Digital Collections

Lesson Background

Graphic design touches many areas of our culture. This exercise is meant to introduce the students to graphic design around us.

Part A : Divide into groups and visit each of the following Web pages from the SchoolNet Digital Collections. For each of the pages, answer the questions below. There is no need to go any further in the page than what comes up after following each link. You are simply looking at the initial graphic design or layout.

• Which words catch your eye first?
• Which images catch your eye first?
• Why is your eye drawn to these words and images?
• What is the design or image trying to communicate to you?
• Does the design or image have any unique features that you really like?

Ten SchoolNet Digital Collections

1. Canada's Prime Ministers
2. Collège Joliette: 150 ans d'éducation
3. Clercs de Saint-Viateur -- La foi dans l'art
4. Glenn Gould Archive
5. Attestation Papers: Canadian Expeditionary Force
6. Agriculture for your Classroom
7. En Coulisse
8. Canada's Aquatic Environments
9. Canadian Public Parks Movement: The Hamilton Experience
10. Celtic Music
11. Five Ancient Cultures of the Northern Peninsula

Part B : Give the class an opportunity to discuss some of the ads that were looked at. Make a list of what the students think is important when considering graphic design.

Add to the list in Part B the following items to consider in graphic design.

1. What are you trying to communicate?
2. What do you want to be seen first?
3. What response would you like the design to prompt?
4. Is there a logo to be included?
5. What is the most important element in the layout?
6. Who is your target audience?
7. How have other people done in graphic design along the same theme that you are working with?