Project Description

The following lesson demonstrates my ability to create lessons and activities grounded on research-based instructional strategies. This lesson was created for secondary and post-secondary digital design students at Osceola Technical College. The lesson is based on the BSCS 5E instructional model, which includes Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate. This lesson has been specifically designed to be implemented in the classroom or using a blended-learning strategy.

Learning Goal

I can develop an understanding of digital design and the different design disciplines within the career field. I will explore educational options, employment options, and develop SMART goals to work towards the design discipline of my choice.

Learning Targets

  1. I can describe what digital design and graphic design are.
  2. I can compare and contrast graphic design and art.
  3. I can list the hard and soft skills a designer should possess.
  4. I can explain what design disciplines interest me.
  5. I can identify schools and programs that can help me enter the design disciplines that interest me.
  6. I can identify careers that are available in the design disciplines that interest me.
  7. I can list steps to reach my career goal.

Assignments

  1. Is Graphic Design the same as Art?
  2. What skills does a Digital Designer need?
  3. Design Disciplines Presentation
  4. What design discipline interests me?
  5. Digital Design Reflections

Engage

Before we begin learning how to design, it’s essential to understand what digital design is. For this program, I will use digital design and graphic design interchangeably, as both definitions are essentially the same career. Robin Landa (2014) defines graphic design as “a form of visual communication used to convey a message or information to an audience” (p. 1). Building on this definition, I often tell students digital design exists at the intersection of art, business, and technology.

Discussion Activity: Is Graphic Design the same as Art?

In this activity, you will research whether art and graphic design are the same?  You may use the Graphic Design Solutions book and internet articles to help you answer the question.  Write a paragraph (at least 150 words) summarizing your thoughts and post them on the following discussion board. Respond to at least one other classmate with an in-depth response.

Explore

In this embedded video, by PBS OffBook, I will introduce you to the widespread importance of graphic design in our daily lives. Beyond just making things look right, effective design solutions can influence our behaviors and enrich our experiences in our surroundings. Not all designers specialize in print and websites; some specialize in designing environments, immersive experiences, or just exploring different ways to visualize complex data. Keep these fields in mind as you work through the course, maybe one of these avenues could be a future career for you.

Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills

Now that you have a basic understanding of digital design let’s talk about skills.  There are two types of skills people possess, hard skills and soft skills.  Watch the following video to learn more about hard and soft skills. If the video doesn’t play, you can learn about hard and soft skills on the GCFGobal Website.

Discussion Activity: What skills does a Digital Designer need?

In this activity, you will research what hard and soft skills a digital designer will need?  You may use the Graphic Design Solutions book and internet articles to help you answer the question.  Write a paragraph (at least 150 words) summarizing your thoughts and post them on the following discussion board. Respond to at least one other classmate with an in-depth response.

Explain

Read chapter 1 in Robin Landa’s book, Graphic Design Solutions. She presents thirteen different disciplines for designers. Think about each specialty and whether it would interest you or not. Feel free to conduct additional research online about the design specialties that interest you to gain a better understanding.  When done, complete the following activity.

Design Disciplines Presentation

Learning Targets

  • I can discuss individual interests related to careers in digital design.
  • I can explore secondary and post-secondary educational opportunities.
  • I can explore career opportunities.

Background Knowledge

In Landa’s (2019) textbook, Graphic Design Solutions, she outlines thirteen different disciplines that designers specialize in. These disciplines include identity design, corporate design, editorial design, environmental design, illustration, information design, experience design, mobile design, motion design, package design, promotional design, and typographic design. Start the assignment by reviewing Chapter 1 in the textbook to learn more about each design discipline.

Assignment Overview

In this activity, you will research three different design disciplines and build a PowerPoint presentation to showcase your findings. For each design discipline, provide the following information:

  1. A description of the design discipline
  2. Examples of the work designers create in the discipline
  3. College programs or Training programs to gain entry to the discipline (where can you go to school?)
  4. Potential career opportunities for the discipline (are there any job openings?)

Assignment Specifications

Program: Microsoft PowerPoint

Slide Count: At least 13, one cover and 4 content slides for each design discipline

Design Constraints: There are no constraints, please try to make a professional-level presentation with the appropriate amount of text and graphics.

Elaborate

Now that you have a good understanding of what digital designer and where designers work.  Reflect on how you can work towards entering that discipline as a junior designer in the future.  Part of this activity will involve creating SMART goals, refresh your memory of SMART goals on the GCFLearn Website.

Discussion Activity: What design discipline interests me?

Based on your research above, tell your classmates what design discipline interests you the most and why.  Furthermore, develop at least three SMART goals for steps to attain this goal.  Write at least two paragraphs (300 words total) describing what, why, and how you will attain the goal.  Respond to at least one other classmate with an in-depth response.

Evaluate

Now it’s time to reflect on what you’ve learned in this module.  Please answer the following open-ended quiz questions to the best of your ability.

Digital Design Reflections

Provide detailed reflections for the following questions.

  1. Based on your research and discussions with classmates, is graphic design an art? Discuss your thoughts and findings.
  2. What design discipline interested you the most in your research?  Is this a career you think you would be happy with, or are you in the wrong place?
  3. Out of all this research and reading, tell me about one interesting fact you learned.
  4. Be honest, did you enjoy this module format with the discussions and projects?  Would you change anything, or add additional activities to this module?

State Standards:
Demonstrate an understanding of career opportunities and requirements in the field of digital design. The student will be able to: (29.0)

  • Discuss individual interests related to a career in digital design. (29.01)
  • Identify the skills required of a digital designer. (29.02)
  • Explore career opportunities in the field of digital design. (29.03)
  • Explore secondary and post-secondary educational opportunities related to digital design. (29.04)
  • Identify job search platforms. (29.05)

References:
Landa, R. (2019). Graphic Design Solutions (6th ed.). Boston: Cengage.

Instructional Design Framework:
This training is grounded on the BSCS 5E Model