Creativity Comes To Life

Creativity+Comes+To+Life

Have you ever wanted to Photoshop your favorite celebrity next to you in a photo or design your very own magazine cover? You can do all that and more by choosing the Communications Technology class here at school, also known as Graphic Design.

In early 2014, Ms. Idania Diaz replaced former photography teacher Mr. Rodriguez and introduced students to graphic design, which is the art of communicating using texts and images. It is offered at 4 different levels: 3 classes of level 1, 2 of level 2, 1 of level 3 and 2 of level 4 (internship), one of them being mixed in with her new yearbook class and the other with one of her level 1 classes.

Since Ms. Diaz’s arrival, much has changed. What was known as the photography class has become an environment where students are exposed to countless computer programs such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. Besides mastering computer applications, students learn about typography and how to use Mac computers, digital cameras, a button maker, and a heat press to make t-shirts.
“Another difference is that for the Youth Fair, we enter graphic design projects while with Mr. Rodriguez, it was photographs,” said Ms. Diaz. Last Youth Fair, students sent in magazine covers, magazine advertisements, and DVD case designs they created using Photoshop.

Just because there are more design elements in the class does not mean the Nikon cameras have been locked away. Photography is a huge part of the class; students last year also sent in their own black-and-white and color photographs to the Youth Fair.

Taking photographs is a favorite among many of the graphics students. “I like going outside and taking pictures and fixing them on Photoshop,” said level 2 student and senior Frank Labori.

Level 4 student and senior Ingris Rosales said, “I like photography and taking pictures. You learn to use Photoshop and notice more details when editing.”

The students take the class for different reasons. Level 4 student and senior Luz Cuero would like to be a computer or electrical engineer, so she felt that taking a computer class would do her well for the future.

Ashley Muñoz, level 4 student and senior, said, “I chose the class because I’ve always loved photography and learning new ways to edit and enhance the photos.”

Magazine boardStudents enjoy different things about the class. Senior and level 4 student Michelle Rodriguez likes the independence Ms. Diaz gives to her students. She said, “It’s all very hands on, allowing us to explore more on our own.”

Ashley Muñoz likes being able to use her creativity to express herself.

The class, however, is not all fun and games. Ingris Rosales said learning to use the camera at first was hard but now she’s gotten used to it.

For Michelle Rodriguez, “The hardest parts are meeting deadlines and having a creative block simply because you want your work to meet Ms. Diaz’s expectations so you push yourself further.”

Students are learning a lot in graphic design class. “I’ve learned to use the Mac computers and how to adjust Nikon cameras to use them to my liking,” said Ashley Muñoz. Luz Cuero recently learned to use the heat press to create T-shirts. Michelle Rodriguez became certified in Photoshop with help from Ms. Diaz and is hopeful about becoming certified in InDesign.

The graphics class is open to any student from any grade level, said Ms. Diaz, and there are no prerequisites other than the drive to create.


 

Can you find these words mentioned in the story above?

 

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