Identifying Design Elements

Lesson Content

• Lesson Plan Template:

  CTE Lesson Plan

• CTE Course Info and Benchmark Notes

  
  

  Program Title (as applicable): Digital Design

  Course Title: Digital Design 1

  Course Number: 8209510

  Career Cluster: Arts, A/V Technology and Communication

  CIP Number: 0510030306

  Course Type: Career Preparatory

  CTE Standard(s) or benchmarks:

  • 23.01 Identify the elements of design (line, shape, mass, color, texture, etc.)
  • 23.02 Identify the principles of design (variety, movement, emphasis, balance, space, etc.)

• Unit Outline

  
  

  This lesson is designed to be used with the case study, “The Different Elements of Design.” See CPALMS resource ID#214654.

• Career Connection

  
  

  The lesson will help students develop career building skills of editing, design, and professionalism. This lesson helps students incorporate different editing skill sets that are crucial to a career as a photographer. It is important that they build this basic industry content knowledge before entering the workforce.

• Learning Objectives

  
  

  Students will be able to:

  • Identify the different elements of design implemented throughout a photograph.
  • Identify the principles of design in the context of a photograph.
  • Explain how changing these elements can influence the overall look and impact of a picture.

• Prior Knowledge

  
  

  Students should be familiar with/able to:

  • The idea of composition and how the different elements of such can impact how an image is perceived.
  • The different elements of design.
  • How design elements and composition can impact an image, and create an improved image.

• Guiding Questions

  
  
  • How do the elements of design impact an edited image?
  • How do the design elements of editing an image combine with other composition elements of the image?

• Procedure

  
  
  1. The teacher will introduce the lesson by presenting the concept and skill of learning the different elements of design. Begin by displaying one of the attached Family Photos (see Family Photo Options attachment; see Teacher Notes for more information) to the students. Ask student what elements of design they believe are present now in the photo. Provide students with the handout, Elements of Design Worksheet (see attachments). The worksheet will ask whether the image is balanced, what the emphasis is, the unity of the image, the contrast of the image, and the sense of movement within the image. Discuss the example family photo with students.
  2. For the activity, introduce and provide students with a copy of the case study, “The Different Elements of Design” (see CPALMS resource ID #214654). Students and teachers will read through the case study. Some open-ended questions to ask about the case study include:
     • Having to do with design elements, what do you notice about the portrait?
     • What elements do you think Callie should focus her edits on?
     • How can you use what you have learned to improve the portrait?
     • How do you think this family portrait can be improved through different elements of design?
     • What do you imagine Julius’ disappointment about the edits is?
  3. Next, students will be working to edit the family portrait talked about in the case study (also attached; see Teacher Notes for additional information). Students will be given an electronic copy of the family portrait from the case study to adjust. Using district provided software, have students make editing adjustments to the design elements based on the concepts in the case study. Discuss with students the Elements of Design Worksheet and the different elements to look for in the photo.
  4. Next, students will complete an analysis of a personal photo of their own that they have collected for this activity. This will be a photo that they have taken and will be working on individually. They will do the exact same thing that they did as a class with the family photo. It is important that they can identify the different elements of design on their own, and how that impacts the photo. Students will also complete the attached Elements of Design Worksheet as part of the assignment to edit their own photo. The directions for the worksheet are listed on the handout.
  5. The students will then pretend that they are an editing assistant for a photographer, just as Callie is in the case study. Students will construct a professional email to the photographer with all the edits that were made to their photo, and the instructions for what can further be improved. These letters should incorporate an understanding of how the editing influenced the look and impact of the photo.
     • Students should write as though they are in a professional business setting, following the proper grammar, punctuation, and capitalization necessary for formal emails. Encourage students to use spell check.
  6. The teacher can assist the students in organizing the knowledge gained in the lesson by assisting them in identifying the different types of design. Each element of design has distinct characteristics that can assist in developing knowledge surrounding that specific element.
  7. The teacher will then wrap up the lesson with an exit ticket: “Which design element do you think was most impactful?” and "How can this be applied in your future career?"

• Teacher Notes

  
  
  • Teachers can use any of the attached options for the family photo to go with the case study. Alternatively, teachers can select a personal family photo or use the internet to locate an example family photo specific elements that the teacher wants to address within the lesson.

• Optional

  
  

  Summative Assessment:

  A 5 question quiz on the elements of design:

  1. What is a 'line' in design and how can that impact an overall picture?
  2. How can 'unity' impact the overall outcome of a picture and bring it together?
  3. Name 5 different patterns that you have seen used in different photographs.
  4. What do you think of when you think of 'value' in terms of photographs?
  5. How does 'space' have the ability to impact the overall photo?