As students entered the classroom, they were given an envelope and told not to open it. On the cover of the envelope it had a company name.
I told students that from here on out they were now a member of a design firm (which they would have to come up with a name for later). They were all a part of the same company. In their hands was a packet of information from a possible client. The client was searching for the best design firm to come up with a new logo to represent their company. They company has sent these packets to 3 other companies as well (the three other 8th grade sections). Before the company commits to a design firm, they want to see two sample logo designs from each of the firms and then they will make a decision on who they hire to work on their company branding.
Each student had in their hands information from a different company. They had to read about what the client was looking for and come up with two different logo designs. Their team (all of the classmates) would narrow down by voting which of the two designs would be brought up to committee. They had to work together as a design company.
A final committee (of faculty members) will look at the final designs and pick their favorite logos for each company. The winners of the design will win a prize. AND the design firm with the most design winners will ALL win a prize. I told the students that this is much like the real world in a real company. You want to do well. You want to be the best design but you also want your team to do their best work. If the team wins then everyone gets a raise or a bonus! So just like the real world, the team with the most winning logos will ALL win a prize.
Students spent this week starting to come up with their designs. Next week, students will finalize their two designs and then there will be a team meeting. We will spend time voting on the best designs, adding constructive criticism on how to make the designs stronger, and then submit the final design that will go to committee.
The students are really into this assignment! It's exhilarating to watch. The teamwork, the sharing of ideas, the focus....as a teacher it is really exciting to see.
We talked about design firms that get hired by large corporations to take control of the company branding (websites, logos, letterhead, brochures, etc..). We talked about the company that Steve Jobs hired to do the branding for Apple and all of the work that entailed and how much money that company was paid (yearly) to do that work. I saw a lot of eyes light up. I like art, I like computers, I like coming up with creative things....Mrs. Saca...I could do that. Yes!!! Yes, you can!!!! That is what it is all about. I saw a few lightbulbs go off in a few students eyes and I thought...this is what it is all about.
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