Aspen Academy

Comic Studio: Graphic Design

For Grades 6-8
Fridays from April 4, 2025 to May 23, 2025 at the times listed below
No Class Dates: N/A

The Comic Studio: Graphic Design module teaches students to visualize their stories through powerful designs and illustrations.

Leveraging industry-standard software, they'll explore layout, typography, and color theory, essential for bringing digital comics to life. This hands-on experience not only boosts technical skills but also fosters an aesthetic sensibility, crucial for creating engaging and visually appealing comic pages that complement their narratives.

This course has a custom schedule that leverages early release days as follows:

April 4th: 3:30pm - 4:30pm
April 11th: 3:30pm - 4:30pm
April 18th: 3:30pm - 4:30pm
April 25th: 11:30am - 12:30pm
May 2nd: 3:30pm - 4:30pm
May 9th: 3:30pm - 4:30pm
May 16th: 3:30pm - 4:30pm
May 23rd: 11:30am - 12:30pm

$176.00

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About Comic Studio: Graphic Design
Aligned with the National Core Arts Standards, Comic Studio offers an immersive experience in creating and publishing digital comics. This course combines creative writing, graphic design, and artistic portfolio development to foster students' storytelling and visual communication skills. Students will master industry-standard software, enhancing their ability to craft compelling narratives, design engaging comic pages, and present their work professionally. By the end of the course, students will have a polished portfolio showcasing their unique tales, reflecting their journey from concept to creation in the world of digital comics.
Focus Areas
Writing Comics: Students will enhance their creative writing skills, learning to weave compelling narratives and develop unique storylines that form the backbone of their digital comics. Guided exercises and expert feedback will help students refine their narrative techniques, preparing them for successful visual storytelling.

Graphic Design: Students will master graphic design skills using industry-standard software, exploring the realms of visual storytelling, color theory, and layout design. This focus area emphasizes creating engaging and visually appealing comic pages, combining artistic flair with technical proficiency.

Artistic Portfolios: Students will gain expertise in compiling and publishing their artistic portfolios, showcasing their digital comics professionally. This focus area covers selecting works, designing cohesive layouts, and understanding digital publishing platforms, broadening their artistic reach and impact.

Learning Outcomes

Technical Proficiency
Students will gain in-depth knowledge and skills in the art of animation, focusing on character design and the principles of motion. They will learn how to use animation software to create dynamic and expressive characters, emphasizing the development of both artistic abilities and technical proficiency in animation.
Storytelling & Narration
The course will enhance students' abilities in storytelling and visual narration. Students will explore various techniques to craft engaging stories and bring them to life through animated sequences, fostering creativity and imagination in visual media.
Animation Software Mastery
Students will learn to effectively use animation software, gaining hands-on experience in creating animated content. They will understand the functionalities and tools available in animation programs, enhancing their technical skills and digital literacy and preparing students for advanced study or careers in digital arts and animation.

Sample Lessons

These lessons offer a glimpse into the vibrant and creative world of Animation DreamLab, where students can transform their imagination into stunning animated works. This enriching educational adventure combines the meticulous art of hand-drawn animation, the advanced techniques of 3D animation, and the enchanting process of stop-motion animation. Students will enhance their artistic and technical skills, master storytelling through animation, and develop a profound appreciation for the digital arts.

Animation Alchemy: The Magic of Hand-Drawn Characters

Unleash your creativity as you learn the enchanting art of hand-drawn animation. This lesson covers the fundamentals of drawing and sequencing, teaching students how to create fluid, expressive characters that come to life with every frame.

Sculpting in Cyberspace: Mastering 3D Modeling and Animation

Dive into the world of 3D animation and discover the power of digital sculpting. Students will learn to model, rig, and animate lifelike characters using industry-standard software, bringing their imaginative creations into a three-dimensional space.

Frame-by-Frame Fantasia: The Art of Stop-Motion Animation

Experience the captivating process of stop-motion animation, where each frame is a work of art. This lesson guides students through creating detailed characters and scenes, fostering patience and precision as they animate their stories one frame at a time.

Dynamic Dialogues: Writing and Animating Compelling Scripts

Transform your ideas into animated narratives with a focus on scriptwriting and dialogue. Students will learn to craft engaging stories, develop character voices, and animate conversations that drive their plots forward.

Motion Mastery: Understanding the Principles of Animation

Explore the core principles that bring animations to life, such as timing, squash and stretch, and anticipation. This lesson provides students with the foundational skills needed to create believable and dynamic movements in any animation medium.

Course Format

Our curriculum is designed to blend the dynamic structure of afterschool programs with the proven 5E instructional model—Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate.

Each phase is crafted to captivate and retain student interest, fostering a seamless and enriched learning experience.

- We start with the "Engage Phase" to spark curiosity with captivating visuals and prompts.

- In the "Explore Phase," students set out on their educational journey with clear objectives, supported by an environment that embraces learning from mistakes.

- The "Explain Phase" delivers foundational knowledge that is often cross-curricular in nature.

- The "Elaborate Phase" involves hands-on projects and activities, with bonus crafts and literacy integrations.

- The journey culminates in the "Evaluate Phase," where students reflect on their achievements and connect their learning to real-world applications.

This structured yet flexible approach ensures every student benefits from a comprehensive, engaging, and reflective educational experience.

Our Instructors Are Our Top Asset

At BAM!, our vision for innovative K-8 education extends beyond just curriculum; it encompasses the educators who bring that curriculum to life. Selecting & training our educators is a continuous and meticulous process, ensuring they are not just equipped with subject matter expertise but also the skills to inspire and connect with students on a personal level.

100% adult educators recruited from prestigious universities ( No CITs at BAM!)
Highly refined interview and background check process
Extensive training that goes well beyond curriculum & classroom management
Ongoing year-round opportunities to teach in our summer camp. After-school, and structured recess programs.

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Comic Studio: Graphic Design