Media What I Do
Lighting Designer Alberto Segarra describes his work on the world premiere Kennedy Center commission, Earthrise, and how he uses light and color to help establish the physical and emotional world of a play.
In this 3-5 lesson, students will make a book about careers in visual arts and create original art for each medium. Students will research and gather information about careers in fashion design, architecture, and graphic design, then present their work in a class “Gallery Walk.”
Students will:
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Teachers should have a basic understanding of visual arts job descriptions, activities, and education required for each of the careers (ex. fashion designer, architect, and graphic designer). Teachers can substitute the careers for other options such as exhibit designer, historic preservation specialist, urban designer, artist-in-residence, art critic, art therapist, book illustrator, web designer, landscape architect, furniture designer, or greeting card designer.
Students should have an understanding of visual arts as a category within the arts, as well as familiarity with some of the disciplines of visual arts (drawing, painting, sculpting, etc.).
Modify handouts, text, and utilize assistive technologies as needed. Allow extra time for task completion.
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An architect is an artist who designs buildings. The architect studies all types of building styles and materials. Some architects also design landscapes around buildings and parks. Architects must know all about construction and structure, the interior and exterior of buildings. Share the following resources with students to explore a career in architecture and to note facts using the resource.
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A graphic artist is a broad category that includes many types of artists. The type of graphic artist that students will learn about in this learning station designs all the commercial packaging we see in our stores and markets. Graphic artists study design, form, and even marketing. The work of the graphic artist must grab the attention of the customer and also sell the product. Share the following resources with students to explore a career in graphic design and to note facts using the resource.
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Station One: Fashion Designer
Each student will design 2 - 4 outfits. The clothes should be for a very special day or occasion such as a holiday. Students can cut and paste their clothes or draw directly on the paper. The students should label what the occasion is on the back of their papers when they have completed their work.
Station Two: Architect
Each student will have a choice to design or construct one of the following: a new school, house for a family of 6, apartment complex, office building, or museum. Students should explore picture examples of the buildings to determine what type of building they want to design. Have students draw or construct their examples. What materials will you use? What size will it be? What colors will you use?
Station Three: Graphic Designer
Each student will design the packaging for a new cereal called “Krunchy Munchies.” Students should look at the examples of cereal boxes in the station before beginning to draw. What things will you put on the front of the box? What types of images do you think of when you hear the name of the cereal? What colors will you use that will make people want to buy the cereal? Using paper and markers students will create a drawing for the box front of the new cereal. The design should include the name of the cereal on the cover.
- Celia Ledón: Costume Designer
- Scenic Design with Deb Sivigny
- Sound Design with Nick Hernandez
- Lighting Design with Alberto Segarra
Adaptation
Amy Heathcott
Original Writer
Helen Robertson
Editor
JoDee Scissors
Updated
July 23, 2021
Sources
Lighting Designer Alberto Segarra describes his work on the world premiere Kennedy Center commission, Earthrise, and how he uses light and color to help establish the physical and emotional world of a play.
Nick Hernandez describes his process for creating the sound design and composing original music for Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences’ production of Long Way Down based on the book by Jason Reynolds and adapted for the stage by Martine Kei Green-Rogers.
Scenic Designer Deb Sivigny discusses her process to create the set for Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences’ world premiere production of She A Gem by Joshua Wilder.
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