Why do some designs grab our attention?
Purpose of graphic design
Audience
Simplicity
Balance
Contrast
White space
Design Detective
Students compare:
Good vs. bad posters
Good vs. bad YouTube thumbnails
Good vs. bad advertisements
Discuss what works and why.
How do I create professional-looking designs?
Canva interface
Templates
Text boxes
Elements
Uploads
Layers
Students recreate a simple poster from scratch instead of using a template.
How do colors affect emotions?
Primary/secondary colors
Warm vs. cool
Color harmony
Mood
Branding
Design three versions of the same poster:
Happy
Serious
Scary
Only the colors change.
How do fonts communicate meaning?
Serif vs. sans-serif
Script fonts
Display fonts
Readability
Font pairing
Students redesign a movie title using different fonts and explain how the feeling changes.
How do I organize information visually?
Rule of thirds
Alignment
Visual hierarchy
Grouping
White space
Students fix intentionally cluttered posters.
How can pictures make information easier to understand?
Icons
Charts
Sections
Visual storytelling
Simplifying information
Create an infographic about:
Favorite animal
Favorite sport
Weather
Space
Technology
How can AI help artists and designers?
Prompt writing
AI strengths
AI weaknesses
Copyright concerns
Editing AI output
Students generate AI images for the same prompt using different wording and compare the results.
This is also a great opportunity to discuss that the quality of the prompt matters just as much as the tool.
How do companies create recognizable brands?
Logos
Brand colors
Consistency
Audience
Design a brand for:
A pet store
Ice cream shop
Video game
Restaurant
School club
Students create:
Logo
Color palette
Tagline
How do I communicate a message visually?
Students create a poster promoting something positive, such as:
Read more books
Be kind
School event
Recycling
Healthy habits
Require them to intentionally apply:
Color theory
Typography
Layout
White space
Hierarchy
Instead of a test...
Students participate in a gallery walk.
Each student displays:
Their logo
Infographic
Poster
Peers leave positive comments and one suggestion for improvement using sticky notes or a digital feedback form.
Finish with a short reflection:
"What's one design choice you're most proud of, and what would you improve next time?"