Visual Design: Foundations of Design and Print Production
Visual Design is a year-long, project-based curriculum that develops ICT, career, and communication skills in print and graphic design using Adobe tools. You can use the Visual Design curriculum in career and technical education courses and in courses involving photography, graphic design, and English/language arts.
Visual Design develops key digital communication skills: design, communication, project management, and graphic and print technology. Key skills are developed in a spiral as each project adds more challenging skills on foundation proficiencies.
Visual Design aligns to the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) National Educational Technology Standards (NETS) for Students (2007) as well as the new Adobe Certified Associate Visual Communication objectives to prepare students for certification.
Learn more about certification
Visual Design curriculum
The Visual Design projects include instructor project guidelines, presentations, and reproducible student materials. Download the entire curriculum or individual projects.
- Full curriculum (32.4 MB)
- Full curriculum (British English version) (32.4 MB)
Project 1: Collages and photography
In this project, students gather images from multiple sources (including learning the basics of photography) then modify and optimize these images to form a collage. This project contains student materials. This project does not contain presentations.
- Instructor materials
- Instructor materials (British English version)
- Student materials
- Student materials (A4 paper size)
Project 2: Logos
In this project, students analyze color theory and design principles used in logos then plan, create, and build a logo. This project contains student materials and a presentation.
- Instructor materials
- Instructor materials (British English version)
- Presentation
- Presentation (British English version)
- Student materials
- Student materials (A4 paper size)
Project 3: Business cards
In this project, students create a business card, and in the process, they learn about typography and layout design. This project contains student materials and a presentation.
- Instructor materials
- Instructor materials (British English version)
- Presentation
- Presentation (British English version)
- Student materials
- Student materials (A4 paper size)
Project 4: Advertisements
In this project, students are introduced to the process of working with a client through an advertisement project. This project contains student materials. This project does not contain presentations.
- Instructor materials
- Instructor materials (British English version)
- Student materials
- Student materials (A4 paper size)
Project 5: Portfolios
In this project, students create a PDF portfolio that features completed work and a career exploration. This project contains student materials. This project does not contain presentations.
- Instructor materials
- Instructor materials (British English version)
- Student materials
- Student materials (A4 paper size)
Project 6: Brochures
In this project, students create a brochure, using advanced image manipulation techniques and page layout design. This project contains student materials. This project does not contain presentations.
- Instructor materials
- Instructor materials (British English version)
- Student materials
- Student materials (A4 paper size)
Project 7: Newsletters
In this project, students work in teams to create the theme, purpose, and content of a newsletter. This project contains student materials. This project does not contain presentations.
- Instructor materials
- Instructor materials (British English version)
- Student materials
- Student materials (A4 paper size)
Project 8: Mini-yearbook
In this project, students form teams to develop and create a yearbook. This project contains student materials. This project does not contain presentations.
- Instructor materials
- Instructor materials (British English version)
- Student materials
- Student materials (A4 paper size)
Project 9: Final portfolios
In this project, students improve their portfolios from earlier and redesign them to better address their overall future focus. This project does contains student materials This project does not contain presentations.
