Commercial Art

Program Overview

This program introduces students to visual design, graphic design, and the interactive design industry. In a world where commercial art has never been more relevant, DCTS Commercial Art offers students a community in which to develop the conceptual foundation and skills needed for admission to a post-secondary institution to refine their skills. Students learn the fundamentals as they finish each project and work to build a professional portfolio. They are introduced to the Adobe Creative Cloud and explore media messages for print and digital.

Students explore graphic design, advertising, print design, illustration, digital photography, and video production. Students gain an exceptional amount of knowledge and understanding of creative software such as Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and Premiere Pro.

Skill Alignment Chart (Click to Expand)
Educational & Physical Attributes Expectations
Program Safety & Physical Considerations
  • Hand Dexterity
  • Able to sit for long periods of time
  • Stamina (ability to focus at work station for long periods of time)
Essential APTITUDES for this lab–Recommended Levels
  • Excellent eye hand coordination
  • Critical thinking skills
  • Color discrimination
  • Finger dexterity
  • Academic skills
  • Art skills
Reading
  • Explain the main ideas or draw accurate conclusions after reading text
  • Follow a complex multi–step procedure independently
  • Evaluate how an author’s point of view or purpose shapes the content and style of a text
  • Analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of an author’s creative brief, including whether the structure makes points clear, convincing, and engaging
  • Evaluate how words and phrases shape meaning and tone in texts
  • Comprehend written text and apply it to understand tables, charts, and other visuals
  • Learn and apply content–specific symbols, acronyms, and abbreviations correctly
  • Apply content–specific vocabulary correctly
  • Identify and explain how different ideas connect throughout text
  • Read and understand diagnostic and schematic data to solve a problem
  • Compare & contrast information in a text
  • Summarize information from different written resources
  • By the end of grades 9–10 & 11–12 read & comprehend technical texts independently & proficiently
Writing
  • Write with a sharp, distinct focus identifying topic, task, and audience
  • Develop and analyze the topic with relevant, well–chosen, and sufficient facts, extended definitions, concrete details, quotations, appropriate visuals, or other information and examples appropriate to the audience’s knowledge of the topic
  • Organize complex ideas, concepts, and information so that each new element builds on that which precedes it
  • Use precise language, domain–specific vocabulary, and techniques such as metaphor, simile, and analogy to manage the complexity of the topic
  • Establish and maintain a formal style and objective tone
  • Produce clear & coherent writing
  • Identify and evaluate different viewpoints using specific evidence in a constructive manner
  • Develop and strengthen writing by brainstorming, revising, editing & rewriting
  • Write with awareness to audience using program–specific vocabulary
  • Write routinely over short/long time frames for a range of tasks, purposes & audiences
  • Clearly convey with precision step–by–step work completed
  • Write fast–paced, accurate reports
  • Use technology to produce, publish or share writing
Math Levels

    Numbers and Operations:

  • Grade 6 – Fluency in operations with whole numbers and decimals
  • Grade 6 – Fraction computations.
  • Grade 7 – Fraction to decimal conversion
  • Grade 7 – Percent and ratio problems
  • Grade 8 – Decimal to rational number (fraction) conversion
  • Algebra 1 – Problem solving with real world units, including conversions
  • Measurement:

  • NG – Units: English, Metric, Pixels, Picas, Points Precision: Nearest 1/16 inch, 1 mm
  • Grade 6 – Unit conversion within and between measuring systems
  • Algebraic Concepts:

  • Grade 8 – Linear relationships – rate of change and initial value – analyzing meaning
  • Algebra 1 – Analyze graphs – include those with different scales
  • Geometric Concepts

  • Grade 7 – Scale drawings of geometric figures
  • Data and Probability:

  • Grade 6 – Dot plots, histograms, box–and–whiskers plot
  • Grade 8 – Investigate relationships between two sets of data
  • Algebra 1 – Interpret data on various displays – use to make predictions
Theory Time
  • 30 minutes/day
Homework
  • Occasional
  • Weekly Sketch Book
Lab Time
  • 5 hours/day
Tests
  • 5–6 Project Based Assessments per quarter
  • Quizzes (4 per quarter)
  • NOCTI (mandatory for all CTE programs
  • Industry Certifications:
    • OSHA Industry Certification
    • Adobe Certified Associate
POS Academics and Electives Recommended
  • English & Math are a component of the DCTS program
Study & Other Skills
  • Ability to work independently
  • Ability to work in small groups
  • Excellent oral & written communication skills
  • Good judgement & decision making
  • Self–control
  • Critical thinking skills
  • Follows oral & written communication skills
  • Time management skills
  • Attention to detail is extremely important
  • Artistic talent
Technology Skills/Knowledge
  • Use and navigate school–issued laptop
  • Use and navigate school–issued desktop
  • Use various operating systems
  • Use cameras and printers
  • Web navigation
  • Email management
  • Navigate learning management system and instructional technology tools
  • Video conferencing
Certifications Offered
  • Adobe Certifications
    • Illustrator
    • InDesign
    • Premier Pro
    • Photoshop
Post–Secondary Options and Continuing Ed
  • Associates Graphic Design
  • Associates Fine Art
  • B.A. Fine Art
  • B.A. Graphic Art
  • Media Production Professional
  • Advertising Professional
  • Game Production Speciality School (example Full Sail, FL)