Teenage Mind

Option A: What's on a Teenagers Mind

This project is designed to explore yourself and the infinite possiblities of what you can do with Photoshop. You will create an image of yourself, and through this image the viewer can read your mind. Your image will share your interests, desires, hopes, future outlook and/or current state of mind. Of course, everything on your mind is always appropriate for school, so make sure the image you create reflects school appropriate imagery.

For this project you will use the Graphic Design Process we learned about earlier this year. You will show evidence of doing some research in your sketchbook by writing down your ideas. You will make some thumbnails as well, showing how you can transform your ideas into images. Thumbnail sketches, as you may remember, are quick small drawings showing your compositional layout. Thumbnails do not need to be finished, fully rendered drawings.

In this project you will intentionally incorporate at least two elements of art and two principals of design. Choose your elements and principals in your research and incorporate these words into your research. Also incorporate these concepts into your thumbnail drawings. You will later explain the elements and principals you used and how you decided to use them. If it has been a while since you have reviewed the elements and principals of design you can start some research here.

Project Specifications and Requirements:
We will print these projects at Costco, therefore your project must be one of the following sizes:
8x10, 8x12, 11x14, or 12x18

Your design needs to incorporate a 1/4″ margin on all sides.

Resolution is 300dpi (Image->Image Size: Resolution)

Incorporate three new techniques you have learned from various tutorials into your own project.

Use two elements and principals of design, and explain how you incorporated them into your drawing and why.

Incorporate a close up or mid-shot of you (head and shoulders).

Avoid using copyrighted or trademarked images. Do not use logos. Create your own images, or if you must use someone else’s work, make sure you have use permissions to use the work through creative commons, fair use, or public domain.

Resources:

PSD Tuts Plus has hundreds of wonderful tutorials

Panoramic Tutorials:
Using the Photoshop Photomerge Function
Another Photomerge Tutorial

Using Texture Overlays:
Textures you can download
An easy to follow texture overlay tutorial
Adding Texture to Uneven Surfaces

Photo Retouching:
Beauty Retouching (Remove blemishes, brighten teeth, smooth skin, fabulous hair....you too can look like a movie star!)
More Glamor Photoshop Tutorials

Check out STEAM PUNK!
What is Steam Punk?

Photoshop Steam Punk with style

Option B: Advocacy Poster

Your assignment is to develop a viewpoint to represent one side of a current political, economic, or cultural issue that is present within the United States or involving the United States in the world today. You will advocate for your position with a poster that identifies the issue and establishes your viewpoint in order to persuade a select or general audience.

There has been a long history of visual propaganda, social protest, and political commentary in the mass media by political and social agitators and activists. Graphic designers, because of their visual training, possess the tools to create memorable images. They should be encouraged to take on a responsibility and use the skills for community and activist purposes to concieve and promote their awareness campaigns for the good of society.

Objectives:

Provide the opportunity to express your point of view on a critical issue or cause
To identify what angers you most about contemporary society and what you can do
To articulate a message in the form of persuasion or information in a simple and straightforward manner to a general audience.
Bring a side of a particular issue to public awareness and persuade people to support your views

Process:

Determine a current issue, cause, or crisis that you feel is particularly important and feel strongly about. It will help if you have passionate feelings about this issue to help motivate your involvement with the project.

After you have identified a general issue or topic you will want to pinpoint a specific aspect that you feel this project needs to address. Brainstorm in your sketchbook by creating lists, thought maps, to narrow down your topic and determine your audience.

After you have narrowed down your topic to a specific view point and target audience then begin to make thumbnail sketches. What images and words would you use to clearly and simply state your issue and viewpoint?

Option A: What's on a Teenagers Mind

Option B: Advocacy Poster

Objectives:

Process:

Suggested Topics: