Students taking “You’re Designing the Newspaper” opened their Aug. 2 afternoon session with quiet but focused work with the program InDesign. Students opened their spreads with elaborate designs they had already built, as the students’ daily task was to re-design a page in their paper they were unhappy with.
“We started the morning session with assignments from yesterday,” instructor Jim McGonnell said. “They have been asking a lot of questions today and I will come over and explain. Our pace is okay though. We’re going to have to scramble tomorrow because we are doing a layout on the Lancing Derby Vixens tomorrow and we have to get our ‘People’s Choice Award’ ready which consists of a portfolio of this week’s work. The students share and vote for the best.”
Students have, however, already made significant progress. Many have learned the tools of the trade to work around InDesign.
“I’ve learned how to use InDesign to not make things so boxy,” Laura Fitzgerald, a Pioneer High School senior and two-time MIPA student, said. “I am now able to make designs more 3D. I am better at being graphically organized.”
Ray Carpenter, a senior at Dexter Hall and copy editor of The Squall, said he was enthusiastic with the progress he had already made.
“I’m actually learning more of the technical side of Indesign,” Carpenter said. “Overall, I’m gaining general knowledge of how to use it.” Tommy Behan / Upstart Staff
Leave a Reply