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Mr. Anthony DeRosa

Commercial Art

aderosa@lcvt.tec.pa.us

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Program of Study: Commercial Art

CIP Code: 50.0402 - Information Page

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Commercial artists design the world around us creating everything from brands, logos, product packaging, advertisements, signs, business stationary, and countless other forms of visual media. In this course students will learn to apply design theory to offer graphic solutions in a variety of ways. This course is NOT ART CLASS! Although student expression is encouraged and a variety of art media explored, the role of a “commercial artist” must not be confused with the role of a “fine artist”. To equate design with fine art is inaccurate, and promotes an outdated myth that undermines the breadth of tasks and hurdles commercial artists go through, beyond the inspiration stage. Where the two differ is that in “fine art” the end goal is usually the expression of the artist but in “commercial art” the end goal is the specifications of the client and overall impact of the product on a wide audience. Therefore, a designer’s creativity is always directed and concrete. Students in this shop will be encouraged to explore self-expression but it is the instructional philosophy of this program that creativity alone does not define the commercial artist.

AVAILABLE CERTIFICATIONS

  • National Occupational Competency Testing Institute (NOCTI) Exam

A STUDENT IN COMMERCIAL ARTS WILL LEARN TO:

  • Meet with clients or the art director to determine the scope of a project. Design layouts, including selection of colors, images, and typefaces.  Present design concepts. Incorporate changes recommended by clients or art directors into final designs. Review designs for errors before printing or publishing them.

  • Create visual elements such as logos, original images, and illustrations to help deliver a message.  Create sketches, templates, or models to guide their work.  Use visual techniques, such as composition, color, space, and perspective, to produce desired artistic effects.  

  • Use digital illustration, photo editing software, and layout software to create designs. Use computer programs and illustrations to create graphics and animation (images that appear to move).  Work with a team of animators and artists to create a movie, game, or visual effect

  • Research upcoming projects to help create realistic designs or animation.  Edit animation and effects on the basis of feedback from directors, other animators, game designers, or clients.  Meet with clients, other animators, games designers, directors, and other staff (which may include actors) to review deadlines and development timelines

  • Develop portfolios highlighting their artistic styles and abilities to show to gallery owners and others interested in their work.

CAREER PATHWAYS

  • Graphic Designer **

  • Digital Designer **

  • Special Effects Artist & Animator ***

  • Industrial Designer ***

  • Art Director ***

(** = Associate Degree, *** = Bachelor’s Degree)

SKILLS TO DEVELOP

  • Analytical skills. Commercial Artists must be able to perceive their work from their consumers’ point of view to ensure that the designs convey the client’s message.

  • Artistic ability. Commercial Artists must be able to create designs that are artistically interesting and appealing to clients and consumers. They produce rough illustrations of design ideas, either by hand sketching or by using computer programs.

  • Communication skills. Commercial Artists must communicate with clients, customers, and other designers to ensure that their designs accurately and effectively convey information.

  • Computer skills. Most Commercial Artists use specialized graphic design software to prepare their designs.

  • Mathematical skills. Commercial Artists must understand balance and space.  Their final product must fit within the specifications of the client.

  • Creativity. Commercial Artists must be able to think of new approaches to communicating ideas to consumers. They develop unique designs that convey their client’s message.

  • Time-management skills. Commercial Artists often work simultaneously on multiple projects, each with a different deadline.

COMMON CORE STANDARD INTEGRATION:

  • Technical Reading: Main Idea & Text Evidence, Vocabulary & Symbols, Author’s Purpose, Text Structure (Compare/Contrast, Multi-Step Procedure, Description, & Qualitative/Technical Information into Visual Forms via Chart or Table) Multiple Sources

  • Mathematics: Numbers & Operations, Geometry

STATE BOARD/ POST SECONDARY/UNION RESOURCES

  • Coming soon

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