Tag Archives: Illustrator

Computer Graphic Design

Adobe Illustrator – Introduction to Illustrator 2019

Welcome to Adobe Illustrator!

Adobe Illustrator is the industry standard vector graphics drawing program, and my favorite application in the Adobe Suite. We are going to spend the next couple of weeks getting comfortable with the program and exploring its capabilities. We are also going to explore color theory, symbolism and expressive typography in the weeks to come, so prepare yourself with the following week’s exercises!

Let’s get started with a quick test to see what you already know about Illustrator, and a little bit about what you have to discover about the beauty and power of vector graphics.

Then we’ll begin our journey by exploring the Illustrator workspace, and learning about some of the new tools, palettes and control panels that are unique to vector art rendering.

Objective:

Students will demonstrate their initial proficiency with Adobe Illustrator through a diagnostic pre-test.

Student-Friendly Learning Target:

I can show what I already know about Adobe Photoshop by taking the Illustrator pre-test.

Video Link:

How to Create a New Document: https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/how-to/create-new-document.html

Topics Discussed:

  • Start a new document in Illustrator CS5.1 using the Welcome screen.
  • Adjust settings in the New Document dialog box.
  • Establish multiple artboards.

Assignment:

  • Visit our Google Classroom and take the Illustrator Pre-Test.
  • Remember, this is a pre-test, so do your best to answer all the questions, but don’t worry if you don’t have all the answers. That’s what you’re here to learn.
  • Submit your test answers before the end of the class period today.
  • Make sure you mark the assignment as “Done” when you finish to confirm that you took the test.
  • Create a new Illustrator Web document with four default-sized artboards. Save this document as “YOURNAME – Illustrator Week 1”. We will use this document throughout the week to practice with the basic drawing tools.

Assigned: January 7th, 2019
Teacher Pacing Due Date: January 8th, 2019

Computer Graphic Design

Logo Design Steps 5, 6 and 7 – Reflection, Positioning and Presentation

Objective: To complete the logo design process by selecting and finalizing a logo design.

Student Friendly Learning Target: I will select and refine a final logo for the CHHS Cybersecurity team.

Web Links:

Article: The Logo Design Process of Top Graphic Designers: https://justcreative.com/2008/02/01/logo-design-process-of-top-graphic-designers/

Article: How eSports Branding Works: https://www.redbull.com/en/esports/stories/1331659416941/how-esports-branding-works

National Cyber League: https://www.nationalcyberleague.org/

Cybersecurity: https://www.dhs.gov/topic/cybersecurity

Google Image Search “National Cyber League Team Logos”: https://images.google.com

Topics Discussed:

  • Eight Step Logo Design Process:
    • Step 5 – Reflection
    • Step 6 – Positioning
    • Step 7 – Presentation

Assignment:

Hopefully, you completed Step 5 – Reflection this past weekend by getting some good rest and coming back refreshed and renewed. Look at your logo sketches in the wire basket on the front table once more, and select one to begin refining into your final logo design. This final logo design must adhere to the Six Principles of Good Logo Design that we previously studied, and should incorporate all that you’ve learned about the Principles of Design, Shape, Color Theory and Symbolism.

Step 6 – Positioning

You should have received your completed Design Brief documents by now, updated with the Cybersecurity team’s responses. Read the responses that the team has provided, and take the advice under consideration. Now you have a decision to make: Will you alter your logo design to meet the requests that the team has made, or will you proceed with your own ideas with the confidence that as a trained designer, you know what they will like better than they do? This decision is called Positioning, and it is a choice that every professional designer who takes on a client has to make. Bear in mind that unlike most professional designers, you will not have the opportunity to support or defend your design decisions when it comes time for the team to judge the winner of the competition, so make your decisions accordingly.

Step 7 – Presentation

Make a new Print Illustrator document with a standard Letter size artboard (8.5 in x 11 in). Using all that you’ve learned about the principles of good logo design, the principles of design (C.R.A.P.), Color Theory, shapes and symbols, begin using the path, shape, color and type tools in Illustrator to design a simple, yet unique and attractive logo that is easy to remember, relevant to Carl Hayden Cybersecurity, will look good even printed in a single color, and will stand the test of time.

Your Illustrator file containing your final logo design on a single artboard should have your name in the filename, and should be submitted to the “Final Logo Design” assignment post on the Google Classroom page for your class period no later than the end of the day on Wednesday, April 11th. This is a rigid deadline, and any late submissions will not be accepted for the competition. There are two important reasons for this: the first is that it would be unfair to allow any one individual more time to work on their design by allowing them to turn it in later than everyone else, and the second is that we will be moving on to an exciting new unit the following week. This upcoming week and a half will be dominated by AZMerit testing, and you will have at least three 115 minute classes, with a single 50 minute class to work with, with no advisory periods after Tuesday, plus whatever time you wish to put in after school. Manage your time wisely.

Presentation of the final logo submissions and judging will occur on Thursday, April 12th, and the winner will be announced in all Graphic Design classes on Friday, April 13th, and then it will be time for the final step: Step 8 – Celebration!

Good luck, work hard, make good decisions, and we’ll see you all at the celebration where we’ll toast the winner of the competition as well as everyone who successfully worked through the process to create and submit an original logo design that they can be proud of.

Assigned: Monday, April 2nd, 2018

Due: Wednesday, April 11th, 2018