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Junior Katie Beth Herd (right) displays some samples of her design work she’s developed through the SSHS design/multimedia CTE program. Herd became interested in graphic design in middle school and hopes to complete an internship with a Dallas animation studio after graduation. With her is Megan Tingle, her graphic design teacher. Staff photo by Tammy Vinson -
Photography student Zachary Hunter looks at a photograph he took and edited earlier this year. Hunter has entered his photo in a contest and is awaiting the results. Staff photo by Tammy Vinson
Websites, commercials, print ads, corporate marketing, video games, special effects, publishing — there’s a long list of fields that use graphic design and multimedia skills.
Sulphur Springs High School’s design and multimedia CTE program provides students with a wide variety of these job skills, from client consultations to research to custom logo design to photo shoots and more. Students gain both job skills and work experience.
Megan Tingle teaches the design/multimedia, yearbook and photography classes and also serves as the yearbook advisor.
“Our yearbook is about 160 pages,” Tingle said. “Th[e students] get a lot of creative freedom. Basically they start with a blank book put it together, top to bottom. They come up with the theme and all of the headlines — all of the content that goes in it. The students get to decide stories and features. They help the photographers take portraits. They also have conference calls with the publisher in Dallas. They also sell ads.”
Graphic design students have been working on a variety of projects this year, including photography contests, designing logos and merchandise for school events and for the Cat Shack campus store.
In November 2019, Tingle challenged her students to create new logos for Hopkins County EMS to use on apparel, stationery and media. Students submitted more than 70 original designs, and HCEMS ultimately chose two logos as the winning designs.
One of those two students, Katie Beth Herd, whose logo won first place, has taken art lessons since she was 5. She first became interested in graphic design in middle school while taking a class.
“I’ve always been into art. I’ve taken lessons since I was 5. I’m hoping to do an internship at Reel FX [a Dallas/ Fort Worth animation studio] and see where I want to go from there,” Herd said. “I like designing logos. I think I want to work in marketing or animation. I definitely want to figure out what I like before I spend money for college classes.”
“I really want to see the program grow,” Tingle said. “My goal is to equip students with the skills they can use to supplement or work on the side. You don’t have to major in graphic design to use the skills and the programs. There are a lot of applications for those kinds of skills.”
The Arts, A/V Technology and Communications (AAVTC) Career Cluster focuses on careers in designing, producing, exhibiting, performing, writing, and publishing multimedia content including visual and performing arts and design, journalism, and entertainment services. Careers in the AAVTC career cluster require a creative aptitude, a strong background in computer and technology applications, strong academic foundation and proficiency in oral and written communication.
The Graphic Design and Multimedia Arts program of study explores the occupations and educational opportunities associated with designing or creating graphics to meet specific commercial or promotional needs, such as packaging, displays or logos.This program of study may also include exploration into designing clothing and accessories, and creating special effects, animation or other visual images using film, video, computers or other electronic tools and media for use in computer games, movies, music videos and commercials.
Tingle hopes to grow the design/multimedia program and have students work with local businesses and organizations in the community on projects like branding and logo design. Anyone interested in learning more about working with the design program can email Tingle at mtingle@ssisd.net for more information or to set up a consultation.