From commercials to websites, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a product that hasn’t passed through the hands of graphic designers. Since 1999, computer graphics teacher Patrick Quigley and former art teacher Rob Stuart have taught students how to make eye-catching, intentional design choices in Northwood’s Media Center.
The computer graphics pathway features four levels, which must be completed in order: Introduction to Computer Graphic Design, Intermediate Computer Graphics, Advanced Computer Graphics, and 3D Design and Animation.
The first two courses teach the basics of website and video creation, familiarizing students with photo-editing app Adobe Photoshop and audio-editing apps Audacity and Flash. In these courses, students learn to create their own movie posters, magazine covers and commercial advertisements.
“The first few projects we did [in Introduction to Computer Graphic Design] were in Photoshop when we were learning how to use the program. We did a little combo drawing where you had to put one element of a picture onto a different picture, so I did a goldfish in a droplet of water,” 3D Design and Animation senior Cailen Muncy said. “I thought that was really funny. I thought the class was really intriguing.”
Advanced Computer Graphics gives students more creative freedom in project choice, with homes and video game characters among the most popular.
Advanced 3D Design and Animation allows students to choose their own yearlong capstone project. This includes 3D drones and video game design.
“We did house designing,” Advanced Computer Graphics senior Jessy Elias said. “We had to design the exterior, the landscape and the interior. We learned about different models and about the California laws of certain homes as well.”
Over the years, the class has continued adapting to new software. Computer graphics began as a hands-off, textbook-based course; now, students have access to tools that allow for real-life applications of computer graphics skills.
“I do a lot of 3D modeling and computer design in my free time. I volunteer at Foothill High School. I make the posters for their theater department,” Muncy said. “So I do a lot of graphic design outside of school, not just for school. It definitely helps me with my industry skills.”
The classes within the computer graphics pathway fulfill Fine Arts requirements and are open-enrollment. Since all computer graphics courses are aligned with the Irvine Valley College curricula, students may be able to earn course credit for IVC’s technology department. For any additional questions, students may contact Quigley at [email protected].
“I didn’t think I was going to use [computer graphics] much,” Elias said. “But I’ve used it for so many projects, whether it’s for my potential career or just an assignment. I’ve used it for everything.”
