Digital Art & Design (aka DAAD) Level 1 is an introductory course that will prepare students for careers in the world of design and the printing industry. There are no prerequisites for this course. Through the course, students will learn how to create designs on the computer utilizing  Adobe Illustrator in our state of the art mac lab. Our focus is to create a solid base knowledge of the tools in this software and basic design principles. We will also begin working a little in Adobe Photoshop towards the end of the semester. 

 

In this class, students will learn how to take a design problem and formulate a solution with an emphasis on applying the design principles. Once given the design problem, students will then research the problem on the web, discuss with others, and look at various forms of literature followed by creating some foundational sketches. From this point, the solution will be created and prepared using the various software and the latest computer techniques. 

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Students will also get a chance to print their designs in our DAAD Print shop. Things students can expect to print in level 1: Buttons/pins, stickers, notepads, and t-shirts.

Digital Art & Design level 2 takes things up a notch with added design software and a client work element to our design work.  The prerequisite for this course is successfully completing level 1. This course will build on the skills learned in level 1, so it is important students were successful in that course as this course will move at a faster pace building on the foundations learned in level 1. We hit the ground running week one with client work for Homecoming!

 

The focus of Level II DAAD is improving our design skills, adding additional design software knowledge, and implementing work with clients.  Through the course, students will become more proficient at designing  in Adobe Illustrator. We will also add in much more Adobe Photoshop and Adobe InDesign knowledge to our design application skillset. Students will be working with live clients throughout this course. In level 2, we have a strong emphasis on doing real world application, producing what we create, and meeting the needs of a client.

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Some things students can anticipate creating: Homecoming t-shirt designs, Homecoming brochure designs, play posters for the theater department, and various designs for athletics.

 ** NEW! Level 3 DAAD Course is comprised of 2 college courses hosted through York Technical College.'s Dual Credit Program. Both classes will be taught on the CRHS campus by Carly Pierce and the cost for CRHS students is free.

 

The prerequisite for this course is successfully completing level 1 and 2 DAAD. This course will build on the skills learned in the previous levels, so it is important students were successful in both courses as level 3 will be more intense and move at a faster pace, building on the foundations and skills learned in level 1 and 2.

 

Level 3 is 1 semester long and will be divided into two sections:

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ARV 123 Composition & Color

• This course covers the investigation and application of principles and concepts of visual organization and the psychological and physical properties of color.

• Academic Level: Undergraduate

• College Credits: 3

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ARV 205: Graphic Illustration

• This course covers the tools and techniques used to create graphic illustrations for various types of print advertising.

• Academic Level: Undergraduate

• College Credits: 3

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Students will take both of these classes in ONE BLOCK and receive 2 high school credits (1 for each class) on the AP/DC 6.00 GPA scale on their Catawba Ridge transcript, plus 6 college credits (3 credits for each class) on their York Technical College transcript.

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 Level 4 is our highest and final course offered in DAAD. Students have a chance to experience the real world of the design industry prior to graduating and starting college or joining the workforce in this course. Students will be exposed to a greater level of rigor and deeper understanding of course content. 

 

The prerequisite for this course is successfully completing level 1, 2 and 3 DAAD, and students must be a senior. This course will build on the skills learned in the previous levels and will work with clients, so it is important students were successful in both courses. If you would like to be considered for the honors level credit, you must also submit a web portfolio of your design work for review by the instructor and possible internship sites prior to the start of the semester.

 

There are two options for level 4:

OPTION 1.  The CP level 4 option will take place on campus working with clients. This is overseen by Mrs. Pierce in the DAAD classroom. Clients may include athletic coaches/programs, the school store, administration, and other clubs and academic programs needing design work.

OPTION 2.  The honors level 4 option will be working as a design intern off campus. Spaces are very limited so web portfolios will be used to review the candidates and choose the top students for each site.  This will be accomplished by requiring students to prepare  a Capstone Project that includes building a professional online presence with a Linked-in Profile and website showcasing student design work, reaching out to design agencies to review their resume and design work and concluding with interviewing for their design internship prior to beginning their work on site with a company.