• Reading assignments should be completed prior to class discussion.
• A portfolio of assignments will be kept by each student. The instructor will approve a project for portfolio, or will critique it and return it for revision. Only those assignments approved for portfolio by the instructor will be accepted.
• Due to the hands-on nature of the subject matter, class attendance is critical.
• Sharing of ideas and a work-group atmosphere will be encouraged. However, each student is expected to do his or her own work on assignments and projects.
• Class time will be allotted for work on individual assignments. However, work outside of the class period may be required.
Over a student’s four years in our program, they will have the opportunity to complete nine levels of the Commercial Art curriculum that are reflections of the state standards set by the Florida Department of Education.
CA1 & 2
When a student enters into our program, usually as a freshman, they will be assigned to our Commercial Art levels 1 and 2. These levels focus on the development of basic drawing skills, illustrations, perspective, color theory, art history, and an array of artistic topics and terms. This will result in the student’s introduction to the Adobe design software called Adobe Illustrator. Adobe Illustrator is a program used by both artists and graphic designers to create vector images. These images will then be used for company logos, promotional work or even personal projects, both in print and digital form.
CA3 & 4
In a student’s second year in our program (sophomore year); they advance on to levels 3 and 4. CA3 will enhance a students ability to create, not only using Adobe Illustrator but also introduce them to the industry standard design and layout program Adobe InDesign. Adobe InDesign is a desktop publishing software application produced by Adobe Systems. It can be used to create works such as posters, flyers, brochures, magazines, newspapers, and books. InDesign can also publish content suitable for tablet devices in conjunction with Adobe Digital Publishing Suite. Before the year ends, the students are finally introduced to Adobe Photoshop. Students are taught the basics on how to navigate and control the program. Just like any artist’s pencils, paint brush, or palettes; Photoshop lives in a realm of wondrous possibilities for creatives. The app speaks for itself.
CA4 focuses on illustration from traditional to digital. Pencil, Pen and Ink, and color, play a major role during this course but we then also show tips and techniques to photograph or scan the hand drawn illustrations and begin to work with them in the digital design programs.
CA5 & 6
Normally these are our third year students. In CA5 we begin to dive into attributes of design in relation to advertising, logo/brand identity and how illustration and photography can make or break a design. CA6 is our photography course. It is one thing to take a photo with a point and shoot device but the world of photography is much more. F-Stop, Shutter Speed, ISO, Manual Mode, Rule of Thirds; these are just a few terms we delve into. Our CA5/6 students are also given the opportunity to become certified in Adobe Illustrator.
CA7, 8, 9
By the time a student reaches these senior levels courses, all of the foundation has been laid to encourage our students to begin developing and designing their portfolios. Real world assignments are given with deadlines that mirror the industry. Live critiques happen to engage our students to evaluate their work before finalizing the piece into their portfolio. Students are tasked to work in groups on certain assignments to concept, create, and present projects and/or ideas that target the objectives given. Our seniors are encouraged to think outside the box on all assignments, with the hopes that they execute an amazing portfolio upon graduation.