Environment Awareness Poster Design

ALL graphic design products are designed to send a message to an audience. Some of those messages like Awareness Posters that try to raise the awareness of these issues and get sometimes to get individuals to do something (donate to a cause) or even get involved.
 
Directions/Project Objectives
Create a poster using Photoshop that illustrates (conveys a message) a current environmental issue (planet earth) using images and text.
  • Pollution
  • Energy Conservation
  • Recycling
  • Global Warming - Climate Change

Create a graphic design poster that demonstrates:
  1. Integration of text and image
  2. Use of composition, color, shape, line, space, emphasis, balance, & contrast
  3. Clarity of message on topic

Project Vocabulary
Ad campaign, graphic designer, design brief, posters, symbols, composition, color, shape, form, line, space, emphasis, balance, contrast

BE ABLE TO DO (skills of literacy, numeracy, communication, thinking, planning, production, etc.; start with a verb such as: describe, explain, show, compare, synthesize, analyze, apply, construct, or solve.) 

Students will be able to: 
  • Explain the purpose of a poster
  • Brainstorm ideas
  • Explain how designers get their messages across
  • Use a word map to generate ideas
  • Create a phrase that communicates an idea
  • Research specific issues relating to Planet Earth
  • Recognize the differences in type (lettering styles)
  • Work in teams to analyze their work
  • Design a poster that communicates a message about a current issue, i.e. Planet Earth
  • Participate in a critique
  • Write a paragraph selecting one poster that successfully accomplishes its purpose and explain why you selected it

UNDERSTAND (big ideas, principles, generalizations, rules, and the “point” of the discipline or topic within the discipline.)

Students should understand that...
  • Posters communicate messages through expressive qualities of composition, placement, and orientation of letters
  • Simple shapes can become symbols that are easy to recognize
  • Different styles of lettering communicate a wide variety of ideas
  • Emphasis is an important principle of design
  • Color is an important element in creating a specific mood or feeling.
  • Designers brainstorm ideas and experiment with sketches before selecting the final ones

Project Timeline: 4-6 days

This project should take at least 4 days if done correctly. Any student that rushes thru quickly will have to redo the assignment until it is done to a satisfactory level. See examples on this page of what I'm looking for you to develop. Your projects should resemble these.

STEP 1

Select a current environmental issue impacting planet earth to use for your poster. Research this topic and brainstorm ideas, and visuals that could be used (make a list or word map) on the following Google doc. Develop slogans or find slogans (sayings about your topic) and write these down as well. Print this out, and get your ideas approved by me, before staring the next step. 
THIS WILL BE TURNED IN FOR 25 POINTS!

STEP 2

Find photos (Large photos using Flickr > Advanced Search or thru Google ADVANCED Image Search, or even take them yourself using your camera phone or a digital camera. Save these to your Google Drive folder or to the computer.

Additionally you may use the following sites for photos:

HERE ARE THE STOCK SITES YOU MAY USE FOR THIS PROJECT.

STEP 3

Create a New document in Photoshop at 11 X 15 inches at 240 ppi.

STEP 4

Begin developing ideas on the computer using Photoshop based off of your initial Brainstorming Google doc from Step 1 that has been completed, printed and turned into our class basket.

The finished poster should use the chosen program's features and tools (i.e. layers, manipulation, effects, cinematic color grading, textures, brushes, blending modes, etc.) along with type to give an effective message on the chosen environmental awareness issue. 

Please look at the following for help in adding creative treatments to your visuals

Please go over the following to improve your use of Type in your poster.

 
 

Step 5

Take a screenshot of Photoshop with your assignment open and the Layers panel open in view, save and submit to the post on Google Classroom.

Step 6

Save your Project on your Google Drive > Computer Art 2 > Environmental_Awareness_Poster.psd

Step 7

Complete the Reflection Questions once poster is completed and turn into me when finished. This is available on the Google Classroom page for this assignment.

Click here for more examples of Environmental Awareness Posters

Assessment

Students will be assessed on 

Students should be able to:
  • Design an appropriate symbol in the spirit of their message
  • Use computer software to create an awareness poster integrating text and image, vivid use of color, line, shape, and clarity of message
  • Identify components of a successful poster
  • Discuss the work of several artists/designers using posters that convey messages to the public
  • Discuss criteria for successful awareness posters
  • Write a memorable slogan
  • Participate in peer-and self-assessment of posters, using accountable talk and new vocabulary
  • Research information on the issue, using the Internet 

Reflection Questions
Ask students to assess their work by addressing these questions:
  • What message is being communicated to the viewer?
  • How does the choice of font relate to the message and/or design?
  • How have I created contrast between the lettering color and background/symbol?
  • How have I created contrast between the lettering style and symbol?
  • How does the image contribute to the effectiveness of the message?
  • How does color, shape, and line contribute to the success of the poster?


Grading  Rubric

Examples