LESSON: Principles of Design

COURSE/Teacher
BIG IDEA

Art in the 21st Century I / Janette McVey Romano

Principles of Design
Investigate past, present and emerging forms of visual arts and engage in
producing, appreciating and evaluating these.

Take responsibility for the direction of students own learning through the
acquisition of eective working practices.

AIM

ESSENTIAL QUESTION

How are the Principles of Design applied in aesthetically pleasing ways to

aid in visual communication of ideas?

!PA STATE STANDARDS

9.1.12.B: Recognize, know, use and demonstrate a variety of appropriate arts elements and principles to produce,
review and revise original works in the arts.

9.1.12.C: Integrate and apply advanced vocabulary to the arts forms.

9.3.12.A: Explain and apply the critical examination processes of works in the arts and humanities.

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Diagnostic and/or
Anticipatory
Exercises/Work

Processes/Skills

aligned to curriculum

Accommodating
Instructional
Approaches
Integrated
Technology
Objectives
Common Core
Standards Addressed
in Unit including
emphasis(es) on Target
Data Domain(s)

Design Game:

1. Break class into groups of 4-6 and provide each group with one set of Principle cards
(each card has the name of a Principle of Design on it) and a stack of art prints. Deal 7
art prints to each player.

2. Like the game Apples to Apples, one Art Director reads a Principle card and the other
players select an art print from their hand that they feel is a strong example of that
Principle and place it in the center of the table.

3. The Art Director examines each art print and selects the winner for that round.
Students can discuss why they chose the winning art print or why the Art Director did.

4. For the next round, the role of Art Director moves to the player to the left and a new
Principle card is chosen and read.

5. Play continues until all 7 Principles have been played. Winner has the most art in his/
her collection.

6. Discussion Questions:

1. How do dierent art prints seem to show a particular Principle?

2. Can a work display more than one Principle?

Principles of Design

Careers in the Arts

Visual analysis
Group class as appropriate for dierent learning styles.

Use smart board to show video, examples, definitions and lesson objectives.

Vocabulary

Speaking and Listening

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LESSON: Principles of Design

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Lessons/Topics Taught

Design Game

Exploration

Guest Designer Visit

1 class

1 class

1 block class

Intro: Show examples of

Principles and discuss
definitions of each.

Designer pre-records a
screen cast of herself
working on a client project
and speeds it up in
editing.

Visually identify Principles

of Design.

Given 7 blank squares of

white paper and 7 of black
paper, students will be
able to play with different
arrangements of space to
depict each Principle.

See what a day in the life

of a designer looks like
(short video of guest
working), interact and ask
questions of the designer.
EQ: how do you use the
principles of design to
communicate effectively?

Select the best example

of a Principle of Design
from a handful of choices.

Write a brief description of

each Principle next to the
visual example and glue
into their sketchbooks.

(Designer presents a
design challenge)
Students work in small
groups to create solutions
for the client (guest
designer). Groups choose
top 2-3.

Notes/Strategies

Objectives

The student will be able

to:

Explain his/her reasoning

behind choices.

Pitch their top 2-3 design

solutions in small groups,
guest designer chooses
overall 3 designs and
explains why.

Formative
Assessments

Informal socratic
discussion.

Summative
Assessments

Design Challenge Solutions (group assessment)

Principles and definitions.

Informal questioning.

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Reflection

&
Notes

Follow up with Design Now challenge at the beginning of each major studio project during the
brainstorming and idea development phase.