Exploring Digital Art and Design

Explore the Course

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This module offers an insightful exploration of the digital art landscape. It covers the historical evolution of digital art since the 1950s, key software and tools like Adobe Photoshop and Procreate, and fundamental navigation skills. Students will also engage with various brushes and tools to create their own digital artwork.

Introduction and Overview
Introduction to Digital Art	Quiz
Overview of digital art software and tools	Quiz
Software Navigation and Tools
Basic Navigation and Interface	Quiz
Understanding the Different Types of Brushes and Tools	Quiz

This module explores the essential skills of digital art creation through practical lessons. Students will learn to craft basic shapes, experiment with diverse brush strokes and effects, and understand colour theory and its application in digital art. Using tools like Photopea, participants will develop techniques to produce visually compelling artwork.

Shapes and Brush Effects
Creating basic shapes	Quiz
Experimenting with Different Brush Strokes and Effects	Quiz
Colour Theory and Application
Introduction to Color Theory	Quiz
Using Color in Digital Art	Quiz

This module guides students through the process of creating and presenting a digital art piece. From brainstorming ideas and selecting tools to refining their work and showcasing it to peers or online, students will develop creativity, critical evaluation skills, and confidence in sharing their artistic achievements.

Digital Art Showcase

This module offers an insightful exploration of the digital art landscape. It covers the historical evolution of digital art since the 1950s, key software and tools like Adobe Photoshop and Procreate, and fundamental navigation skills. Students will also engage with various brushes and tools to create their own digital artwork.

Introduction and Overview
Introduction to Digital Art	Quiz
Overview of digital art software and tools	Quiz
Software Navigation and Tools
Basic Navigation and Interface	Quiz
Understanding the Different Types of Brushes and Tools	Quiz

This module explores the essential skills of digital art creation through practical lessons. Students will learn to craft basic shapes, experiment with diverse brush strokes and effects, and understand colour theory and its application in digital art. Using tools like Photopea, participants will develop techniques to produce visually compelling artwork.

Shapes and Brush Effects
Creating basic shapes	Quiz
Experimenting with Different Brush Strokes and Effects	Quiz
Colour Theory and Application
Introduction to Color Theory	Quiz
Using Color in Digital Art	Quiz

This module guides students through the process of creating and presenting a digital art piece. From brainstorming ideas and selecting tools to refining their work and showcasing it to peers or online, students will develop creativity, critical evaluation skills, and confidence in sharing their artistic achievements.

Digital Art Showcase

Curriculum Mapping

See exactly how this course maps to official curriculum specifications

NCCA Transition Year Programme Statement (2025)

Curriculum Area

Outcomes

Personal Growth

P.1 P.2 P.3 P.4 P.5 P.6 P.7 P.8 P.9 P.10 P.11

Being a Learner

B.1 B.2 B.3 B.4 B.5 B.6 B.7 B.8 B.9 B.10 B.11 B.12

Civic and Community Engagement

C.1 C.2 C.3 C.4 C.5 C.6 C.7 C.8 C.9 C.10 C.11

Career Exploration

CE.1 CE.2 CE.3 CE.4 CE.5 CE.6 CE.7 CE.8

Components

CO.1 CO.2 CO.3 CO.4 CO.5

The curriculum does not include official reference codes for individual learning outcomes, so we have assigned a code scheme to make it easier to identify and track coverage.

What Students Will Learn

Learning Goals

Develop an understanding of the history, forms, and impact of digital art.
Gain familiarity with various digital art software and tools, and their unique functions.
Master the basics of navigating and using the interface of digital art software.
Understand the different types of brushes and tools used in digital art and their effective application.
Apply the principles of color theory in the creation of digital art.

Learning Outcomes

Identify the key characteristics and history of digital art, and discuss its impact on creativity.
Understand and describe the functions of various digital art software and tools.
Navigate and use the interface of digital art software efficiently, with a focus on Photopea.
Differentiate between various types of brushes and tools in digital art, and use them effectively in creating artwork.
Create basic shapes using digital art software and understand their role as the building blocks of artwork.
Experiment with different brush strokes and effects to create unique digital art pieces.
Understand the fundamental principles of colour theory and apply them effectively in digital art.
Present a digital art piece, demonstrating the skills and knowledge acquired throughout the course.

What You'll Need

Student Devices

Students will need one of these devices. Students can share in groups of 2-3 if necessary.

Chromebook/Laptop/PC

iPad/Tablet

Build a full TY year around Exploring Digital Art and Design

This module is one of 7 Transition Year modules you can combine into a complete Year-Long TY Digital Skills Programme, shaped around your timetable and the students in front of you.

Run the same pathway for every student, or set different pathways for different groups. Students also get access to the modules they're not doing in class, which is ideal for the keen ones who finish early or want to explore further on their own time.

Prefer a deeper tech focus? Swap in Advanced Coding or Robotics and Automation. Each module is 10 lessons of 40-60 minutes, leaving room for school events, mid-terms and everything else TY throws at you.

Why TY coordinators choose it

One decision, a year's content

No more stitching resources together every term.

Flexible per class, per student

Run different pathways side by side.

Certificates after each module

Great for TY portfolios, open days and reports home.

Sets students up for Senior Cycle

Broad exposure so they choose subjects with confidence.

Sample Year Plan

ICT + Coding focus

Computer Skills
Gets everyone on a level footing
Introduction to Coding
Real, working projects from week one
Exploring Digital Media
Video, design and storytelling
Exploring Artificial Intelligence
The topic your students keep asking about
Enterprise and Business Basics
A pitch-and-launch project to close out the year