Have students use a drawing board and table with a T square, set squares, non-reproducing pencil, cutting tools and glue sticks to create a graphic layout.

Refer to the Drafting and Computer-Aided Design 10, 20, 30 Curriculum Guide, Module 2 for more information.

Have students discuss the function and application of their design layout. Include typography, point system, justification and line length in the discussion. As an exercise, students might choose a variety of words and then select a typeface that would visually describe those words (e.g., concrete, giant, shadow, flowing, etc.).

Most type is now produced using computer software and connected hardware. Discuss other ways that might be used to produce type such as dry transfer, linotype, calligraphy, etc.

Have the students discuss the enlargement and reduction of the various parts of their design. Discuss the use of proportion, scale and percentage calculations in sizing design parts.

Discuss the need for a dominant feature in their ad assignment.

Have the students do a monochromatic advertisement layout that is on standard letter size stock and includes a headline, body type and a logo (clip art could be used).

Body copy could be rendered simply with parallel lines (no text). Type could be produced on transparent paper and then positioned over the art work for the most effective arrangement.

Emphasize that cleanliness and accuracy are critical to producing a layout of acceptable quality.

Demonstrate for students that as a designer there are two ways to create a path to guide the reader's eyes. It is important for the eyes to move from one element to another. This is called rhythm or eye-flow. The ad can be designed to take advantage of the reader's natural eye-flow or the reader's eye-flow can be altered to go where the designer wishes. When this flow is smooth, the rhythm is pleasing.

In our culture, a natural path causes the eye to start across an image from the upper left-hand corner in a Z path across the page ending in the lower right corner.

However, ones true inclination is for the eye to enter the page at the optical centre (about 5/8 from the bottom and 1/3 from the left edge.) The optical centre is an excellent spot to locate a logo, art or a headline.

A second option is to use large portions of the design to cause the eye to move to that spot immediately, whether or not it is at the optical centre. An eye-catching colour will have the same effect. This is the effect of dominance or emphasis in a design.