Lesson Plan
Your Story, Your Poster!
Students will design a movie poster using Adobe Illustrator, incorporating design elements and principles to create an effective visual communication piece.
This project allows students to apply practical software skills and theoretical design knowledge to a real-world scenario, fostering creativity and critical thinking in visual communication. It also helps students understand the creative process and industry standards in graphic design.
Audience
12th Grade
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Project-Based Learning
Materials
Adobe Illustrator, Computer Workstation, Movie Poster Project Guide, Movie Poster Design Rubric, and Movie Poster Slide Deck
Prep
Review Materials & Software Setup
15 minutes
- Review the Movie Poster Project Guide and Movie Poster Design Rubric.
- Ensure Adobe Illustrator is installed and functioning on all student computers.
- Familiarize yourself with the Movie Poster Slide Deck content.
- Gather example movie posters (digital or print) for inspiration and discussion.
Step 1
Introduction & Project Overview
5 minutes
- Begin by engaging students with the question: "What makes a movie poster grab your attention?" (2 minutes)
- Introduce the project using the Movie Poster Slide Deck, highlighting the role of a graphic designer and the project objective. (3 minutes)
Step 2
Deep Dive into Design
10 minutes
- Walk through the key requirements and design considerations using the Movie Poster Project Guide and the Movie Poster Slide Deck.
- Discuss the importance of taglines, imagery, typography, and the billing block.
- Briefly review relevant Adobe Illustrator tools for this project (e.g., text tool, shape tools, image placement).
Step 3
Brainstorm & Sketch
5 minutes
- Instruct students to spend a few minutes brainstorming movie ideas, themes, and potential imagery for their posters.
- Encourage quick thumbnail sketches to visualize their concepts before moving to Illustrator. (This can be done on scrap paper or digitally).
Step 4
Illustrator Work Session
10 minutes
- Guide students to open Adobe Illustrator and create a new 11x14 inch canvas.
- Circulate around the room, providing individual support and answering questions as students begin developing their posters.
- Remind them to refer to the Movie Poster Project Guide for all requirements.
Step 5
Wrap-Up & Next Steps
Optional
- Briefly bring the class together to share initial ideas or challenges.
- Remind students of the due date (Thursday) and the criteria on the Movie Poster Design Rubric.
- Encourage continued work on their projects.
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Slide Deck
Your Story, Your Poster! 🎬
Designing Your Animated Movie Poster
Get ready to unleash your inner graphic designer!
Welcome students and introduce the exciting project. Emphasize the creativity involved.
Today's Objective
Design a captivating movie poster using Adobe Illustrator, applying your knowledge of design principles and software skills.
Clearly state the learning objective for today's session.
What Makes a GREAT Movie Poster?
Think about:
- What catches your eye?
- What makes you curious?
- How does it tell a story without words?
Start a brief discussion. Ask students what makes them want to see a movie based on its poster.
You're the Graphic Designer!
You're tasked with creating the official movie poster for a brand-new animated film. This is your chance to shine!
Explain the role of a graphic designer in the film industry.
Project Requirements Checklist
- Tagline (the catchy phrase)
- Engaging Imagery (fitting your movie's theme)
- Opening Movie Date (e.g., 'Coming Soon!', 'July 26th')
- At least 2 Actors & Actresses
- Credit/Billing Block (small text at the bottom)
- Studio Logo (design your own or use an existing one)
- MPAA Rating (G, PG, PG-13, R) - and its Spanish translation!
Go over the main requirements. Reinforce that these are non-negotiable.
Setting Up in Adobe Illustrator
- Open Adobe Illustrator.
- Create a New Document.
- Set dimensions to 11 x 14 inches.
Explain the canvas setup in Illustrator.
Design Principles to Remember
Think about:
- Composition: How elements are arranged
- Hierarchy: What stands out most?
- Color Theory: Mood and emotion
- Typography: Font choices and readability
Briefly touch upon the design principles that students should consider.
Brainstorming Your Masterpiece
Before you open Illustrator:
- What's your movie about?
- What's the main character like?
- What kind of imagery best represents it?
Quick sketch ideas on paper!
Encourage brainstorming before diving straight into the software.
Ready, Set, DESIGN!
Use all your Illustrator skills and design knowledge to create a poster that makes everyone want to see your movie!
Due: Thursday
Conclude with a motivator and a reminder of the task.
Project Guide
Movie Poster Design Project: Your Story, Your Poster!
Project Overview
Welcome, graphic designers! You've been hired to create the official movie poster for the newest animated film hitting theaters. This is your chance to showcase your creativity and Adobe Illustrator skills to design a poster that will capture audiences' attention and make them excited to see your movie!
Objective
Students will design a compelling movie poster using Adobe Illustrator, effectively integrating design elements and principles to communicate the film's essence and appeal.
Instructions
Follow these steps to develop your outstanding movie poster:
Step 1: Brainstorm Your Animated Movie
- Concept: What is your animated movie about? What's the genre (comedy, adventure, fantasy, sci-fi)?
- Characters: Who are the main characters? What's their personality or key visual trait?
- Theme/Mood: What feeling do you want your poster to evoke (excitement, wonder, humor, mystery)?
- Title: Come up with a creative and engaging title for your movie.
Step 2: Set Up Your Canvas in Adobe Illustrator
- Open Adobe Illustrator.
- Go to File > New.
- Set the dimensions:
- Width: 11 inches
- Height: 14 inches
- Units: Inches
- Color Mode: CMYK (for print, though RGB is fine for digital display if preferred)
- Click Create.
Step 3: Design Your Movie Poster - Requirements Checklist
Your movie poster must include all of the following components. Be creative and make sure they fit your movie's theme and style!
- Movie Title: Prominently displayed.
- Tagline: A short, catchy phrase that provides more information about the movie or piques interest (e.g., "Their biggest adventure yet... is just getting started.")
- Imagery: Compelling and high-quality visuals that clearly fit your movie's theme and genre. This could be characters, settings, or symbolic elements.
- Opening Movie Date: Clearly indicate when the movie is coming out (e.g., "Coming Soon!", "In Theaters July 26", "Next Summer").
- Actors & Actresses: List at least two main voice actors/actresses. You can invent names if needed.
- Credit / Billing Block: The small text block at the bottom of the poster listing key production credits. (You can create placeholder text, but it should be legible and look authentic).
- Studio Logo: Include a logo for your animation studio. You can design a simple one or use an existing studio's logo.
- MPAA Rating: Include the appropriate rating (G, PG, PG-13, or R) and its Spanish translation.
- G: Para todos los públicos
- PG: Se sugiere la guía paterna
- PG-13: Advertencia a los padres: Algo de material puede ser inapropiado para niños menores de 13 años
- R: Restringido: Los menores de 17 años requieren acompañamiento de padre o tutor adulto
Step 4: Design Considerations
As you design, keep these principles in mind:
- Composition: How are all the elements arranged on your poster? Is there a focal point? Does it guide the viewer's eye?
- Hierarchy: What information is most important? The movie title should likely be the most prominent, followed by imagery, and then other details.
- Color Theory: Use colors that evoke the right mood and theme for your movie. Consider color palettes that work well together.
- Typography: Choose fonts that match your movie's genre and tone. Ensure all text is legible and well-spaced.
- Visual Balance: Is your poster visually appealing and not too cluttered or too empty?
Submission
Save your final movie poster as a PDF or high-resolution JPEG.
Due Date: Thursday
Refer to the Movie Poster Design Rubric to understand how your project will be graded.
Rubric
Movie Poster Design Rubric: Your Story, Your Poster!
Project Due Date: Thursday
Grading Criteria
| Criteria | 4 - Exceeds Expectations | 3 - Meets Expectations | 2 - Approaching Expectations | 1 - Below Expectations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Creativity & Originality (20%) | The movie concept and poster design are highly original, exceptionally creative, and demonstrate a unique vision. Captures significant interest. | The movie concept and poster design are creative and original. Captures interest. | The movie concept and poster design show some creativity but lack originality or a strong unique vision. Limited interest captured. | The movie concept and poster design are unoriginal, copied, or lack any discernible creativity. Fails to capture interest. |
| Design Elements & Principles (25%) | Exceptional application of composition, hierarchy, color theory, and typography to create a visually stunning and highly effective poster. All elements work harmoniously. | Effective application of composition, hierarchy, color theory, and typography to create a visually appealing and effective poster. Most elements work well together. | Inconsistent application of design elements and principles, resulting in a somewhat disorganized or less impactful poster. Some elements clash or are poorly executed. | Poor application of design elements and principles, resulting in a confusing, unattractive, or ineffective poster. Elements are haphazardly placed or poorly chosen. |
| Required Components (25%) | All required components (title, tagline, imagery, date, actors, billing block, studio logo, MPAA rating with Spanish translation) are present, accurate, and seamlessly integrated into the design. | All required components are present and mostly accurate. They are integrated into the design, though some may be less polished. | Most required components are present, but some are missing, inaccurate, or poorly integrated, detracting from the overall design. | Multiple required components are missing, inaccurate, or entirely absent. |
| Adobe Illustrator Proficiency (20%) | Demonstrates advanced proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, utilizing tools and features expertly to create a professional-quality poster with clean vectors and precise execution. | Demonstrates good proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, effectively using tools and features to create a well-executed poster with clean elements. | Shows some understanding of Adobe Illustrator, but the execution may be unpolished, with visible errors or limited use of advanced features. | Lacks basic proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, resulting in a poorly constructed poster with numerous technical flaws. |
| Overall Impact & Communication (10%) | The poster is highly engaging, clearly communicates the movie's essence, and strongly appeals to the target audience. It is memorable and professional. | The poster is engaging, communicates the movie's essence, and appeals to the target audience. It is generally professional. | The poster has some impact but struggles to clearly communicate the movie's essence or appeal to the target audience. Lacks overall polish. | The poster is ineffective, fails to communicate the movie's essence, and does not appeal to the target audience. Appears unprofessional. |
Total Points: /100