DA+D

Digital Art + Design

"What I cannot create, I do not understand."

Richard Feynman

Welcome to Digital Art + Design! This course will cover basic skills in Photoshop, 3D modeling with TinkerCAD, and general computer literacy. Each topic on the topics page is one of the major projects outlined in the syllabus below. The format for the class is that I will present resources on the topics page and then do in-class demonstrations that supplement those topic resources. Some projects have videos that students can use outside of class. Those links are provided on the topic or may be embedded along with the instruction outlines. I am available during Extra Help and Community Time for assistance on class projects.  

Course overview:

• 00 Desktops + File Management

  • Students will create a desktop image with the school schedule on it. 

  • Set up Google Chrome for use in class.

    • Bookmarks

    • Bookmark Bar

  • Introduce basic computer skills:

    • right-click mouse button

    • “save” and “save as” 

    • getting the file from the internet

    • getting files into applications

    • file extensions and file names

    • where / how to find things on your computer

  • my class naming protocol > hmontgomeryProject.ext <

  • sorting your files

  • setting the desktop image

• 01 Photoshopping

  • the advanced search feature of Google (image size)

  • Google Arts and Culture Selfie

    • Getting files from devices to Photoshop

    • Using Google Drive to exchange files from devices

    • Merging and manipulating files in PS

    • Creating a pdf in Notability

    • what is a “.pdf” and how is it different from a “.jpg”

• 02 Digital Collage 

  • what is a “.png”? How is that different from a “.jpg”?

  • free transform

  • selection tools in Photoshop

  • the advanced search feature of Google (type of file)

  • file management within a large application  

    • creating folders for groups of layers in PS

    • file size

  • tracing with PS

• 03 Layout Design

  • Creating documents for specific uses

    • book cover

    • playbill

    • t-shirt

  • Elements of Design

  • Critique and Feedback

• 04 Drawing with Math

  • Pen Tool - What is it, and how is it used?

  • What is a “bezier curve?” 

  • Drawing with shapes (math/code)

  • Shape tools in PhotoShop

  • Tracing images with the Pen tool

  • Picking values and colors for your shapes

  • transparency - gradient tool (g)

  • “saving as” different sizes and as different file types

  • logo design

  • scaling

• 05 Animation

  • types of animation

    • rotoscoping

    • stop-motion

  • Making Gifs

  • drawing in Photoshop

  • using a timeline

    • keyframes

    • tweens

• 06 Breaking things

  • Glitching images with text editors

  • glitching with audio editors

  • using web apps as filters for PS

  • using filters in PS to look like glitching

• 07 Intro to Coding

  • Processing and P5.js

    • drawing with code

    • make a mini-app

• 08 3D Printing

  • Sketchup

  • using the MakerBot

  • designing 3d forms

  • printing 3d forms

  • file exchange -.skp > .stl > .3xg

• 09 Arduino

  • physical computing

  • make things blink/move

• 10 Laser Cutting

  • intro to illustrator

  • making shapes that can be cut by our machine

  • getting images from one app to another in CS

 Rubric for the class:

• Major assessments at the beginning of the class will be on workflow and procedural elements, and use of tools.

• The second part of the class will incorporate the creative use of many tools we use in the class and getting items from one app to another.

Attendance

I take attendance when class starts; if you are not present, I mark you absent. When you arrive with a note, please do not interrupt the class. I will either be giving a demo or going over what we will do that day.  Once I am finished give me your note or alert me to the email your teacher sent about your tardiness. If you do not have a note, you will receive an MR.

Devices

I do not allow devices in my classroom unless I specify that you need them. If I see you with a device, you will put it away.

Grading

Please find the “Rubric” attached to the bulletin board for this class. This is a guide for how each assignment (project) will be graded. We will have a group critique as well as a formal assessment of each project. Projects/Classwork counts for 90% of your overall grade, and Homework counts for 10%. These items will be marked as such on the Assignments as they are given. All assignments will be graded through Canvas.  Late work will be accepted throughout the semester. Each day an assignment is late, the maximum points available is reduced by 5 pts. If assignments are due on a day you are absent, the assignment is due the next class day you are present.