Big Draw 2011 is a local success story that demonstrates the influence of graphic design on our personal lives and the world. Here’s a quick interview I did with Mariann Seriff, our Creative Director, about her participation in this annual event.
What is the Big Draw and how did you get involved?
Big Draw started five years ago at North Chevy Chase Elementary, a school in suburban Washington, DC. The goal was to give 3rd to 5th graders an opportunity to spend the day learning about drawing, painting, sculpting and design. Last year, I joined a team of designers to introduce the classes to graphic design and typography. Adriana Cordero, led our group, and Eva Santorini and I were her co-teachers. It was so much fun, I went back for Big Draw 2011 last week.
What happens during the day?
We make presentations in four classes. It’s a combination of showing the children what we do as designers and giving them a chance to experiment themselves with design.
We talk about fonts and how each style communicates a different message. Then we give the kids a couple of projects. One is outlining large letterforms on tracing paper and filling in the negative space. Then we give them an entire alphabet in several fonts and let them trace the letterforms to create a typographic self-portrait.
Have you noticed how technology is changing the children and how they respond to design?
In some ways, the kids are more sophisticated than they used to be, because they have access to so many kinds of communication. At the same time, they are really unaware of how much they are influenced by what’s around them.
We show them books, CDs, videos and stamps as examples of design, then ask them, “Is there anything in this room that a designer designs? Some of them spot type on a friend’s t-shirt or a Nike logo. Then the light goes on, and they start seeing design everywhere.
This year I showed an animation clip I did for Smile Train as part of my masters program. I fully expected the kids to say, “Hey, I made a movie, too.” You know many of these kids are playing around with technology on their classroom computer or at home. As adults, we underestimate how much it’s just a part of their everyday lives.
Why is Big Draw important to you?
It’s exciting to see the kids “get it.” Kids don’t often have a chance to be creative in school because their time is so focused on making the grade. I can give them a new way to look at the world and give them some simple tools to have fun with. To see how kids latch onto the ideas and go with it is really rewarding.
I congratulate the school for hosting Big Draw Day. The students love it, and look forward to it. They have a day of exposure to such a wide variety of art. We are warmly welcomed by the whole community, from the principal to the teachers to the parents.
Cindy Fowler is the editor of Smart Thinking / Great Design. Her insights and practical approaches come from over 35 years in marketing design, many miles on a bicycle and life as a fearless babyboomer in the world of social media. 