Updated May 2020 Overview After I moved to Florida, I taught my graphic design class at Lasell College remotely for the first time. It took a lot of discussion, thought, and research into videoconferencing tools. During the previous year, I completed Lasell's professional development course on online teaching and got my certification. Teaching online doesn’t involve regular face-to-face interactions that adhere to a traditional schedule. Students can do the classwork on their own time, … [Read more...] about Free Video Conferencing Tools for Remote Teaching
Teaching
Environmental Campaign Project 2018
This semester's Graphic Design 2 class began with an assignment to design new campaign materials for an environmental group. In this project, we explored ways to educate and alert people about the many environmental concerns that our planet currently faces. Students chose one environmental issue that they care about. Options included global warming, air pollution, water pollution, land pollution, climate change, deforestation, genetic modification, marine life, public health, … [Read more...] about Environmental Campaign Project 2018
Multiple Page Sizes in a Single InDesign Document
It's fairly common for a project to have many components, each one a different size. Maybe it's a branding project with a logo, letterhead, business card, envelope, poster, t-shirt, and brochure. Maybe it's a book jacket with 2 flaps, a spine, and back and front cover. One approach is to create a new InDesign document for every separate piece. I would certainly do that for multi-page files like brochures and books. For one-page items, though, you could use another approach: create different page … [Read more...] about Multiple Page Sizes in a Single InDesign Document
The Snowball Effect in Florida: Upgrading to High Sierra
Yes, you can have a snowball effect in sunny Florida! I know this because it happened to me this week. What started as a simple need to install a software program gradually grew into a larger, more complex series of events. Applications and System Requirements I am teaching my Graphic Design 2 class remotely this semester. That's because my students are in Newton, Massachusetts and I now live in Florida. One of the more promising tools I was considering for video conferencing—Skype for … [Read more...] about The Snowball Effect in Florida: Upgrading to High Sierra
Distracted Driving Project 2017
I like to begin the school year with a socially relevant assignment in my Graphic Design 2 class. Last year’s distracted driving project provided a great forum for addressing a subject that touches all of us, so I assigned it again this year. At first, the students approached the assignment with some apprehension, partly because of the seriousness of the subject. But they analyzed the problem well and designed with unique perspectives that focused on the best ways to reach their target … [Read more...] about Distracted Driving Project 2017
Changing Image Opacity in Photoshop
There are times when you need to ghost back an image so that text can be read when placed on top of it or perhaps even another image can be seen below it. Reducing the opacity moves the image in a 2-dimensional space to the middle-ground or background. It also increases the transparency and enables us to see what lies underneath. There are a couple of simple ways to reduce opacity in Photoshop and the steps are outlined below. Option #1 - Opacity Setting Open the file in Photoshop. Make … [Read more...] about Changing Image Opacity in Photoshop
Create a Seamless Pattern in Adobe Illustrator
I love patterns! There are so many applications for them: website backgrounds and headers, books, posters, CD packages, wrapping paper, iPhone cases, fabric, and more. It's fun making them, too. My tool of choice is Adobe Illustrator and here's how I do it. Create a new document. The dimensions should be square. I usually make mine 600 x 600 pixels. The edges represent the seam. Place your objects around the edges of the square so that part of the object is visible inside the square and … [Read more...] about Create a Seamless Pattern in Adobe Illustrator
Distracted Driving Project 2016
Our first project for my Graphic Design 2 class last semester (fall 2016) was a Distracted Driving Campaign. This is a subject that touches all of us, and I was really impressed with the students' level of commitment and analytical thought in tackling the project. We had good discussions about our own experiences and all of the ways a person could be distracted while driving. Foremost on our list was texting and use of a cell phone. Also included on our list: drinking, drugs, too much talking, … [Read more...] about Distracted Driving Project 2016