Clients and Designers

Clients and Designers

5th Grade

I don't know how I forgot to post about this project!  Students had a blast with this project, and used a lot of creative thinking along the way. 

This project was centered around the design process and human centered design.  Well, in this case, character centered design :).  After discussing the role of designers, and where we can find design in daily life, students paired up and selected a character.  The characters were all drawings from the incredibly imaginative, Shaun Tan.  

Here are some examples:  

Human centered design is a design process that starts with the people you're designing for and ends with new solutions for their specific needs.   Before students were assigned their character's "need"  they engaged in some character research.   They were then given a "need" (for example: a form of transportation or a place to sleep) and thought of solutions for that need. 

The next class, each group found another group and they shared ideas and gave feedback.   The design process is a circle, with continual opportunities to research and improve.  

Students completed a final plan and then created models of their work.  

Character research, design plans, and photographs of models will be on display again at the end of year art show!

*This project was inspired by the Extraordinaires Design Studio.

Abstract Color Challenge

Abstract Color Challenge

4th Grade

Fourth graders recently completed a two day challenge focusing on primary colors, color mixing, abstract art, and value. On the first day, students chose a plain piece of white paper to begin with. They were told to NOT write their names, as they would not be getting these papers back. The rules were to use only primary color paint to create a mostly abstract painting.  

There was a lot of experimentation and curiosity taking place on day 1! You can see man examples of color mixing, pattern making, printing, varying brush strokes, and developing new painting tools.

Day 2- The rules:  

See students at work on day 2!

Claudia LOVES dogs.  Her table said she was turning into a Dalmatian with the spots on her face from splatter painting!

Morgan turned mesh and materials in the recycle center into painting tools.  Nice flexible thinking! 

Dominic experimenting with printing and crumpling.  

Check out the final paintings!  Students partnered up and looked for examples of "thinking like an artist" in their partner's work when the paintings were complete.  Nice work, 4th grade!