THS Print Shop Pinks Out Tatum

By Melody Ojeda, THS Graphic Design Teacher

Our graphic design program is much more than just a “Print Shop.”

When people think of the THS Print Shop – most probably think “t-shirts.” However, it is my goal that t-shirts are just a by-product of what we teach in the graphic design program. In the past, that is mostly what the print shop has been – a place to make t-shirts. Since I took the program over last year, I have been striving to make it a place where we not only make t-shirts, but where students learn life-long skills of work ethic, citizenship, how to be a good employee, and of course, graphic design skills that they can take with them to college and the work place.

Graphic Design is a growing industry. With all of the digital content in our every day lives, graphic designers are in demand. I teach Adobe Illustrator and some Adobe Photoshop in the Print Shop. We have an online curriculum that not only teaches how to use the software, but also how to operate as a graphic designer. You must know your audience, the rules, parameters and how to deal with clients. These are life lessons that every student can use, even if they do not pursue a career in graphic design.

Having this program in the high school allows students to see the product of their labor. It's really cool for students to walk around the halls or a sporting event and see their work on people's backs. They take pride in that, as do I. Though it looked like a pink explosion in the Print Shop for two weeks, it was also really cool to know that their work was going to help a good cause for the Pink Out game. The community can see this too. I believe community members like to know that when they buy a shirt, decal, etc., that their money is going right back into the program – not someone else's pocket. When they buy a t-shirt, they're investing in a student's education, and there really is no better investment.