Katherine A. Hughes
Katherine A. Hughes
Student Work
Included below are examples of student work from three courses that I teach in regular rotation, ART 103 Graphic Design I, ART 145 Digital Photography, and COM 130 Visual Communications.
One of my goals in classes is to share the students’ work beyond our classroom. Each semester, I coordinate at least one exhibition of student work for display in Elizabethtown College’s High Library, which is open to the campus and local communities. On multiple occasions, class projects were tailored to suit important campus events. For example, in Fall 2016, Elizabethtown College was a tour stop for William Shakespeare’s First Folio. Students in COM 130 created large-format collages celebrating Shakespeare’s works to accompany the traveling exhibit while on display. As part of the College’s upcoming 125th anniversary celebrations, ART 103 has been invited to create a series of large-format collages that feature a mix of historic and contemporary photographs of Elizabethtown College. Select collages will be on display around campus during the anniversary year (2023-2024).
ART 103 Graphic Design I
Catalog description: An introductory studio/lecture course designed to increase visual literacy and vocabulary, to develop design skills and present the creative possibilities of the computer as an art making and editing tool. Historical, conceptual, technical and contemporary issues of digital imaging are explored.
Place in the curriculum: ART 103 is a required course for all Graphic Design majors and minors, it is an option for Fine Art majors and minors, as well as an elective course for Marketing majors and minors.
Applications used: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator
ART 103 Graphic Design I
Scholarship and Creative Arts Days (SCAD) program covers
Brief: Design a potential cover for the 2024 Scholarship and Creative Arts Days (SCAD) program. Scholarship and Creative Arts Days is an annual conference that celebrates student research and creative expressions. Use Photoshop or Illustrator, or a combination of applications to create this letter size design.
In addition to the provided event details that must be included in the program cover (i.e., event logo, dates, hashtag), Etown’s seven schools must be incorporated into the design.
Size: 8.5 in. x 11 in.
ART 103 Graphic Design I
"Etown Connections: Past and Present" Exhibit (Fall 2023)
Brief: Identify a theme or subject to serve as the connective thread between photos of Elizabethtown College from the past and present. Historic photos are available for use from the High Library’s Hess Archives. Contemporary photos of the campus community are available from the College’s Flickr site or use your own photos. Use Photoshop to bring the photos together into a collage image.
Size: 17 in. x 11 in.
Exhibit: “Etown Connections: Past and Present” an exhibit of collages that feature a combination of historic and contemporary photographs of Elizabethtown College. This collection of images (38) was created by students enrolled in ART 103: Graphic Design I (Fall 2023). November 3-27, 2023 at the High Library, Elizabethtown College.
Exhibit photo. Works on display in the High Library, Elizabethtown College.
ART 145 Digital Photography
Catalog description: This is a course in beginning digital photography. Photography will be dealt with as a photojournalistic form and an art form. No prior knowledge or experience in the arts or photography is expected. Demonstrations and supervised lab periods will be used to instruct students in basic camera and Photoshop techniques of digital photography. Individual and group critiques/discussions of student photography will be held. Discussion of photographic history, criticism and aesthetics will be used to help the student understand class projects and to increase appreciation of photographic traditions and contemporary trends.
Place in the curriculum: ART 145 is an elective option for all Graphic Design majors and minors, as well as for Fine Art, and Communications majors and minors. ART 145 is also an option within the Creative Expression requirement with the College’s “Core” liberal arts program (i.e., general education).
Applications used: Adobe Lightroom Classic, Adobe Photoshop
Class Assignments
ART 145 begins with a Composition Photo Scavenger Hunt in which students are challenged to take a series of ten photos that illustrate composition tips including: fill the frame, rule of thirds, and leading lines. Building on this assignment, students complete photo challenges (e.g., studio portrait, still life, black and white), as well as tasks that involve incorporating photos into other larger projects (e.g., 9-block photo collages, Sunflowers for Ukraine notecards).
Still Life
Brief: Depict an arrangement of inanimate subject matter (no animals or people), typically a small group of objects. Curate the scene, managing the background, lighting, and featured objects.
Studio Portrait
Brief: Create a series of portraits in a controlled studio environment. Experiment with distance to produce the following: Close-up Portrait, Torso Portrait, and Full Body Portrait.
Black and White
Brief: The challenge sounds simple, create a black and white image. However, be creative when seeking a subject to photograph. Look for strong lines, high contrast between colors, or deep shadows, or a textured surface to feature in the image.
Artistic Expression
Brief: Create an abstract image. For the purposes of this assignment, artistic photography will be defined as photography that communicates primarily through form, color, and curves rather than image detail.
ART 145: Digital Photography
“Etown Scholarship” Exhibit (Spring 2023)
Brief: Create a square 9-block photo collage of an Etown major. The photos should represent elements associated with the major and its community at Etown.
Exhibit: “Etown Scholarship” an exhibit of select nine-block, photo collages which represent different Etown majors. This collection of images (18) was created by students enrolled in ART 145: Digital Photography (Fall 2022). April 21-May 5, 2023 at the High Library, Elizabethtown College.
Exhibit photo. Works on display in the High Library, Elizabethtown College.
COM 130 Visual Communications
Catalog description: In this course students study the design, theory and development of production in visual communication including digital photography, new media design and basic print design principles. Students will apply aesthetics and concepts learned to the production of visual media projects.
Place in the curriculum: COM 130 is a required course for all Communications majors and minors, and serves as an elective course for Marketing majors and minors.
Applications used: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign
Study Abroad Post Card
Brief: Design a post card for the Etown Study Abroad Office that advertises a study abroad program in the city/country of your choice.
Magazine Design
Brief: Design a cover and table of contents page for an existing magazine in the style of the magazine. Use Photoshop to prepare the images for this design, then use InDesign to create the text elements and the overall layout of the pages.
© Katherine A. Hughes. All rights reserved.
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