TGJ 3MG - December 6th Poster Assignment

Your next assignment will be to create a poster that sends the message of ending violence against women. December 6th is coming up and it is the 20th anniversary of the Montreal Massacre. I've included a link to the CBC archives where you can read articles, watch TV news spots and listen to radio programs from 1989 and the present to give you an overview of the story and also some responses to it.

On Dec. 6 1989 a lone gunman shot 14 engineering students - all women in Montreal before turning the gun on himself. It was a deliberate act against women and it sent people into shock, including men who started the white ribbon campaign (men against violence against women).

Your poster must communicate the following messages:
1. The message that this incident will not be forgotten, nor will those women - i.e. their deaths were not in vain.
2. The message that it is now the 20th anniversary of this incident known as the Montreal Massacre


Specifications:
Size: 10x16@300p.p.i.
Program: You may use Photoshop or Illustrator
You may choose to include an image, but you don't have to.
You may use a photograph that you find on the internet, as long as it is altered in such a way that the resolution works for the size of the poster
You may use black and white or colour, or both
You may choose to focus on the broader issue of violence against women, the white ribbon campaign, or the montreal massacre itself, focusing on the 14 women who were killed that day.

Link to CBC archives click HERE.

Due: Friday December 11, 2009

TGJ2O1 Poster Assignment

Create a poster that promotes a cause or issue of your choice. The issue will of course be the same one that you have chosen for your video assignment. The posters will be done individually. There are examples below for you to take a look at. Take note of what you look at first. Image, text, colour etc. Notice that most have little competition in terms of what draws your attention in the posters.
Then check the instructions below for your assignment.















Step 1: Do some additional research and find out more about your topic.
Step 2: Try to find a specific aspect of this topic to focus on for your poster. Decide who your audience is! Are you seeking money from the public, are you trying to get people to think and learn, are you speaking to the victims or the people involved in the issue?
Step 3: Write a paragraph on the broader issue, and also on the specific focus you are taking for your poster.
Step 4: Design a poster that expresses the mood, theme of this issue and serves to promote the cause.
Draw 10 thumbnails. Show them to a partner who can help you decide on your best 3 before going on the computer!
Choose your best 3 for roughs.
On the computer (Photoshop) produce your 3 roughs.
Choose your best rough to expand for your final work.

Hand in your 3 roughs and your final, labelled with your name (rough 1,2,3) and poster into the drop folder marked Poster.
Hand in your written paragraph into the folder marked
Poster written.

Then post your final poster to your blog with a brief written statement that explains your intent – audience, message, issue.

Parameters:
10x16” @ 300 p.p.i.
Can be in colour or black and white
Must include a slogan (catchy phrase that promotes the issue)
e.g. Racism. Stop it.
May include a photograph or image if that image is altered and unrecognizable from the original, or an original photograph if you took the photo.
You may use Photoshop CS OR Illustrator CS

TGJ 2O1 - Editing with iMovie HD

Hello Class,

Here is a really straightforward video tutorial on using iMovie HD. Please view it, in your groups if you like, and then go ahead and begin editing your 3:6:9 sequence.
Don't add any transitions for now. Keep the cuts as they are (jump cuts).

Keep in mind, the ONLY clips I want in this exercise are your 3:6:9 clips of ONE SUBJECT shot from THREE distance points from THREE different angles. DO NOT edit the movie so that they appear in order. BO-ring! Mix it up. You are welcome to play around with the clips, copy them so that they appear more than once and of course the length of time each clip appears is up to you.

I'm looking for variety, creativity and imagination. The trick is to edit these clips together to make a fun quick video - it doesn't matter what subject you chose. Please work together as a group. I'd like everyone in your group to have a chance to do some editing.

Try adding music and sound effects. You will end up copying the entire sequence of your video and pasting it a few seconds after your first video ends. I'd like you to choose a completely different piece of music for the second showing. The goal is to see how much music impacts the overall feel and perception of the video.

Here's the tutorial. Have fun!
Don't mind the cheesy music and give it a few seconds to load. It's 7 minutes long. If it doesn't work, please go to the THIS LINK!

TGJ 2O1 Sequencing in Video

Scroll down to the posting on Video Sequencing for CyberARTS. You will be doing the same assignment. Basically, I'd like each of you to read through this article and follow the instructions in that posting - summarize the article in point form, post it to your blog with a link to the article embedded in the blog posting and also add the link to your link list. Then do that with a second article you find.

We've already talked a bit about sequencing. If you didn't do the assignment posted one below this one, I suggest you do that as well!

In total you should have three different postings - one on video sequencing, another on whatever you find that is linked from that page and a third from the video storytelling posting (one below this one)

On Thursday we'll be doing a shooting exercise in your groups and editing on Friday.
Please make sure you complete this article analysis today! There will be no more time in class to do this and it is DUE: Friday November 27th. If you do not complete it in class, you will need to ensure that it is complete by Friday.

TGJ 2O1: More on visual storytelling...

Hello Comm Tech students!

I apologize for not being there today. However, here is your assignment.
Go to the following links and explore.

Visual editors
Visual Journalist
Sequencing for Video
Digital journalist


Each of these sites has multiple links on it - some of which are probably fantastic gems and others which may not be. I'd like you to find two links that are really interesting and worthwhile, particularly in relation to the work you're doing on the photo essay.

Your task: Explore links. Read, watch, look, think and write.
Write a new post that gives a summary of one site that you find today. You can spend lots of time exploring and learning. When you find something you think is really worthwhile, take some notes, add the link to your blog (in the posting AND in your link list) and write a quick summary in point form of the key points of the site. Tell us also why you think it's a good one. You'll be able to check each other's blogs and learn from each other as well.

Have fun!

Video storytelling - Sequencing...

This is a posting for CyberARTS, but all comm tech students are encouraged to read it. Any information you can get and explore is always a help, whether your main interest is graphic design, photography, video, animation etc.

Instructions for Year One CyberARTS class:

1. Click on the following link on video sequencing. Read through the posting and take some notes about the most important points in the article. What are the main points that this person is stressing about shooting video? Please add a new post to your blogs with the link to this article and a summary of it's main points (you can write it in point form).
2. Explore a minimum of two of the many links on this blog. Read through, watch, think, and write. I'd like you to do the same for at least one other link. Add a new post, put the link of the URL to the site you are learning from and write a brief summary that indicates the main points that you learned from it and whether or not it is worth checking out.
I'm hoping that by the end of this, you will all have explored some different sites and you can check each other's blogs to learn from one another - read summaries and see if other links are of interest and/or worthwhile.

So, to recap - you should have two new postings by the end of the period. Read through the first one and post a brief summary of the most important points about video sequencing on your blog. Include a link to that site. Your second posting should be a summary of a link from that site that you found interesting. Include the link in your post as well.

This should give you a really good start to video and will help with the planning process for the CyberARTS promo video and showcase.

See you tomorrow! Good luck.
Ms. Silverman

TGJ 2O1 - Visual stories in Photography

The photo essay or visual story is a unique way to tell a story and explore a particular subject in depth, using the magic of photography. Click the following links below to research more.
Go to the following wikipedia site and read through the information on the photo essay.
And then check out this site on 5 photo essay tips and read through the information.
Also, take a look at Jan Sochor's photo essays. Notice the variety of images used to tell a complete story about a place, situation or theme.
And finally, this site simply called The Photo Essay.

Your Assignment:
We will be documenting the lakeshore area through photography. Once you have researched the photo essay and taken a look at some documentary photography, think about a subject that you might like to focus on for your photo essay. Don't be afraid of the "mundane". For this assigment, the ordinary can be extraordinary. Find the story in the details of your subject. It could be anything from a crossing guard to the local corner store. It could even be a study of a street corner, or a building. Study your subject using a variety of camera angles and shots. Use your proximity to and distance from the subect as a zoom lens to get wide, medium and close-up shots. You should be portraying your subject in the context of the environment, as well as through close-ups and details to tell the whole story. Once this assignment is finished, we should have a variety of pieces that make up a whole. As a class, we will decide what to do with the finished products - make a book, a website, a display (or all three).

Write a brief paragraph describing your intent for this assignment. This must be discussed with your teacher and approved before you can take a camera out. You may need more than one day to shoot. That's okay. If you shoot one day and find gaps in your story, feel free to go back a second day - if your subject is okay with it.

Always ask permission if you are photographing a person. You can't possibly get the required close-ups if you are trying to be a spy. Be up front about what you are doing and be patient. Wait for the person to relax and forget about the camera so that you can capture them in a more natural light - doing their everyday things.

Captain Sabine - Toronto Island Ferries

This is a photo story of a woman named Sabine Quast, currently the only female captain on the Toronto Island Ferries. In fact, Sabine was the first woman ever hired by the Toronto Island Ferries, back in 1986 when she began as a deckhand and soon worked her way up to Captain. Over the years there were other captains who were women, and other women who worked on the boats, but she's the only one who stuck around.

I spent the last three days at a phenomenal workshop at the Toronto Star that was taught by Robb Montgomery,

TGJ 2O1 - Photo Collage Assignment

Okay you grade 10 Technology Communicators, here is your mission - if you choose to accept it (and by the way, you have to accept it. It's an assignment!):

Using the photos you took on Friday, or the photos other people took (you have access to their folders too - let's not get too possessive about the work here, you'll have plenty of time for that later), create a visually compelling collage with a pre-determined theme.

Specifications:
Size: 8.5" x 11" @ 300 p.p.i (Make sure you set the resolution when you set your file size)
Images: Use one main photo (Choose a quality image that has visual appeal)
Minimum 7 photos including main photo


Artistic Question: How do I create a compelling collage that expresses a particular theme and is compositionally balanced and visually pleasing?

Step 1. Read through the article "Secrets to Creating Compelling Photo Collages", by Helen Bradley. (Click on the link "secrets to ..." to read the article - or go to http://www.adobepress.com/articles/article.asp?p=438833)
Step 2. Browse through the photos that you took and also some of the photos that other took and begin to think about and plan a photo collage with a specific theme. As the article suggests, try to choose one photo that will be the main photo of your work and base your theme around this photo. Use the other photos (feel free to manipulate them in any ways you need to) to compliment the theme and help accentuate the main photo.
Step 3. Gather your photos and follow the instructions in the article. (Gather more than you will need)
Step 4. Using the photos you gathered (please save them all in a folder marked Collage in your home drive) begin by creating a background and create your collage.
Step 5. Write about your collage and justify your design choices in terms of composition and visual expression of theme.
Step 6. Due by the beginning of class Friday October 9th, 2009: Ready to present to the class and discuss.
Please drop .psd file into drop folder and call it "yournamecollage.psd"
Save for web once you have saved the psd file and add it to your blog with your written description and justification. (Describe your theme, your concept and your design choices and how they help to express your theme).

Assessment:
Theme is visually evident
Composition is balanced
Visual hierarchy helps tell a story (Where do we look first, second, third...)
Visually pleasing design
Main photo stands out and is visually compelling
Evidence of having read article
Multiple, organized, well-labeled layers
Manipulation of photos (re-sizing, cropping, masking, blending etc.)

Good luck! You can post questions here as comments at the end of this posting.
Ms. S.

TGG 3M1 Elements and Principles of Design Poster Assignment

Every graphic design assignment requires a different approach, format, and concept. Every assignment should be approached by developing a concept that will be developed through your design process. A concept is a well-developed thought, the primary idea on which your message will be based. The word format refers to the surface or substrate on which the design elements are placed. It is how you want your viewer to see your message, whether it be two or three-dimensional. But no matter what format or concept, every design will consist of one or more of the basic elements of design. Successful designers organize these elements into dynamic relationships that are visually effective and understandable to a target audience. The relationships are the principles of design. Think of the elements as the ingredients in a recipe and the principles as the directions – how much of each ingredient, how hot the oven is, how long you cook it for etc. Depending on which website, book or instructor you refer to, you will probably find varied information about which are the definitive elements and principles of design. Most information out there will tell you that there are anywhere from 5 to 8 elements of design and about the same for principles. Either way, they are the building blocks of design and you should be familiar with them.

Objectives:

• To learn about the elements and principles of design in a practical as well as theoretical way
• To learn about poster design, visual hierarchy and layout
• To learn about collaboration, group process, negotiation and working in a design team
  

Your assignment:

Your assignment is to research and learn about the elements and principles of design that you will be using during this course, and create 2 posters that display them in an informative and visually effective way. Please use your own words and your own illustrations. Your posters must have the following components:

Size: 10”x16” (vertical or horizontal format)

Headings: Must state elements and principles of design and information should visually connect to each heading. Also each elements or principle should be clearly labelled.

Visual: Each element and principle must be clearly described with a visual example. Your format should be consistent throughout this assignment: i.e. boxes (if used) should be consistent in size, line width, colour etc.

Written: Each element and principle must be clearly described with a written description that defines it and explains its uses. Colour and layout are up to you. I am looking for an informative poster that is clear, easy to read and visually pleasing to look at! Do not submit something that you have not edited for grammar and spelling!

Handing it in:

1. Please submit your finished work to the LCI drop folder with your names (or group number) in the file.

2. Please post your finished work to your blog(s) under the heading Elements and Principles of Design.

3. Add a written statement to your blog that explains your design choices (discuss your layout, colour choices, size/width of boxes, placement etc.) and provides references to the websites or books you used.

Due: Friday October 2, 2009 - Rough layout of posters. Meet with whole class to show and critique
Due: Friday October 9, 2009 - Final posters. Show to class and discuss design choices

Everyday Object Vector Assignment - TGG 3M1

When you have completed both your vector tracing and your freeform illustration of the object, create a few of each using colour. You can try one colour, two colours, or many colours. Avoid using gimmicky swatches and styles, like leopard print or rainbow.

Your first one should be dynamic, show variety in line type, quality and width. Be precise with your lines and vary the blacks and the whites in the illustration. Your second illustration should be more free and loose and should express more emotion. Your colour illustrations do not have to be realistic colour only. Try being abstract with the colours. Think Pop Art like Andy Warhol. Look it up if you don't know what I'm talking about.

Make sure you save your work in the illustrator format. It should have your name in the file and .ai at the end. DO NOT ADD ANYTHING TO THE .ai! namevectortrace.ai and namevectorfreehand.ai, and namevectortracecolour.ai etc.

Your next step is to post your illustrations to the blog and write a brief paragraph about them. 1. From Illustrator, save your illustrations under Save for Web (as a jpg) 2. From your blog, create a new post. Write a paragraph that describes the process you went through to create your illustrations, what tools you used, what you learned, which illustration you think turned out the best and why. 3. To add an image, find the icon of the picture in the New post window and browse for your saved jpg files.

Welcome Back!

Welcome to Comm Tech!



Whether you're in a grade 10, 11 or 12 class, this is the place where you will receive information from me and be able to post some of your work so that everyone in the class can see it, make comments about it, and learn from each other.


Your first task is to create your own blog.

1. SET-UP: go to http://www.blogger.com/ and follow the instructions to make a blog. You will need a gmail or hotmail account to do this.

2. ANONYMITY: Use a name that has nothing to do with you to maintain your anonymity. This is a public blog and anyone can see it. You have the right to protect your privacy and since this is a school-related blog, everything you post on the site should be school-related and it should not have your name on it.

3. LINK: Once your blog is set up, add a link from your page directly to the class page.
Go to LAYOUT, then find ADD A GADGET, scroll down to LINK LIST. Add a link to the URL:
http://lcicommtech.blogspot.com/. You can name it Comm Tech, or Class Page or whatever suits you that will identify that this is your Comm Tech class page.

4. Add a comment at the bottom of this posting that gives me your URL (that's what appears in the address bar for YOUR BLOG), your display name and which class you are in (TGJ 2O1 or TGG 3M1). That way, I'll add your blog to the main page and everyone will be able to access it from the main page.

Good luck with your first task! Please don't hesitate to ask for help when you need it!

TGJ 2O1 - PSA analysis

Read the following tips from "TV PSAs: Making them effective", and the script below at the following link. http://www.joe.org/joe/1986summer/iw1.php

Your assignment for today is to find one really effective Public Service Announcement on the internet and write about it.

Post the link to the PSA on your blog and answer the following questions in your post in paragraph form.

1. What is this PSA about? General topic.
2. Discuss the visual imagery in this video in terms of the message that it is presenting to the viewer.
3. Which images are the most effective in getting the message across. Why?
4. Discuss the sound effects used in this video in terms of message.
5. Which sound effects are the most effective and why?
6. Discuss the voice script in terms of what is said and how it is said (tone - anger, sadness etc.) and who is speaking - ie. elderly person, young person, woman, man etc.).
7. How do these decisions (what, how and who) effect the message and its effectiveness.
8. Conclude with your overall impression of the PSA.

Due at the end of the period posted on your blog.

Once you have completed this assignment please work in your groups on refining your storyboards, scripts and shot lists! You WILL be shooting on Monday.

Grade 7 Skills challengeaidan and patrick: Garbage Monster

grade 7 skills challenge

Grade 7 Skill Challenge

grade 7 skills challenge by travis and yeshi. second street ..... REPRESENT

our campain is to stop littering in the world and we would like to bring this to your attention. littering is an important topic in our lives we dont live in the cleanest world possible this can all change with your help and support.

Grade 7 Skills Challenge

Charlotte & Marko - Norseman MJS

John English JMS - Jane and Rebecca

Grade 7 Skills Challenge

Jessica- Lanor

Poster designers extraordinaire...

There are many amazing poster designer out there. Here are a few that are worth perusing...
http://www.aestheticapparatus.com/
http://www.francoiscaspar.com/
http://www.hammerpress.net
http://www.pedram-harby.com/works.htm
http://www.hesign.com/

Web 2.0

Here's a cool video that shares the power of Web 2.0 and the possibilities out there...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6SefbFbixI&feature=related

Articles about typography

Check out this article about the typeface Helvetica! Very interesting...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/6638423.stm

Also this one where designers talk about their favourite typefaces...
http://www.slate.com/id/2166947/

Some great graphic design inspiration...

Here's a fantastic site to inspire your creativity in terms of self-promotion. It has many great links and information on a variety of methods to promote and market your work!
Check it out. Also in the link list.
http://www.allgraphicdesign.com/graphicsblog/2009/03/15/self-promotion-designing-tips-ideas-resources-for-graphic-designers-web-designers/

And...from that article, I found a fantastic site that helps you when you've got "designers block" and can't think of any ideas! Also in the link list.
http://www.allgraphicdesign.com/graphicsblog/2008/07/05/20-ways-to-avoid-graphic-designers-block/

Another link from that same amazing first article is this one on some inspiring web portfolios, all of which use a one page web design. Check it out.
http://www.fuelyourcreativity.com/23-kick-ass-portfolio-designs/

3MG - Anti-smoking poster presentation

It's time to present your work to the class. Tomorrow - Tuesday, we'll take a look at the campaign that you've created to persuade people to quit or never start smoking.
Please be prepared to discuss your research findings, design process and final design ideas. We will give feedback as a class and I will give you the opportunity to go back and improve your designs and re-submit for final marking by Friday. You must work on this in your own time however (lunches, after school) and not during class.

We will be starting a new project in class once our presentations are done. We will revisit everyone's altered designs on Friday and I will mark whatever you submit then.

TGJ 2O1 CD Design Assignment

Now that you have completed your CD cover and booklet, you need to hand it in and also prepare to present your work to your "client" (your teacher and the class).
Please follow these instructions to submit and print your work for presentation.

1. Double check your work - check for mistakes in layout, grammar, spelling etc. Get a second set of eyes to look at it for an objective opinion. Once you are satisfied, move on to step 2.
2. Drop all 4 of your files into a folder that you create on your home drive, with your name on it! Drop the entire folder into the drop folder (201 CD to submit)
3. Make an 11x17" @ 300 p.p.i Photshop file. Flatten (layers menu) your 4 CD files to copy and paste them into the new file. Close the originals, but DO NOT SAVE. Save the 11 x 17 with your name in the file and drop it into the drop folder (201 CD to print).
4. Ask Ms. Silverman to print your CD.
5. Trim and mount to a black board (provided) or fold into a jewel case (not provided).
6. Write up a statement and be ready to hand this in after you present on Wednesday.
Written statement AND your oral presentation must include:

• Name of the band and CD
• Style of music and personality of the band
• Design choices justified to indicate how they work to express the style of music and personality of the band (fonts, colour, layout, images)

Note: You can refer back to my original examples for the random album cover assignment.

Bonus marks: Post the Final CD to your blog with your written statement.

3MG Anti-Smoking Poster

Go to the pick-up folder in the LCI folder on your desktop and view the powerpoint on Visual Advocacy and Graphic Design.

Your assignment:

• Design a persuasive anti-smoking poster using original graphics, photography and text. You can use found photography as long as it is manipulated and the file size is large enopugh to be printed. Your final poster size will be 10"x16" @ 300 p.p.i. Keep this in mind when you are looking for photographs.
• Design 2 other forms of getting your message out with one traditional and one non-traditional format.
• You must have all 3 pieces work together and have the same elements (colour scheme, typestyle, slogan etc.)
• Traditional forms of advertising are television spots (30 - 60seconds; you can design the storyboard, you don't have to actually film it), billboards, bus shelter ads or subway posters, websites etc.)
• Non-traditional forms of advertising are anything from sidewalk spraypainting, dropping banners from buildings, giving away free t-shirts or hats, hosting events like parties or music fests where bands that play support your message, stickers, you tube...)

Keeping it simple will help your design. Come up with a simple slogan and graphic that is persuasive and visually dynamic that makes people think about why they shouldn't smoke.

Step 1: Research
Look at http://www.adbusters.org/gallery/spoofads to get inspired by Adbusters magazine.
Read through tabacco and smoking information sites to get facts and information such as:
http://www.notobacco.org/
http://www.thetruth.com/
http://www.quit4life.com/index_e.asp
http://stupid.ca/index.asp

Step 2: Brainstorm ideas for images and text
Step 3: Thumbnail sketches!!!
Step 4: Choose your best thumbnails and create a rough full-size mock-up of your 3 pieces - on the computer.
Step 5: Full-colour comprehensive
Step 6: Finalize

You must finish step 4 by Friday April 3, 2009 and post them to your blog with a brief explanation of your concept.

Your full-colour comprehensive will be due the following Thursday April 9, 2009

3MG Tech Skills Challenge T-shirts

Your assignment is a real design challenge that is required by your school. Each year, LCI sponsors a tech skills challenge for grade 7 students from our feeder schools. They come to Lakeshore for the day and 1 or 2 students from each school participate in a variety of tech challenges from food service, cosmetology, graphic design and photography, construction, automotive and electricity. Each participant receives a t-shirt to remember the event and each Lakeshore student ambassador also receives a t-shirt. These t-shirts need to be re-designed this year with a new logo and design.

The final selected design will be used on the actual T-shirts and printed for that challenge. The design of the t-shirt will be able to use this design in a portfolio and also be able to put it in a resume.

Your challenge:

Design a logo for the LCI tech skills challenge that is a pictorial or abstract visual (symbol or illustration) in one colour. The text must be present somewhere on the shirt - with the logo or surrounding it. The logo should be a visual symbol of technology - think of words like innovation, creativity, ideas, problem solving, experiential or hands on etc.

• The logo must be one solid colour (one for a black shirt, white shirt and blue shirt).


• You must design it in terms of size and placement.


• You must create it using Illustrator and save it both as an illustrator file and as a jpg.


• You must post your finished logo to the blog with a written paragraph explaining your design choices and how they express the theme of technology skills challenge.


• The logo should be graphic and dynamic, memorable and the text and image must be clear and legible.

Due: Tuesday March 31st

2O1 - CD Cover steps 2 and 3

TGJ 2O1
Project:
CD cover and booklet design

A musician or band is producing their first CD. They have requested your expertise and creative design skills to help them design their CD.
Using the list provided, choose a name for your band and a title for the CD.

See the last posting on the blog for the first part of this project which includes choosing your name, style and personality, researching other bands and beginning some thumbnail sketches.

Step 2 – Brainstorming – Visual Collage
Define the target market. Who do you think will buy this CD?
Think about an age range, sex (if you think it matters), geographic location (urban, rural) and interests.
Make a list of 5 adjectives that describes not only the music, but also the image and personality of the group/artist. From here you can brainstorm any other words that come to mind. Fill a page with related words – anything that pops into your head!
Create a collage on a blank 8 ½” x 11” page on the computer.
Find images, illustrations, textures, colours, and type styles (for the words and the font)
Fill the page with these images and use this as your visual file to begin your CD design.
You will need to hand this in with your written paragraph defining the style of the music and the list of adjectives.

Step 3 - Thumbnail Sketches
You may have found it helpful to create a visual collage, or idea page to help generate some thoughts of how to best communicate the band’s image in a visual way.
Create some thumbnail sketches – a minimum of 10 of the front cover that plays with images, text and layout. Once you have decided on your image for the front cover, you should go out do the necessary photography. You must include at least one original photograph on your front cover. You can include more, but one is the minimum.
Think about a colour scheme and always keep UNITY in mind when creating your design.

DUE: Please post this collage and hand in your brainstorming page and thumbnail sketches by the end of class on Wednesday March 25, 2009. Thursday and Friday will be reserved for shooting – unless you hand in your thumbnail sketches earlier!

TGJ4MG Mainstage Production Promotional Materials

Every year, the grade 12 Graphic Design class is responsible for "in-house" promotional materials and design requests for LCI.
This year, we are responsible for designing the poster, banner and t-shirts for the drama mainstage production of Cyrano de Bergerac.

The poster must be 8 1/2" x 11" @ 300 p.p.i. and must incorporate a photograph of the actor playing the main character.
The banner must be 16' x 4' (that's feet, not inches!), so should be done in Illustrator for the infinitely stretchable quality of vector-based illustration.
The t-shirts should be a strong graphic that works well with one colour.

The following information must be included in the poster:
The Lakeshore Drama Club Presents...
Cyrano de Bergerac
By Edmund Rostand
"So soon, so fast, the knife can pierce our hearts."
May 27, 28 & 29
7:00 p.m.
Lakeshore Auditorium
350 Kipling Avenue
Tickets: Adults $10
Students & Seniors $8

The following information must be included on the banner:
Graphic of some kind
The Lakeshore Drama Club Presents...
Cyrano de Bergerac
by Edmund Rostand
"So soon, so fast, the knife can pierce our hearts."
May 27, 28 & 29
7:00 p.m.
Lakeshore Auditorium

The following information must be on the t-shirts:
On the front:
Graphic of some kind which should include the title (Cyrano de Bergerac)

On the back:
The Lakeshore Drama Club Presents...
Cyrano de Bergerac
By Edmund Rostand
"So soon, so fast, the knife can pierce our hearts."
May 27, 28 & 29
2009

In your design teams, you must come up with a design plan that incorporates all three products. The poster will have a photograph, while the other two will be more graphic, however, they should compliment each other and they must be unified in their designs. They should look like they are part of the same promotional campaign. Keep this in mind when you are choosing typestyles, layout and the graphic representation of the poster imagery.

Please do your research! Watch the film over the holidays if you can. Read any information you can. Find past posters for this play and film and look at other movie and theatre posters both vintage and contemporary.
All three pieces need to be finished by April 1st. You will be presenting your work to the class - concept, sketches and mock-ups of final products on Friday March 27. Keep in mind that you will need to photograph the actor - please "hire" a photographer from the grade 12 class to do this. You will want to show them a sketch of your idea first and discuss it with them.

Have fun!

TGJ 2O1 CD Booklet Assignment

Your major assignment for the Graphic Design Unit in this class will be to create a full CD package, which includes the front cover and 4 panel booklet, the back cover and the CD itself. I will provide a template for you to use after the March Break.

Part 1 - Due by Friday before the break (March 13th) Posted to your blog
1. Choose your band and CD title: From the list below (chosen with random wikipedia searches and random quotations), choose a name for your band or artist and a title for your CD. Or, if you like, perform your own random search.

2. Based on the name of your band and the title of the CD, make a decision about the style of music and personality of this band.

3. Research this style of music and find 3 CD covers from bands of this genre.

4. Post your results to your blog in the following format:

• Name of the band
• Title of the CD
• Style of music and personality of the band/musician
• Samples of 3 CD Covers from bands of this genre with a brief sentence or two describing the band/musician and their music.

5. Do some thumbnail sketches of design ideas for the front cover of the CD which include images and text layout. You should have a variety (between 15 and 20) of thumbnail sketches. You must a minimum of one of your own original photographs in your design, which you are free to manipulate in Photoshop as much or as little as you like.

Hand in your thumbnail sketches to Ms. Silverman by the end of the period on Friday.

Have a wonderful March Break!

The LIST:

Possible Band Names

Vaccine Revolt, Venice Island, Lucci, Diocese of MySore, Corporate Bond, Disinvestment, Belsand, Estadio da Ressacanda, Cosmosomas, 6384 Kelvin, Chan Sau Chung, Patent Application

Possible Album Titles (You can choose to shorten these if you like)

"when you're winning", "the mysteries that challenge you", "because he can't help himself", "if the line is good", "our snap judgments", "your greatest source of learning", "teach it to others", "nothing is too big to attempt", "gives a bountiful crop", "next door's imaginary friend", "without being good at", "fought with sticks and stones".

Examples of random album covers

The name of this first band is KOMA. The wikipedia site I landed on was actually for Koma, Burkina Faso (a city inBurkina Faso, Africa), but I used the name KOMA on its own. For me it became a play on spelling the word Comawith a “K” which seemed like an appropriate name and spelling for a hard, edgy rock band, similar to Motley Crueor Krokus (note the K spelling). The title is “Unless there are three other people” which is c ompletely random and the image is a crocheted sad looking apple with a scar and a worm digging into it, which somehow seemed perfectand suggested cute and wholesome (crochet/embroidery, a wholesome craft) gone awry.
I chose an edgy font with a crackly look to identify the badn as hard, edgy and slightly angry, and the bold red colour because it implies aggression, passion and blood. I chose all capitals for the band name and skewed it slightly to make it look like it was stamped on a package and also so that it would stand out.

The name of this band is Lift Upgrading Programme and the title of the CD is “The present becomes the past”. The name just seemed like an obscure techno/electonica band that possibly has roots in Germany or Sweden. The title fits right in with the obscurity of the band, sort of abstract and full of meaning yet meaningless at the same time, like the poppy melodic electronic melodies of the music. I chose a very neutral colour to help accentuate the spider and not block out the web (also a great metaphor for the music) and I chose a very modern techno styl font that I thought helped identify the band well as a modern electronic band.

Random Album Cover Assignment - TGJ 3MG and TGJ 2O1

This assignment forces you to get creative with a random band name, album title and image. You must decide, based on the name of the band you are given, what the style of music and personality of the band is. Then, based on your decision, create the album cover by choosing an appropriate typestyle and layout. The only things you can use are the image you are given, the name you are given and the title. Have fun! When you are finished, write a brief paragraph justifying your choices – see the examples in the .pdf in the drop folder.

Instructions:

1. Go to "wikipedia." Hit “random”or click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random

The first random wikipedia article you get is the name of your band.
2. Go to "Random quotations"or click http://www.quotationspage.com/random.php3

The last four or five words of the very last quote of the page is the title of your first album.

3 . Go to flickr and click on “explore the last seven days”or click http://www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/7days

Third picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover.

4. Use Photoshop or Illustrator to put it all together.

5. Repeat this activity twice! Make two completely different album covers.

6. Post the results to your blog with your written statements.

TGJ 4MG - What's going on?

Hey Grade 12s. I checked your blogs and I'm very sad to say that only one of you has done the work that I've asked you to do! Where is your research? Where are your roughs for your posters?
Keep in mind that I'm checking from home. I know I've been gone for 3 days, now 4, but I'll be back on Tuesday and I won't be happy if I don't start seeing some of your work posted on your blogs. Some of you haven't touched your blogs in 2 weeks! Yikes. Not good people. Some of you don't even have a blog yet!! Double Yikes!
GET TO WORK!
As for the one student who has posted their work...Don't worry about getting shadows and all that. Do the best you can. See what you can do on your own. I definitely don't have all the answers. Problem solving is key!

TGj 3MG - For Monday Feb. 23/09

Keep on working on your elements and principles assignment, but also, double check and make sure your vector posting is adequate. I noticed that a few of you posted your vector tracing work and even wrote the required paragraph. Some of you haven't posted anything however and none of you posted any rough work of your elements and principles assignment.
Keep in mind, not only can I see your work, but I can also check and see when the last time you posted was and "1 week ago" means that you haven't posted anything since last week!

Stay on top of things Grade 11s. It's only going to pick up speed from here. Don't worry though, if you're confused and need help, I'll be back tomorrow (Tuesday - almost guaranteed).

Ms. Silverman

TGJ 2O1 - Getting caught up...

I'm going to be away for one more day and hopefully that's it! So...for today (Monday) this is your chance to either get caught up, or get ahead. Scroll to the bottom of this posting for a bonus assignment, otherwise, review is below.

I noticed that most of you in the class still do not have a blog at all. I'm going to leave very specific instructions on what to do, in hopes that you'll be able to get your blog up and running today. I do realize that the school computers can be glitchy and sometimes don't allow you to set up your blogs. Do your best. If it's not working, try it at home. If it's still not working, see me tomorrow!
How to Set Up Your BLOG!!
1. Go to www.blogger.com
2. Click on CREATE A BLOG - it's a big orange button. You can't miss it.
3. You will open a page that gives you windows to fill in such as email address, passwords etc. Your email address must be a google type account - gmail, hotmail etc. Sympatico won't work, so create a gmail account for yourself if you don't have one already.
4. Once you have gone through this page - notice your Display name. This is the name used to sign your blog posts. The next page will give you the option to choose the title of your blog. This is one at the top of your page.
5. Click on Accept terms of service and then CONTINUE.
6. Next page, choose your title. Could be the same as your display name.
7. Find a blog address (URL) and check the availability. If it's taken, try adding some numbers or another word to it.
8. Go to continue and choose your template. Doesn't matter what you pick, you can change it later.
Congratulations. You have a new blog!
Your first task is to create a link to the lci blog.
1. Go to Layout from your posting page (you'll automatically be sent there once your blog is set up).
2. Click on Add a Gadget
3. Scroll down and click on Link List
4. Title it Cool Links or My Links or just links...
5. Leave the number of links blank and skip down to the New Site URL
6. Add www.lcicommtech.blogspot.com
7. For the name put LCI Comm Tech
8. Click on Add Link, then Save.
9. You're done. You can now view your blog and you should see the LCI Comm Tech link on your sidebar. Click on it, and it should take you to the LCI Comm Tech blog.

Next Task - send me a comment, so I can add you to the main blog
1. Scroll down to the welcome to the blog posting on the LCI blog
2. At the bottom, click on comments and add a comment of your own in the window.
3. Your comment should tell me your first name, your class TGJ 2O1 and the URL of YOUR BLOG. Post it. You're done.


POSTING
From your blog, you can click on New Post. Here is your chance to post all of the fabulous work that you've done so far in this class. Namely, the two assignments that I've asked for!
1. Save your Photoshop assignment for Web so that it's a .jpg or .gif and not a .psd.
2. Add the image by clicking on the picture icon and browse for it in your home drive.
3. Click on a layout - preferably centered.
4. Write! You need to write about your process - how did you make the composite image?
5. Check the rest of my postings and make sure you've done everything - in particular the composition assignment with your partner (s) and be ready to present on Tuesday, when we'll be talking about composition.

IF YOU'VE DONE IT ALL AND ARE CAUGHT UP...
Bonus Assignment - Magazine cover
Take an image of a person and create a magazine cover by cutting out the person (or people) and adding a full colour background. The title and articles are up to you. Make it look real!

TGJ 2O1 - Notes for Thursday and Friday

Scroll down and re-read the two posts from last week. One was entitled Photoshop exercise and the other was entitled Composition exercise.
Make sure you have completed your Photoshop exercise, have dropped it into the drop folder.
Also, make sure you have posted it to your blog, with the written statement explaining how you did it. Please be as specific and as detailed as possible.
Make sure you have posted a comment at the bottom of the LCI blog with your URL, your name (first name only) and your class so that I can link to you!
Then, work on your composition assignment with your partner or group of three. You should all have the same images and written work as I expect you to work on this together. Be prepared to present your work to the rest of the class on Monday. You will be presenting from one of your blogs. I will choose the order of presentations, so you must be ready to present at the beginning of class.

TGJ 3MG - Notes for Thursday and Friday

Hello grade 11 Graphics students! I'm away sick but you've got your work cut out for you. By now you should have posted your vector drawings. Keep in mind that I will be checking your work this week and expect to see both drawings as well as a written statement. Please double check the old posting on the vector assignment and make sure you have completed the assignment to the best of your ability! You can always edit your postings! Make sure your vector assignment is complete and as perfected as you want it to be by the end of the week because I will be marking it over the weekend.
As for this week, you should be working on your elements and principles assignment. Please check the posting for the specifics of the assignment. I'm sorry I didn't get the chance to hand out the printed copies. You'll have to make do.
Your task for Friday is to post your rough work to your blog by the end of the period.
Please save your Illustrator files for the web and create a new post and and the image of your .gif or .jpg file. I will be giving you a progress mark.
Please make sure that your blog is set up and that you have sent me a comment with your URL, name and class.

NOTES for TGJ 4MG for Thursday and Friday

Hello grade 12 graphics students. As you know, I'm away sick and I'm expecting you to be working on your assignment! While I won't be there to check on your thumbnail sketches, I'm still expecting you to do them! And I will be checking them when I return (which will be imminent - sooner than you think!). You must begin working on creating the vector portrait for your poster if you haven't already.
Your assignment: Post your rough work/work in progress of your vector portrait with some rough layout work of your poster on your blog by the end of the day Friday. I will be checking your progress over the weekend and will be giving you a progress mark, so please don't forget to post your rough work.
What do I expect to see?
1. I expect to see the basic outline of the portrait of your individual - not necessarily in full colour, but definitely the outline of the vector shapes you will be using to create the image of their face.
2. I also expect to see a basic layout of your poster, with the slogan or word and/or text block you are using. You don't need to have your final wording done, but the layout and styling should be in place.
3. Save your rough work for web either as a .gif or .jpg
4. Create a new post adding the image in a centered layout and then write a paragraph that explains the concept of your poster. How does your layout and wording serve to celebrate the individual that you have chosen?

TGJ 4MG Black History Poster Assignment

The Poster:

Now that you have done your preliminary research, your next steps will be to create some thumbnail sketches of your poster layout. Show your thumbnails to your teacher by Wednesday's class and we will discuss your best options to work with.
You can now create a larger size rough, either in your sketchbook (in colour) or a rough on the computer.
Tip: To create a vector drawing of your poster person, try using Photoshop to create a filtered cutout version, or a posterized version, then use that in Illustrator to trace the values and lines and create your poster.
Final posters are due finished and printed by: Wednesday February 25th in time for the ONE VOICE spoken word night on Thursday at 7p.m. in LCI's cafeteria.

TGJ 2O1 - Composition exercise

You have researched your two or three compositional elements and now have taken photos to represent them.
Your next step is to post your information to your blogs. Each group member should have both (or three) compositional elements, plus two photos that illustrate them.
Your title should be Composition exercise and the name of the element of composition.
You need to write a few sentences that help explain what you learned about it. You should show two photographs that help to illustrate each element.
And also write a few sentences explaining in particular why these photos illustrate that particular element of composition.
Note: If you were unable to take photos to illustrate all of your compositional elements, you may use images from the internet. Be sure to specify which ones are your photos (who took them) and which are from the internet! (reference them - copy and paste the URL from the site where you found the photo)

Due: Posted by Friday - ready to present Monday February 23

TGJ 3MG - Vector object assignment

By the end of Wednesday's class, you should have completed both your vector tracing and your freeform illustration of the object. Your first one should be dynamic, show variety in line type, quality and width. Be precise with your lines and vary the blacks and the whites in the illustration. Your second illustration should be more free and loose and should express more emotion.

Your next step is to post your illustrations to the blog and write a brief paragraph about them.
1. From Illustrator, save both illustrations under Save for Web (as a jpg)
2. From your blog, create a new post. Write a paragraph that describes the process you went through to create your illustrations, what tools you used, what you learned, which illustration you think turned out the best and why.
3. To add an image, find the icon of the picture in the New post window and browse for your saved jpg files.

Good luck

TGJ 2O1 - Photoshop exercise and blog for Wednesday

Hi class,

Please spend the period finishing your Photoshop exercise. Remember, the objective is to take a photo of a celebrity, remove them from the background and place them in a completely bizarre background, making it look like they're really there.
When you are finished, save it in your home drive, then drop it into the drop folder. Remember to add your name to the file name.
Then save a copy as a .jpg and add it to your blog. Write a brief paragraph explaining how you did it and also explaining your concept (who's in the photo and why it's weird that they're in the background they're in).
If you haven't finished setting up your blog, please finish that as well.
If you have finished the Photoshop exercise and set up your blog and added your finished Photoshop image to your blog, with a written paragraph, then see the next posting entitled Composition assignment.

Good luck!

TGJ 4MG Black History Poster Assignment

Preliminary Research

Your first assignment is inspired by the Barack Obama Hope poster, created by Graphic Artist Shepard Fairey. Read the article entitled "Popaganda: the Obama Hope Poster" at http://www.flatmancrooked.com/archives/938

Shepard Fairey's poster was based on the style of old soviet WWII propaganda posters. This is what he has to say about the subject of propaganda (from the abovearticle)

“Propaganda has a sinister connotation,” Fairey said. “But I wrote a paper when I was a sophomore at the Rhode Island School of Design on political propaganda, coming from a position of moral integrity. Whether it’s pro a cause or against a cause, it’s propaganda either way. I see a role for both. It’s always interesting to hear people say, ‘Your stuff is just anti-advertising propaganda.’ It’s really not. Even the idea of using propaganda to encourage people to question advertising and other propaganda is propaganda. Blindly accepting every ad you see and not questioning it is the wrong way to go, and I have a superior alternative, which is getting you to question that stuff. That’s propaganda. Anti-propaganda propaganda.”

Please also check this next link to read more about the artist's thoughts about this poster and it's connection to early Soviet Propaganda posters and to view the posters.

http://newsgroups.derkeiler.com/Archive/Rec/rec.radio.shortwave/2008-10/msg00082.html

Your first task is to find one or two old propaganda posters that focus primarily on an individual (Lenin, Stalin, Mao etc.). Research the origins of the poster - initial purpose, message behind it, era and style. Save the image and your work in a word document. Then post it to your blog and title it: Propaganda research.

Then search for an African-Canadian person who has made a significant contribution/ positive difference to Canadian society and that you think should be celebrated, known or remembered. If you are choosing sports or music, please choose someone really unique and that isn't already a mainstream celebrity. Look into politics, the arts, literature, human rights, pioneers etc...

There are several websites you can start with:

http://blackhistorycanada.ca/topic.php?id=158&themeid=7

http://www.mysteriesofcanada.com/Canada/black_canadians.htm

http://www.yorku.ca/aconline/culture/profiles.html

http://www.blackhistorysociety.ca/

Please post a photograph of the individual and your written information on your blog as well. Title it: Black history research.

Check back soon for more instructions re: this assignment. Good luck!

Welcome to Comm Tech at Lakeshore!

Communications Technology at LCI involves Graphic Design, Photography and Video Production. Blogging is a great way for students to communicate with other students, with your teachers, to showcase your work and also to check out what's going on in other classes. Your first assignment will be to create your own blog and then link back to this one. I am looking forward to seeing your work develop this semester and to being blown away by your creative work!