EVALUATION

Formative Assessments – 50% of Grade

Formative assessments support technical growth, creative development, and preparation for larger projects. These may include:

• Studio Starts and warm-ups

• Adobe skill lessons

• Software exercises

• Sketches, scripts, and storyboards

• Design and media analysis

• Certification practice

• Project checkpoints

• Critiques and peer feedback

• Employability habits and studio participation

• File management and production preparation

 

Summative Assessments – 50% of Grade

Summative assessments allow students to demonstrate their ability to apply creative and technical skills more independently. These may include:

• Graphic design and illustration projects

• Animation and video projects

• Print and multimedia productions

• Unit assessments and quizzes

• Formal writing and reflections

• Presentations and critiques

• Portfolio submissions

 

COURSE OUTLINE

Professional Workflow and Adobe Skills

Students strengthen the organizational and technical practices used by artists and media professionals. They organize project folders, follow file-naming conventions, manage layers and media assets, maintain working and exported versions, and select appropriate settings for digital, print, animation, and video projects.

 

Photoshop and Illustrator skills are reinforced throughout the course as students begin structured preparation for Adobe Certified Professional certification.

 

Logo and Vector Design

Students use Adobe Illustrator to explore how symbols, shapes, typography, and color communicate identity. Projects and lessons may include:

• Logo sketches

• Symbols and wordmarks

• Shape constructionIcons

• Color palettes

• Typography

• Vector artwork

• Alternate logo arrangements

• Digital and print-ready exports

Students learn to create designs that remain clear, recognizable, and scalable across different applications.

 

Visual Storytelling, Preproduction & Production

Before beginning animation and video projects, students learn how media artists plan ideas and guide an audience through a story. Areas of study include:

• Principles and types of animation

• Camera shots and angles

• Composition

• Story structure

• Storyboarding

• Scriptwriting

• Timing and pacing

• Character and environment development

• Copyright and responsible media use

• Animation and Motion Design

• Animation Principles

Students use Adobe Animate to bring original ideas, illustrations, characters, and typography to life. Students gain experience with:

• Frames and keyframes

• Timeline organization

• Symbols and instances

• Classic, motion, and shape tweens

• Motion paths

• Masks

• Parenting and character rigging

• Frame-by-frame animation

• Timing and easing

• Lip syncing

• Audio synchronization

• Publishing and exporting

Projects may include animation challenges, animated logos, kinetic typography, movie introductions, animated art galleries, and original character animations.

 

Character Design and Digital Illustration

Original art remains central to the animation process. Students use Photoshop, Illustrator, and Wacom pen displays to develop characters, props, backgrounds, and other visual assets. Students explore:

• Character construction

• Shape language

• Line quality

• Poses and expressions

• Color palettes

• Layered character preparation

• Digital painting

• Vector illustration

• Environment design

• Visual storytelling

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Video Production and Editing

Students use Adobe Premiere Pro to organize, edit, and export video projects. They progress from guided editing exercises to original multimedia productions. Students learn about:

• Project and sequence setup

• Media organization

• Timeline editing

• Trimming and arranging clips

• Transitions

• Titles and graphics

• Keyframed motion

• Visual effects

• Audio levels

• Music synchronization

• Pacing

• Credits

• Export settings

Projects may include theme videos, inspirational videos, promotional pieces, tutorials, and short narrative productions.

 

Voice-Over and Audio Production

Adobe Audition is incorporated when students need to record, edit, improve, or mix sound for animation and video.Students may learn to:

• Record narration and dialogue

• Edit voice-over recordings

• Adjust volume and clarity

• Combine voice, music, and sound effects

• Apply fades

• Synchronize sound with visual media

• Export audio appropriately

• Credit audio resources

 

Graphic Design and Print Production

Students apply typography, hierarchy, color, composition, and audience awareness to print and digital communication.Projects may include:

• Holiday or special-occasion cards

• Posters

• Cover designs

• Promotional graphics

• Awareness campaigns

• Social-media adaptations

• Printed products

Students learn to create documents at the correct dimensions, select appropriate resolution and color settings, prepare bleeds and safe areas, export print-ready files, inspect proofs, and apply quality-control procedures.

 

Society and the World

Students examine current issues and social themes before creating original artwork or an awareness campaign that communicates a purposeful message.Students combine research, writing, imagery, and typography while considering:

• Audience

• Message

• Visual hierarchy

• Color and mood

• Ethical image use

• Credible sources

• Calls to action

• Social responsibility

This project allows students to use art and graphic design as tools for communication and meaningful expression.

 

Critique, Reflection and Portfolio Development

Throughout the semester, students work in a collaborative studio where they:

• Share ideas and works in progress

• Give and receive constructive feedback

• Revise and improve their work

• Explain creative and technical decisions

• Manage deadlines and production responsibilities

• Select completed work for a developing portfolio

• Connect classroom skills to creative careers

 

By the end of Level 2, students will have experience combining art, design, animation, video, sound, and production. They will be prepared to enter Level 3 as more independent creators who can apply their skills across multiple forms of visual communication.