Design Studio: Integrating Art & Thinking, Grades 5-9

Design is many things. More than a subject, it is a process. In the broadest sense, it is a way of thinking and solving problems. It is also a way of communicating, a process that uses both divergent and convergent thinking, and a way of selecting a solution that best fits the needs of the people involved.

More than an art class, this book is also a course in thinking. Students learn how to create attractive designs using the techniques of unity, variety, repetition, movement, proportion, and more. Concise information is combined with unique projects that allow students to hone both their thinking and artistic skills. Design Studio presents information about several areas of design, with the main emphasis on graphic design. Graphic design is used as a vehicle for understanding all other areas of design and as an area for the application of the Creative Problem Solving process. While the largest part of the book is devoted to the principles of graphic design, an entire section presents the CPS process and provides practice using this process to solve design problems. Students are also given a glimpse of other areas of design (fashion, industrial, architectural, decorative, environmental, urban, computer, and interior) and are provided with projects for each area.

Design Studio has a wide variety of hands-on projects, opportunities for thinking and doing, ways to combine art and thinking, and ways to teach art through real-life applications. With a creative attitude and basic art supplies, students can create great artwork.

Grades 5–9