Graphics Technology/ Design Melville SHS
Melville Senior High School's design students are earning a reputation for their outstanding work. High standards are expected to continue once the new Design course is introduced in the school in Year 11 in 2008.
Teacher Lev Vykopal said a purpose-built arts wing had greatly improved the potential for outstanding work by art and design students at the school. The school's graphics suite includes the latest computer design software while an editing suite is available for multimedia students.
Melville SHS Design student Pennie Minett.
Mr Vykopal - who has professional experience in graphic design, fine arts, sculpture, multimedia and photography - said Melville students can study graphics from Year 9.
"We've tried to develop a program that provides a logical flow of design concepts and knowledge from year to year," he said.
"There is also a strong emphasis on industry in terms of the development of a student portfolio and the use of industry-standard technology.
"I am very pleased with the standard of work the Year 11 and 12 Graphics Technology students have produced and I am optimistic about the future.
"This year, for example, selected work by our students was chosen for the Young Originals and Year 12 Perspectives exhibitions.
"A wide range of students are interested in the Graphics Technology course, including students following a vocational education and training (VET) pathway and those headed to university. Many already have a specialist interest and skills in areas such as web design. These skills can be a great asset for their future.
"Technology moves so fast that sometimes the students, in certain aspects of the course, become the teachers.
"This year we have offered a Certificate I in Multimedia as part of the course and next year we plan to offer Certificate II and III."
Art and design tasks undertaken at the school include packaging layouts and logo designs, personal branding, creation of a new typeface in the style of the Bauhaus, web banner advertisements for local cafes, magazine layouts, studio photography for advertising, propaganda and political advertising, posters created in the style of Saul Bass, image manipulation and morphing, flash animation for film titles, music video, 3D modelling and environmental creation, cartooning and use of storyboards, information design, silkscreening and eight-colour printing.
"As well as a strong emphasis on the development of a portfolio throughout the course, students also have the opportunity to undertake work experience with local design firms," Mr Vykopal said.
"A lot of students who study Art, Media and Multimedia at the school also study Graphics Technology and the two courses complement each other."
Mr Vykopal said the current CAF course outcomes do not lend themselves to learning design history, so that component of the new Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) Design course is a potential strength, provided it is done in good measure.
He said it was also important that the goal posts for the new Design course were set at the right level and expectations of work levels were realistic.
"The new course could be a wonderful tool for providing students with a lot of varied content in a short space of time. Students will specialise later," he said.
"It is important, however, that the goal posts for the new course are not set too high."
The Curriculum Council is using Mr Vykopal's expertise in writing the sample examination for the graphic design stream of the new Design course. He has also drafted some generic sample examination questions that can be applied to the three streams of the new course: design; photography and technical drawing.
Student Pennie Minett said she enjoyed the Graphics Technology course because it was fun and allowed her to use her imagination.
"Because I enjoy the course so much, it is easy to get good marks," Pennie said.
"I come into the classroom whenever I can because I want to keep working on my projects. Throughout the school holidays I kept thinking of ways to improve my designs," she said.
"When I first started the course I didn't know a lot about the technology needed to design websites. Now I am confident at using Adobe Flash and Photoshop. I can now use animation, create websites and design banners advertisements."
