Teaching Design: Introduction to Computer Graphics

At the conclusion of my second year teaching in the Visual Communication program at Prince George's Community College I can say I look forward to a long career teaching Design.

The rewards of building course content that provides an appropriate mix of information, instruction and inspiration through well thought out projects is in itself rewarding. The hope was that the students while learning, would also find their unique creative voice over the course of the semester.

Intro. to Computer Graphics is an entry level course in Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign. My goal with the course is to provide the appropriate balance between teaching design principals and software instruction that would allow the students to embrace the course assignments and produce meaningful (to the student) graphic products using the computer.


Assignment I (using Photoshop)
Create a Postcard using three elements: an image, text and a background.














Assignment II (using Illustrator) Create a color wheel organizing the colors to reflect the relationships between the primary, secondary and tertiary colors.


















Assignment III (using InDesign)
Create a multi-page brochure for a specific audience whose text content is the U.S. Constitution, two images manipulated in Photoshop and two objects created in Illustrator.

Design History: Harry Bertoia

I recently stumbled on this wire-framed side chair by Harry Bertoia in a local store that resales mid-century future.

The appeal was immediate and has led to the discovery of an artist/designer who introduced a series of welded steel chairs in 1950's. These chairs where all the rage at the time, for their visual lightness the result of its lattice structure. So if the consignee reduces the price slightly I have the perfect spot for a pair of the side chairs in my home.

Bertoia's Biography

A Gift Idea with a Purpose

Home Depot has introduced its first product offering on its private label - Orange. The award winning home fire extinguisher ($25) is my choice for a holiday or house warming gift (pun intended).

NY Times Article

Video: Design will be Human Centered

David Kelley, founder of IDEO, a leading design consulantcy discussed in 2002 where he thought would be heading.


Ted Talks Video

Book: Design - Intelligence Made Visible

I love the title of this book, it acknowledges an often over looked part of successful design solutions - the cognitive effort that is required of the designer.

The Authors Profiled

Graduate Education: Preparing Designers for Jobs that Don’t Exist (Yet)

Anne Burdick, looks at the condunrum of graduate design programs and the world in which design graduates enter into.

"While the profession has never been static, it seems like old news to report that the rate of change is increasing exponentially. Studio-based degrees such as the BFA and MFA have always involved learning how to design in addition to learning a specific body of knowledge. And for many years, professional categories such as graphic design or product design have defined what to design. But now both the how and the what changes daily."

The Complete Essay

DMI Article