

• Creativity and problem-solving

• Effort

• Completion of required components

• Appropriate use of materials and technology

• Ability to communicate the intended idea

You may have a completely different artistic style from another student and still be successful.

Your goal is not to make your work look like everyone else's. Your goal is to demonstrate what you have learned.

📊 Grading Policy

Grades are based on an accumulation of weighted points from assignments and assessments aligned with course standards.

Letter Grade Scale

A: 93–100
A-: 90–92
B+: 87–89
B: 83–86
B-: 80–82
C+: 77–79
C: 73–76
C-: 70–72
I/NG: 69 or below, when applicable under UOS grading procedures

Actual Grade vs. Relative Grade

Edgenuity may display both an Actual Grade and a Relative Grade.

The Actual Grade reflects the points you have earned on the work you have completed.

The Relative Grade is intended to show your current grade based on the work you have completed compared with the work that is expected to be completed at that point in the course. Missing/incomplete work may affect the Relative Grade.

Students should monitor both their course progress and grades and should not wait until the end of the course to address missing work.

For questions about how a specific grade is calculated, please contact me.

⏰ Staying on Track

Online learning gives you flexibility, but flexibility also requires responsibility.

You are responsible for:

• Checking your course regularly

• Keeping up with assignments

• Following the course pacing expectations

• Watching instructional materials

• Completing projects and assessments

• Asking for help when you need it

• Communicating with your teacher when you are struggling

UOS courses are designed to provide flexibility and personalized learning, but students must maintain progress and complete their courses within the applicable course time period.

📩 Teacher Communication

Email is the best way to contact me.

Email: acampos@utahonline.org
Google Voice: 435-849-8871

I will respond to messages during my regular work hours as soon as reasonably possible.

Please remember that online learning works best when students communicate. If you are confused, stuck, falling behind, or unsure what to do next, ask!

You will never be in trouble for asking a question.

🆘 Need Help?

You have several options if you need assistance:

Teacher Help

Email me with your question or request a meeting.

Tutoring

UOS tutoring resources are available to students who need additional academic support. Please email me to schedule a time.  

Technical Help

If you are experiencing a technical problem that prevents you from completing your work, let me know as soon as possible.

🔄 Reattempts

 You can redo anythin my course. Please email that you would like a redo. I will email you back. Once you get that email, please do the redo and send me an email that it is completed with the link (if needed) on that email. If you just share your google projects. I will not accept it.

⏳ Missing & Late Work

Students are expected to complete all required coursework and maintain progress throughout the course.

Because this is an online, self-paced environment, it is important to communicate with your teacher before a deadline becomes a problem.

Specific course deadlines, pacing expectations, and final submission dates will be communicated within the course.

🎥 Video Assessments & Student Verification

Some assessments in this course may require a video response or student verification.

When a video assessment is assigned, students must follow the directions provided for that assessment. This may include:

• Showing your face on camera

• Responding to the required questions

• Demonstrating or discussing your own work

• Following any additional UOS verification requirements

🧠 Academic Integrity

Your work must represent your own learning and effort.

Commercial Art involves developing ideas, making creative decisions, and demonstrating your skills. You may use outside resources for inspiration and research when an assignment allows it, but you may not submit someone else's work as your own.

This includes using another person's artwork, design, writing, or digital work and presenting it as your own.

Follow all UOS academic integrity expectations before beginning your coursework.

🤖 AI & Commercial Art

Technology and artificial intelligence are changing the art and design industry. We will discuss and explore technology as appropriate for the course.

However, using AI to complete an assignment for you is not the same as demonstrating your own learning.

Unless an assignment specifically states that AI use is permitted, you should not use AI to create or complete the required work for submission.

When an assignment requires your own drawing, design process, reflection, or creative decision-making, your submission must demonstrate your own work and thinking.

When in doubt, ask before using an AI tool.

💬 Online Behavior & Netiquette

Even though we are learning online, we are still a classroom community.

Students are expected to:

• Treat others with respect.

• Respect classmates' ideas, artwork, and opinions.

• Protect the privacy of others.

• Follow school and UOS expectations.

• Use appropriate language and images.

• Communicate professionally.

• Think before posting or sending a message.

• Ask questions respectfully.

• Follow directions.

Art can be subjective, and people will have different opinions about artwork and design. You do not have to agree with everyone, but you do need to be respectful.

All student work and communication must remain school appropriate. Content involving drugs, violence, gang symbols, hate, harassment, or offensive/inappropriate imagery is not permitted.

📜 UOS Commitments & Student Expectations

All students and parents/guardians are expected to review the UOS Commitments & Student Expectations document.

The document is embedded in the course and establishes the expectations students and parents/guardians agree to follow.

By proceeding with this course, you and your parent/guardian agree to fulfill these expectations.

🗓️ Important Dates

Specific dates may vary depending on the semester/session in which you are enrolled.

Students are responsible for checking the course calendar and course announcements for current deadlines.

Be sure to watch for:

• Course start date

• Unit deadlines

• Project deadlines

• Assessment deadlines

• Final course deadline

• School holidays/breaks

• Any teacher-specific deadlines

📚 Essential Standards

Essential Standards identify the most important learning students should understand and be able to demonstrate in a course.

Commercial Art learning activities and assessments are aligned with the applicable Utah standards for visual arts and Commercial Art.

Utah's current Commercial Art pathway includes Commercial Art 1 as an explorer course, Commercial Art 2 as a concentrator course, and Commercial Art 3 as a completer course.


🌟 Tips for Success

Want to be successful in Commercial Art?

1. Don't wait until the last minute.

Creative projects take time!

2. Follow the directions.

A great-looking project can still miss the mark if it doesn't meet the requirements.

3. Keep your work organized.

Save your files and keep track of your projects.

4. Ask questions.

If you don't understand something, ask. That's what I'm here for!

5. Don't be afraid to experiment.

Some of your best ideas may come from trying something that doesn't work the first time.

6. Show your process.

In commercial art, the process matters. Designers brainstorm, experiment, revise, and improve.

7. Be yourself.

There is no single "right" artistic style.

🎨 One Last Thing...

Commercial Art is about much more than making pretty pictures.

You are learning how to think like a designer.

You will learn how to take an idea, figure out how to communicate it, make decisions about color, typography, images, composition, and audience—and turn that idea into something people can actually see and understand.

You don't have to be perfect.

You don't have to be the best artist in the class.

You just need to show up, try, learn, create, and keep improving.

I'm excited to see what you create!

— Mrs. Campos 🎨

🌟 SECRET MESSAGE

Secret Message: I have read and agree to the terms to Mrs. Campos Disclosure and syllabus.