High Desert Education Service District - Office of Career and Technical Education

High Desert Education Service District - Office of Career and Technical Education

Learning Standards for the Graphic Design and Media Program of Study

(The following list was created/edited by teachers at the secondary and post-secondary level in conjunction with local industry partners. These learning standards represent the common core that all teachers in the region will be responsible for teaching during the entire high school program of study.)

A Demonstrate Safety Procedures and Practices

A1Identify lab policies and procedures.

A2Identify lab equipment.

A3Identify procedure for classroom emergencies.

A4Demonstrate safety procedures used in digital art and design program including safe body

mechanics and ergonomics.

A5Identify all fire exits.

A6Demonstrate proper workspace cleaning procedures.

B Demonstrating Basic Skills and Media Exposure

B1Create line drawings.

B2Design compositions.

B3Render artwork using pencil.

B4Construct a color chart for color theory and harmony.

B5Create thumbnails and rough sketches.

B6Select typeface size, style, paragraph, and character attributes such as leading and kerning.

B7Prepare photos and artwork for reproduction.

B8Prepare compositional layout.

B9Prepare electronic proofs.

B10Identify various printing processes.

CDemonstrating pre-production practices

C1Explain skills used and the importance of skills used when meeting with clients.

C2List practices used to schedule project workflow.

C3State the importance of obtaining approval/sign-off.

C4Identify stages of concept development.

C5Maintain an ongoing sketch book/notebook.

C6Construct and copy layouts

C7Identify various forms and styles of typography.

C8Describe different types of brainstorming activities and how to manage them.

C9Explain color theory as it applies to design: additive, subtractive, CMYK, RGB, and Web safe.

C10Demonstrate appropriate use of space (positive vs. negative; size and proportion).

C11Define principles of design: line, shape, form, space, texture, value, and color.

C12Define elements of design: repetition, rhythm, variety, balance, emphasis, economy, and

proportion.

C13Produce draft quality drawings, including thumbnail drawings and rough sketches.

C14Produce a comprehensive layout in full color.

C15Describe considerations necessary for both print and projection.

C16Develop, assemble, and maintain a personal portfolio for presentation.

DDemonstrating production practices

D1List criteria the professional should follow when making final adjustments.

D2Create original production pieces and elements of style and design. ,

D3Demonstrate procedures to prepare work for presentation (mounting and craftsmanship and/or

projection).

D4List criteria upon which to analyze and critique a product.

D5Implement and accept critique.

EDescribing and applying photographic principles

E1Distinguish between digital and conventional photography.

E2Utilize design elements in photography composition.

FCreating a document layout using industry standard design software

F1Define units of measure and proper uses of each.

F2Utilize units of measure (points, pixels, and/or inches).

F3Import copy from a word processing program into a page layout program and format text for

print and/or projection.

F4Create multiple page documents using master pages and style sheets.

F5Determine appropriate size, resolution, and format, then place graphics into a document.

F6Save work to removable storage device.

F7Describe pre-flight operations for print separations with printer marks.

F8Understand and prepare pre-press printing files for both PMS spot color and CMYK process

printing.

F9Save document in a variety of appropriate formats (PDF).

F10Explain the benefits of file extensions that are compatible with current software and appropriate

for documents and their settings.

F11State and identify file transfer protocol (FTP).

GEditing digital images using industry standard software

G1Scan images from different sources for a variety of uses.

G2Define resolution and its relationship to file size and image size.

G3Use proper settings when choosing line-art, gray-scal, and color scanning.

G4Define RGB versus CMYK image modes and their usage.

G5Demonstrate proficiency with photo editing tools, options, and palettes.

G6Retouch, modify, and correct images.

G7Improve photo composition and focal points.

G8Improve the color and tonal balance of an image.

G9Demonstrate techniques of layer management.

G10Define masks and channels and demonstrate techniques for using them in an image.

G11Define raster file formats and their qualities.

G12Integrate type into a digital image.

G13Create a clipping path.

G14Explain how to save an original file with layers for future editing.

G15Prepare an image for offset printing.

G16Optimize an image for projection.

HCreating vector images using current industry-standard software

H1Define vector graphics.

H2Create a vector illustration using an electronic drawing program.

H3Set text into the artwork as a design element.

H4Set type on a path and within a shape.

H5Create outlines.

H6Use image creation tools, options, and pallets.

H7Select colors from color swatch libraries.

H8Apply patterns and gradients.

H9Apply layer management.

H10Apply proper settings when saving or exporting graphics.

H11Demonstrate proficiency in combining vector and raster images.

H12Import a raster image and trace over it using template and drawing layers.

H13Create basic shapes, triangles, boxes, circles, etc.

H14Draw using the pen tool.

H15Fill objects in an image using painting tools.

H16Transform objects by scaling and rotating.

H17Apply attributes, styles, and effects.

H18Assign, with design principles in mind, pantone colors, blends, gradients, and effects to create a

unified vector image.

IDesigning and laying out web sites

I1Analyze existing Web sites for style, content and purpose..

I2Compare and contrast preferred formats for various page elements.

I3Analyze and design Web sites for aesthetic appeal.

I4Create a basic site architecture.

I5Plan a Web page design with thumbnail sketches, rough layouts, and site map.

I6Create a functional and aesthetic interface.

I7Organize, and collect images and content for Web site design.

I8Create consistency between Web design and existing marketing materials.

I9Describe the delivery of prototype to client and receipt of feedback from client.

I10Define file management and illustrate examples of root/folder management.

I11Execute final Web pages from a Web authoring program.

I12Manage various asset folders.

I13Optimize photos and illustrations for web design.

I14Identify Web color and resolution (monitor, browser-safe, hybrid safe, and Web safe).

I15Create components to be used on a Web page (rollovers, buttons, banners, etc.).

JDefining computer platform and operations systems

J1Compare the basic computer platforms.

J2Perform basic troubleshooting skills and procedures.

J3Create and manage files and folders.

J4Understand and describe local and network drives and storage.

J5Save, retrieve, load, format, import data into, and export a variety of electronic documents (word

processing, spreadsheet, database, and design software).

J6Demonstrate the proper use of a variety of external peripherals and how they connect to a

computer.

J7Demonstrate proper use of electronic proofreading tools and explain reasons the tools cannot be

relied upon solely.

KDevelop employability skills to secure and keep employment in a design field

K1Identify industries, organizations, and careers that require design skills.

K2Create professional cover letters, resumes, and portfolios in a variety of formats (print and

electronic).

LRecognizing legal requirements and ethical considerations in the design field

L1Define accessibility laws and accommodations related to Web site design.

L2Identify laws that regulate businesses and organizations in the design field.

L3Define the requirements of and protections given by copyright and trademark laws.

L4Define the impact of the Americans with Disabilities Act and other civil rights legislation on a

business/organization, its employees, and its customers.

L5Define ethical business practices for the design field.

L6Define plagiarism.

L7Define differences between classroom and professional practices in regard to copyrights.

L8Summarize rights and responsibilities in the school’s Acceptable Use Policy.

L9Discuss the concerns about electronic communications, privacy, and security, including

protection from spy ware and viruses.

L10Explain how to evaluate electronic sources of information.

High Desert ESD, June 2011