Florida Department of Education
Curriculum Framework 

Program Title:	Graphic Design Production
Career Cluster:	Arts, A/V Technology and Communication

College Credit Certificate	
CIP Number	0611080303	
Program Type	College Credit Certificate (CCC)	
Program Length	24 credit hours	
CTSO	SkillsUSA	
SOC Codes (all applicable) 	For program SOC codes, please see the Program and Course Tables section of the CTE Program Resources page linked below.	
CTE Program Resources 	http://www.fldoe.org/academics/career-adult-edu/career-tech-edu/program-resources.stml	

Purpose

The purpose of this program is to prepare students for initial employment as graphic designers or graphic design assistants; this program introduces students to the principles of design and photography with an emphasis on computer-based design, layout, multimedia, and interactive design.

This certificate program is part of the Graphics Technology AS degree program (1611080300).  

A College Credit Certificate consists of a program of instruction of less than sixty (60) credits of college-level courses, which is part of an AS or AAS degree program and prepares students for entry into employment (Rule 6A-14.030, F.A.C.).

This program offers a sequence of courses that provides coherent and rigorous content aligned with challenging academic standards and relevant technical knowledge and skills needed to prepare for further education and careers in the Arts, A/V Technology and Communication career cluster; provides technical skill proficiency, and includes competency-based applied learning that contributes to the academic knowledge, higher-order reasoning and problem-solving skills, work attitudes, general employability skills, technical skills, and occupation-specific skills, and knowledge of all aspects of the Arts, A/V Technology and Communication career cluster. 

The content includes, but is not limited to, communication skills, team skills, safe and efficient work practices, creation of advertising layouts, illustration, design concepts and theory, typography skills, production skills, color theories, utilization of computers to produce electronic content, presentation procedures, and employability skills. 

Additional Information relevant to this Career and Technical Education (CTE) program is provided at the end of this document.

Program Structure    

This program is a planned sequence of instruction consisting of 24 credit hours.

When developing the course sequence for the local implementation of this program, select courses that:
•	Meet the skill development requirements of the standards and benchmarks of this program.
•	Where reasonable and practicable, align with programs offered by your institution or other postsecondary institutions in Florida, including: 
o	Related AS and AAS degrees.
o	Baccalaureate degrees within the same career pathway and/or Federal CIP code.

Visit FloridaShines’ Discover Programs website to identify other institutions that offer similar programs to review their course sequencing. Where appropriate, course alignment between institutions offering related programs can facilitate interagency student articulation.

Visit FloridaShines’ Common Prerequisites Manual to identify courses that are prerequisites for admission into an upper division program.  When sub-baccalaureate courses are aligned to the course admissions requirements of baccalaureate programs with the same career pathway, students can enter upper division coursework seamlessly.   

Florida’s Career Readiness Skills for CTE Programs  

Employability Skills	
01.0	Apply academic skills to workplace scenarios.	
01.01	Use reading skills.	
01.02	Use writing skills.	
01.03	Use mathematical strategies and procedures.	
01.04	Use scientific principles and procedures.	
02.0	Design a solution to an industry problem.	
02.01	Use critical thinking.	
02.02	Use creativity.	
02.03	Make sound decisions.	
02.04	Solve problems.	
02.05	Reason. 	
02.06	Plan and organize.	
03.0	Manage resources within an industry project	
03.01	Manage time.	
03.02	Manage money or resources.	
03.03	Manage materials.	
03.04	Manage personnel.	
04.0	Oversee the subcomponents, operations and output of a technical or organizational system.	
04.01	Manage systems.	
04.02	Monitor systems.	
04.03	Improve systems.	
05.0	Use information for decision making.	
05.01	Locate information.	
05.02	Organize information.	
05.03	Use information.	
05.04	Analyze information.	
05.05	Communicate information.	
06.0	Apply relevant technology to workplace scenarios to aid productivity.	
06.01	Use technology.	
07.0	Interpret and express interpersonal communication.	
07.01	Communicate verbally.	
07.02	Listen actively.	
07.03	Comprehend written material.	
07.04	Convey information in writing.	
07.05	Communicate nonverbally.	
07.06	Interpret nonverbal communication.	
08.0	Interact with others to accomplish workplace goals.	
08.01	Collaborate with others in a team.	
08.02	Respond to customer needs.	
08.03	Exercise leadership.	
08.04	Negotiate to resolve conflict.	
08.05	Respect others.	
09.0	Manage personal behavior to maximize productivity and professional growth.	
09.01	Demonstrate responsibility and self-discipline.	
09.02	Adapt and show flexibility.	
09.03	Work independently.	
09.04	Demonstrate a willingness to learn.	
09.05	Demonstrate integrity.	
09.06	Demonstrate professionalism.	
09.07	Take initiative.	
09.08	Display positive attitude.	
09.09	Take responsibility for professional growth.	
Job Attainment	
10.0	Find, assess and apply to job opportunities.	
10.01	Identify online job posts relevant to his or her career aspirations.	
10.02	Compare and contrast the job posts’ required qualifications, job duties, compensation, benefits and employers. 	
10.03	Define what information, documentation and writing prompts are required for the positions.	
11.0	Communicate personal competence, character and fit for a job opportunity.	
11.01	Develop a resume.	
11.02	Write a cover letter.	
11.03	Curate a professional portfolio that includes work products.	
11.04	Prepare for and experience a mock job interview.	
12.0	Cultivate and leverage relationships to professionally advance.	
12.01	Request a signed reference letter, letter of recommendation and/or an online skill/professionalism endorsement. 	
12.02	Develop a plan to cultivate a professional digital footprint.	
12.03	Develop a networking plan for a specific industry of interest.	

Standards

After successfully completing this program, the student will be able to perform the following:

01.0	Demonstrate effective interpersonal communication skills.
02.0	Demonstrate the ability to collaborate with others.
03.0	Demonstrate safe and efficient work practices.
04.0	Create raster-based and vector-based visual solutions.
05.0	Formulate concepts/theories.
06.0	Apply design and color theories.
07.0	Demonstrate technical and creative uses of typography.
08.0	Create advertising design solutions.
09.0	Demonstrate production skills in web and print design.
10.0	Interpret printing processes.
11.0	Demonstrate knowledge of current industry standards, practices, and techniques.
12.0	Demonstrate industry-level presentation techniques.
13.0	Utilize computer hardware, software, networks and peripherals for the production of electronic content.
14.0	Create electronic interfaces.
15.0	Demonstrate employability skills.

Florida Department of Education
Student Performance Standards

Program Title:	Graphic Design Production 
CIP Number:	0611080303
Program Length:	24 credit hours

This certificate program is part of the Graphics Technology AS degree program (1611080300).  At the completion of this program, the student will be able to:	
01.0	Demonstrate effective interpersonal communication skills. The student will be able to:	
01.01	Read and interpret written and oral instructions.	
01.02	Prepare written correspondence.	
01.03	Demonstrate effective oral communication and presentation skills.	
01.04	Present work to an audience.	
02.0	Demonstrate the ability to collaborate with others. The student will be able to:	
02.01	Demonstrate the ability to work as part of a team.	
03.0	Demonstrate safe and efficient work practices. The student will be able to:	
03.01	Demonstrate proper care of equipment.	
03.02	Demonstrate typical workplace tasks in a timely manner.	
04.0	Create raster-based and vector-based visual solutions. The student will be able to:	
04.01	Demonstrate versatile styles and techniques to solve visual problems.	
04.02	Demonstrate knowledge of methods and materials.	
04.03	Apply design fundamentals to raster-based and vector-based solutions to effectively achieve a visual communication goal.	
05.0	Formulate concepts/theories. The student will be able to: 	
05.01	Solve problems by selecting the appropriate styles or techniques.	
05.02	Display creative talent and ingenuity.	
05.03	Apply principles of design.	
05.04	Demonstrate the design process.	
06.0	Apply design and color theories. The student will be able to:	
06.01	Create a design utilizing the appropriate technical color application for the intended output.	
06.02	Create mockups, dummies, and comprehensive layouts in a variety of formats.	
06.03	Evaluate the use of design principles for a variety of graphic design applications.	
06.04	Select and apply appropriate design principles for effective visual communication.	
06.05	Apply knowledge of color theory to design solutions.	
06.06	Develop solutions for interactive media that demonstrate awareness of the user experience.	
07.0	Demonstrate technical and creative uses of typography. The student will be able to: 	
07.01	Develop and demonstrate appropriate use of type styles and letter forms.	
07.02	Demonstrate application of typographical specifications.	
07.03	Apply type construction design.	
07.04	Apply correct lettering and line spacing for typesetting.	
07.05	Develop a working knowledge of type spacing.	
07.06	Demonstrate the principles of typography in a design project.	
07.07	Utilize a desktop computer and industry standard software for type production.	
07.08	Develop and properly utilize a typographic grid.	
08.0	Create advertising design solutions. The student will be able to:	
08.01	Identify advertising needs and develop appropriate solutions.	
08.02	Produce comprehensive layouts for advertising in a variety of print, packaging, outdoor, and electronic formats.	
09.0	Demonstrate production skills in web and print design. The student will be able to:	
09.01	Size photographs and illustrations.	
09.02	Demonstrate correct preparation of electronic files for various printed and electronic outputs.	
09.03	Utilize appropriate industry-standard software to execute design solutions.	
10.0	Interpret printing processes. The student will be able to:	
10.01	Determine methods of printing; include specialized printing methods.	
10.02	Select appropriate substrates and inks for projects.	
10.03	Explain color separation processes.	
10.04	Identify and specify half-tone and line negatives.	
10.05	Interpret signature and imposition procedures.	
10.06	Analyze and identify methods of proofing.	
10.07	Explain basic print processes. 	
10.08	Understand how various printing processes require different electronic pre-press techniques.	
11.0	Demonstrate knowledge of current industry standards, practices, and techniques. The student will be able to:	
11.01	Explain copyright procedures.	
11.02	Use industry terminology.	
11.03	Identify industry practices and procedures.	
11.04	Explain the importance of meeting deadlines.	
11.05	Demonstrate the ability to adjust to work conditions.	
12.0	Demonstrate industry-level presentation techniques. The student will be able to:	
12.01	Demonstrate mounting and matting procedure.	
12.02	Demonstrate industry presentation procedures and techniques.	
13.0	Utilize computer hardware, software, networks, and peripherals for the production of electronic content. The student will be able to:	
13.01	Demonstrate an understanding of platforms, operating systems, coding languages, hardware, software, peripherals, network issues, and compatibility.	
14.0	Create electronic interfaces. The student will be able to:	
14.01	Create vector-based or raster-based layouts that appropriately translate to a variety of electronic formats.	
15.0	Demonstrate employability skills. The student will be able to:	
15.01	Identify acceptable work habits.	

Additional Information

Laboratory Activities

Laboratory investigations that include scientific inquiry, research, measurement, problem solving, emerging technologies, tools and equipment, as well as, experimental, quality, and safety procedures are an integral part of this career and technical program/course. Laboratory investigations benefit all students by developing an understanding of the complexity and ambiguity of empirical work, as well as the skills required to manage, operate, calibrate and troubleshoot equipment/tools used to make observations. Students understand measurement error; and have the skills to aggregate, interpret, and present the resulting data. Equipment and supplies should be provided to enhance hands-on experiences for students.

Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO)

CTSOs are co-curricular career and technical student organizations providing leadership training and reinforcing specific career and technical skills. Career and Technical Student Organizations provide activities for students as an integral part of the instruction offered. Other CTSOs not listed in this curriculum framework or recognized by the Florida Department of Education are permissible provided they support student mastery over the standards and benchmarks of this curriculum framework.

Accommodations

Federal and state legislation requires the provision of accommodations for students with disabilities to meet individual needs and ensure equal access. Postsecondary students with disabilities must self-identify, present documentation, request accommodations if needed, and develop a plan with their counselor and/or instructors. Accommodations received in postsecondary education may differ from those received in secondary education. Accommodations change the way the student is instructed. Students with disabilities may need accommodations in such areas as instructional methods and materials, assignments and assessments, time demands and schedules, learning environment, assistive technology and special communication systems. Documentation of the accommodations requested and provided should be maintained in a confidential file.