Art & Design

AP Computer Science Principles introduces students to the foundational concepts of computer science through a multidisciplinary approach and compels them to explore the profound impact that computing and technology has on the world. With a focus on creative problem solving and developing real-world applications, AP Computer Science Principles will give students the foundational knowledge, skills and confidence required to take on CS related college courses or to pursue a career in the industry.

This is an advanced studio course that offers highly motivated students an opportunity to build a portfolio of work that represents his/her individual strengths and interests in the visual arts and design. The emphasis of the course is for students to develop a cohesive body of work through sustained investigation of ideas, materials and art-making processes of their choice. Areas of focus include drawing, painting, photography, graphic design, digital illustration, fashion design, sculpture and architectural design. Students may select a particular area of focus or a multidisciplinary combination in constructing their portfolio of work.

*This course may be repeated (students are encouraged to select a new portfolio type - Drawing, 2D, 3D). Students may also choose to submit multiple portfolios of work for additional AP credits (up to three per year).

Advanced Computer Science Studio provides students interested in a career in the ICT industry opportunities to build upon their experience developing applications and systems in new and novel ways. Through a series of project-based challenges students will learn how to connect familiar technologies such as mobile apps, websites and microcontrollers to each other and to the world around them. Students will publish an online portfolio of work in which they design and develop full stack systems that incorporate technologies such as sensors, network communication, web apps with databases, cloud computing, augmented reality and Al and machine learning.

This course builds on the Introduction to Photography course and offers students an opportunity to work with film photography at a more advanced level. Students will explore new film formats, camera types and shooting techniques. They will also utilize advanced printing and processing techniques such as split filtration, image masking, solarization, toning and push processing. Further areas of focus will include the development of a personal aesthetic style as well as the investigation of conceptual and thematic ideas. Additionally, students will pursue in-depth research on both historical and contemporary photographers and ideas.

This is an advanced painting course with an emphasis on student directed projects. The course will introduce a range of techniques and processes, while also focusing on the development of a personal studio process with strong connections to contemporary ideas. As such, a central component will be on making connections between personal work and a contemporary art historical context. To facilitate this objective, the course is designed to be supplemented with slide presentations, class discussions, research and written assignments. There will also be multiple class critiques as the semester progresses

This is an advanced 2D course that allows students to continue to build on existing skills in a variety of media. The course will include a range of projects that focus on exploration of materials and concepts as well as working from direct observation.

Further into the course, students will have more flexibility with developing their projects and can begin to explore independent areas of interest - both through concept and media choices. Throughout the semester, students will be expected to complete self- directed research into the work of artists whose work directly relates to their own art- making. All students will keep a sketchbook and to create an ongoing portfolio of their artwork.

This course is especially good for portfolio development and is recommended for students who plan to take the AP Studio Art course as well as those who are considering attending an art or design program at university.

Through life-like design briefs students will be guided through the design process to explore independent and original solutions to a variety of creative projects. They will build on their existing technical skills with Adobe Illustrator in addition to learning InDesign and Photoshop software to learn how the Adobe Creative Suite works cohesively to help create a variety of advertising products including package design, concert posters, multiple-page magazine layouts and print advertisements for a variety of products.

AI & Machine Learning provides students interested in a career in the ICT industry an opportunity to explore technologies in the fields of Data Science, Machine Learning, and Artificial Intelligence. Following a project-based approach, students will gain hands-on experience combining cutting-edge machine learning techniques with Design Thinking to develop their own creative solutions to real-world challenges such as health, sustainability and the environment.

This project-based course in architecture gives students the tools to express and communicate themselves visually and be able to showcase their creativity. Throughout the course, professional guest speakers from the fields of interior design, architecture, and urban development, not only present but provide students with potential career paths as well as feedback on their semester projects. Students will explore the fundamentals of architectural design through hands-on activities using LEGO®, Arckit®, and other construction tools. Instruction will be given in the following areas: measurement and spatial reasoning, scale and proportion, design aesthetic, technical drafting, computer-aided design (SketchUp) and AR.

This course allows students that love working with clay an opportunity to explore this medium. Students will learn various techniques on how to build and create with clay. They will learn how to slab, coil and throw on the pottery wheel. Following the design cycle students will create products which can be both functional or sculptural.

In this course, students will build on the skills they learned in level 1, such as working with slabs and coils and using the pottery wheel. They will also create more advanced forms and experiment with different glazing methods. Students will look at the work of various ceramic artists and the techniques they use to make ceramics. They will also visit a studio in the New Territories where they will try raku firing, a special way of firing clay.

Programming is more than just coding; problem solving is the heart of programming and solutions can be presented in digital/non-digital ways. Using the design process and different communication skills; students will learn how to identify problems, design solutions and pitch their ideas for apps with an entrepreneurship lens.

This course bases the study of Digital Photography through a series of assignments focusing on advanced camera controls, color correction and digital manipulation with the use of both Adobe Lightroom Classic and Photoshop software. Students will be exposed to developing conceptual projects allowing them to cultivate personal ideas within their photographic practice. All students will be expected to keep a visual journal and to create an ongoing digital portfolio of their artwork.

This studio elective offers an opportunity for students to explore a range of both traditional and contemporary approaches to drawing and painting. An emphasis will be placed on the development of technical skills, processes, and personal meaning in both conventional and digital media. Areas of focus include: working from direct observation, media exploration, digital illustration, and conceptual investigation. Some projects allow for open-ended exploration and students will be encouraged to develop their own personal approach to their artwork. Additionally, students will be introduced to artists and ideas from both historical and contemporary sources.

Giving students an opportunity to continue and develop working in a specific medium namely fashion and textiles, building on their skills acquired in the Introduction to Fashion & Textiles. Using the design cycle, students will develop skills to ideate, research and communicate fashion design as well as develop their own designs. Students will learn pattern drafting and draping skills, along with developing manufacturing skills for functioning prototypes. Students will consider environmental issues and sustainability of “Fast Fashion”.

Students will gain a better understanding of the basics of Graphic Design by studying the elements and principles that govern effective design and page layout. Graphic design is the process and art of combining text and graphics to communicate an effective message in the creation of logos, graphics, illustrations, posters, signs, and any other type of visual communication. Students utilize the Design Cycle to develop and create a variety of projects that are based around the art and business sides of advertising and marketing.

An advanced multidisciplinary course, Independent Studio offers motivated students an opportunity to work with an expansive range of media and ideas. This course will allow students to independently investigate areas of interest, thematic ideas and technical processes. As a result, students who have met the prerequisite requirements will be able to take an increased role in shaping their own learning experiences. The course structure is flexible and dependent on student interests, focusing on open-ended assignments that allow for a broad range of interpretation and technical approaches. Materials and techniques will be introduced and expanded upon in relation to student interests and abilities. The course should provide opportunities for multidisciplinary and multi-media connections, as well as options for both independent and collaborative work. This course is recommended for students who are working to develop a portfolio for application to art or design programs at university.

*This course may be repeated.

This course is an introduction to fashion design and textile products, with an introduction to fabrics, materials, and sewing equipment. Students will investigate the world of textiles and fashion design, learn about fashion illustration and communication, fabric sources and manufacture, sewing skills, and textile manufacturing techniques. Students will use simple, existing patterns to design, embellish, and manufacture fashion and textile products. These skills will provide students with a solid foundation in sewing, construction, decoration, and manufacturing skills for fashion & textiles.

This studio elective introduces basic skills and concepts of photography in both 35mm film and digital formats. Topics studied include: image composition, camera controls, darkroom printing and manipulation of digital images. Many projects allow for open-ended exploration and students will be encouraged to develop their own personal approach to photography. Additionally, students will be introduced to both historically significant and contemporary photographers as they develop their portfolio of work.

In this course students will apply Design Thinking to develop mobile apps using Apple’s Swift programming language and industry standard development tools such as Xcode. Students will apply principles of modern app development including Object-Oriented and Event-Driven Programming as well as the Model View Controller design pattern. In the latter parts of the course, students will have the opportunity to integrate advanced technologies such as Machine Learning and Augmented Reality into their applications. Completing this course will give students the grounding and experience necessary to independently explore app development for a variety of platforms.

The digital and interactive entertainment industry (games and mobile applications) generates more revenue than the global movie industry, yet most people are consumers rather than producers of its content. In this class, students will have the opportunity to investigate, research and develop their own interactive entertainment solutions for mobile devices. The course uses a Problem-Based Learning approach to guide students as they connect the principles of User Experience (UX) and Human-Centered Design with user interfaces and game logic that they will create with code. Students will apply the knowledge and skills that they learn in this course to design and build a series of their own classic ‘indie’ style games from scratch.

This course will inspire students to unleash their creativity and design innovative solutions for various challenges. Students will learn how to sketch, model, and test their ideas, as well as how to address critical issues with mock-up models. They will use the design process as a tool to guide their thinking and make informed decisions based on rationality and empathy. Possible project themes include furniture design, lighting design, and body adornment. Students will also improve their manufacturing skills and produce quality models and prototypes, using both traditional and modern techniques.

This course provides students with hands-on practical experience in the rapidly evolving field of Robotics, spanning topics such as electronics, sensors, Computer Aided Design, fabrication and programming. Each student will build their own microcontroller-based robot from a combination of off-the-shelf components and components that they must design and fabricate themselves. Working both individually and in teams, students will tailor their robots to autonomously address increasingly complex real-world challenges such as those present in disaster response and rescue situations.

This course complements the Architecture I course and offers greater insight into the mind and world of spatial and urban design. Students are introduced to design methods and technical skills, leading to enhanced 3-dimensional thinking and analysis. Projects will range from domestic to commercial architecture and interiors. Students will be
able to apply their design and visualization skills to design briefs taking an empathetic approach, producing quality illustrations, designs, models and prototypes, using traditional and digital visual communication techniques. The course will provide students with the skills to prepare a college application platform if they wish to pursue a career in architecture, product design, and other art and design courses.

The style of graffiti is not just for the streets, it’s mediums and techniques are being brought into the museums and are used widely in advertising and marketing of music, apparel, sports equipment and getting a message across loud and clear. This style of work is young, energetic and can be politically driven. From canvas, to walls this course will experiment in learning the styles and techniques many famous urban artists are using while looking to the past to see how it all began. Students will gain an appreciation for the longest running Art Movement in the world and develop skills in the mediums and styles of this contemporary art form through a variety of creative projects.