The Identity Studio

A unit focused on the visual principles of brand identity, moving from theory (color, type) to creation using vector-based tools like Google Drawing.

Bbrittaink@urbandaleschools.com

The Psychology of Color

This lesson introduces students to the emotional impact of color in branding, the basics of color theory in marketing, and the technical use of Hex Codes in digital design. Students apply these concepts by creating a brand mood board in Canva.

Vector Vision Shapes and Grouping

This lesson introduces students to the concept of vector art using Google Drawing. Students learn to build complex objects using simple geometric shapes, mastering skills like grouping, layering (order), and the use of the Shift key for perfect proportions.

Lines Curves and Custom Shapes

Students advance their Google Drawing skills by moving beyond basic geometric shapes to custom paths. They learn to use the Polyline and Curve tools to create original icons, while understanding the technical differences between Vector and Raster images and the importance of PNG transparency.

Logo Construction Draft

Students transition from creating isolated assets to building their official brand logo. They learn the anatomy of a logo (Symbol + Logotype), master alignment guides in Google Drawing, and perform the 'Squint Test' to ensure their design is clear and balanced.

Logo Refinement and Iteration

Students refine their logo drafts for professional use, focusing on simplicity, negative space, and contrast. They learn to create multiple versions (Full Color and Solid Black) and understand the technical export requirements for digital vs. print media (PNG vs. PDF).

Canva Assembly Line

Students transition to Canva as a layout tool to assemble their brand assets into a professional Mood Board. They learn to 'break' templates by replacing generic elements with their own custom logos and colors, focusing on brand consistency and visual harmony.

The Brand Style Guide Layout

Students transition from brand creation to documentation by building a formal Style Guide. They learn the importance of brand consistency through 'The Brand Police' concept and document their logo usage, hex codes, and typography pairings in Canva using alignment rulers and guides.

Visual Voice and Tone

Students define their brand's 'personality' by selecting and filtering imagery that aligns with a specific tone. They complete their formal Brand Style Guide by documenting photography standards and brand keywords, focusing on the principles of repetition and unity.

Visual Hierarchy Leading the Eye

Students master the principle of visual hierarchy to lead a customer's eye through a design. They apply the 'Rule of Three' (Size, Weight, and Contrast) to create a professional brand 'One-Pager' in Canva, ensuring their most important brand assets receive maximum visibility.

The Identity Gallery Critique and Refinement

Students participate in a professional 'Gallery Walk' to provide and receive constructive feedback on their Brand Style Guides and One-Pagers. They apply the 'Glow and Grow' framework to refine their designs, fulfilling standards for artistic critique and professional communication.

Demographic vs. Psychographic

Students transition from brand design to market analysis by distinguishing between demographic data (external facts) and psychographic data (internal values). They apply these concepts by building a formal User Persona for their brand, justifying their earlier design choices based on audience data.

Spreadsheet Basics The Data Grid

This lesson introduces students to the fundamental structure of spreadsheet software. They learn about cells, rows, columns, and addresses while performing basic data entry and formatting to align with their brand identity.

Professional Survey Design

Students learn the art of professional survey design to gather market intelligence. They distinguish between quantitative and qualitative data, identify biased questioning, and build a multi-format survey in Google Forms or Microsoft Forms to collect clean data from their target audience.

Data Collection and The Sync

Students explore the efficiency of automated data collection by linking their market research forms to live spreadsheets. They learn the concept of real-time data syncing and master the 'Freezing Rows' skill to manage large datasets effectively.

Spreadsheet Formulas Magic Math

Students transition from data entry to data analysis by mastering fundamental spreadsheet formulas. They learn the power of the equals sign, cell referencing, and essential functions like =SUM, =AVERAGE, and =COUNT to automate business calculations.

Sorting Filtering and Trends

Students gain 'x-ray vision' over large datasets by learning to sort and filter information. They explore conditional formatting to visualize trends and identify specific target segments within their market research data.