Visual Communication and Graphic Design: Create Engaging Content!

Purpose & objective

We all experience design everyday. Good visual design can communicate powerful messages, but it is often overlooked in teacher professional learning. In this workshop, we will explore visual design and communication in the classroom. Attendees will learn strategies for teaching empathy & designing for authentic users, and will engage in activities to learn basic visual design concepts like color, typography, & layout. Attendees will walk away with design skills to put into practice right away, and resources to integrate design into their instruction.

Attendees will understand the best practices of visual communication and visual design, and how to put them into practice

Attendees will develop a design process, and learn how to apply the elements of visual design to their work

Attendees will learn digital tools and skills to incorporate design into their instruction

Session attendees will:
-Learn the concepts of design - type, color, and layout
-Learn the Design Best Practices
-Understand how design concepts and best practices can tell stories or convey messages when used effectively
-Develop their own design process that fits their needs
-Engage in hands-on Design Challenges to practice new skills
-Interact with the content through a shared digital workbook
-Gain strategies and resources to challenge students to think like designers

Outline

Content to be presented:
-Layout - layout for presentations, apps, websites, social media graphics, etc.
-Color - Color Theory, using color to tell a story, choosing color palettes, digital color tools
-Typography - Intro to Typography, type families, creating custom type pairings
-Using simple tech tools to create well-designed graphics
-Accessibility - designing for ALL audiences

Outline:
15% : Visual Communication and Design - what is “good design,” why is design important, and how can design enhance our communication skills
15% : Layout - identifying your audience, developing layout using design rules
15% : Color - color theory, color stories, developing powerful color palettes, digital color tools
15% : Typography - how to pair typefaces to convey a message
40% : Putting it all together, strategies for teaching design to students

Process:
Session attendees will be provided with a digital workbook. Throughout the lesson, various concepts will be introduced and taught by the presenter, and discussed by the group. Several small design challenges will allow attendees to practice the new content and skills with the support of the presenter.

Supporting research

https://www.aiga.org/where-is-design-in-the-K12-curriculum/

https://designschool.canva.com/tutorials/

http://www.designthinkingforeducators.com/

Couros, George. The Innovator's Mindset: Empower Learning, Unleash Talent, and Lead a Culture of Creativity. San Diego: Dave Burgess Consulting, 2015. Print.