Welcome Recruit, You are entering our GAME (Graphic and Media Experiment) which is the alternate reality in which our classroom functions. The CIA (Creative Institute of Art) is our agency you are about to join. Here, you will begin training with the goal to develop into a Design Super AGENT. If you think are ready to get going, let’s become a little more familiar with how this all works. Start off by finding your inner gamer.

Start with this button

You will be direct back to this page to continue your orientation.

Step 1: Find Your Inner Gamer

If a page doesn’t load properly, refresh it. Our site freezes up sometime and needs a simple refresh. The keyboard shortcut to refresh a page (which you will be expected to know) is Command+R. PC Users: On a Mac, the Command key (on either side of the space bar) serves the same function as the Control key does on your PC. You will get use to it. And just to get it out of the way, the reason we use Macs in this classroom is that we try to mirror industry and the creative industry is overwhelmingly Mac-centric. (There are exceptions, of course.) The computer is a tool, not a religion, okay?

You will encounter many new vocabulary in this class. When you find a word you don’t know, Control+click or right-click(if your mouse can right click) on it and look it up. Computers are wonderful tools with a wide array of helpful features that you may or may not know of. You’ll soon learn to use this tool like a pro!

The dictionary provides definitions. Always look at the context to clarify the meaning. You’re expected to make a concerted effort to read and understand what your experience might be like this year. (That’s what this page is all about.) You may safely assume that you’ve never been extended an opportunity like the one you will experience in here this semester. Hint: Try to keep an open mind.

Pay special attention to italicized, underlined, and bolded statements on pages. These are key pieces of advice that you will need later. How you approach your orientation will say a lot about your potential for Super Agent Status or just a flatliner that goes no where. Take your time, read carefully, and consider the implications of what you’re about to encounter. Self-pacing is the key. Work within your comfort zone as you make your way through orientation. Working too fast will come with its own penalties.

Two things you should always be looking into carefully are hyperlinks and written instructions. Our class will be dependent on locating links to videos, web pages, and occasional downloads. When you see one, its imperative that you always click on the link to see what they will show you. That link was provided with the expectation that you will click it…always. Sometimes it will open a new window and sometimes it will simply take you to the next page.

Click the links If you just watched that video, you are off to a perfect start. If not click the link above. As you begin to get comfortable with Chrome you may also find it helpful to use multiple tabs windows. Many links will automatically open in a new tab OR you can Command+click any link to force it to open as a new tab. 

Many instructions this semester will be delivered to you via Videos/Tutorials, both from the Captain and from third-party resources. As with all written information you are expected to watch the videos to the end. Failure to do so will result in in-game penalties. We use videos so any player may pause when needed. You may then take notes or execute the given instructions. This allows gamers to move at a pace you are each most effective with.

Did you pay attention? Did you carefully read all of the words? Did you look up the words you didn’t understand? Did you begin to understand the implications of the words you read? If you cannot answer yes to all of those questions, you should go back and review the slides once again. (The link is in that blue rectangle right above this section.) You wouldn’t want to begin your journey as just another flatliner, would you? And to you potential superheroes, my sincere apologies for the interruption. Please carry on.

Students from our program have been recognized at every level including District, State, and Nationally with awards and scholarships. The Student galleries page is located in the menu at the top and is continually updated with the best of the best. Will you be the next addition? Our site has been visited by all 50 states and over 106 countries. The world is seeing what we are doing here.

One of our keys to success is iteration. The belief that good enough seldom is. Artwork is often vastly improved through refining, enhancing, and polishing the work. Then taking it the final 10% (more on that later). But first comes mastery of the fundamentals. It takes time and effort, determination and perseverance, patience and perspective to develop the skills to create gallery-worthy work. It’s a long road. Do you have what it takes?

Did you take your time perusing the galleries? Seriously, for those who are unwilling to spend some time looking at incredible artwork, how in the world do you ever expect to create anything worthwhile? We will revisit this topic again soon. Oh, and you should know about ARD. See those two monitors over at the Captain’s desk? Every screen in the room is displayed there. Yep, he can see what everyone is doing.

Everyone. It’s not too late to head back to the slides if you “skimmed” those, too. The Captain respects that type of honest admission.

Congratulations, recruit! You are now a member of the Creative Crusade with access to all that the CIA has to offer. This website will direct your journey and will become your homebase in or outside of class. Use it well and use it wisely. We have big hopes and plans for you and your squadmates this semester.

You controlled the pace of your initial orientation. Now you control the pace of your leveling, looting, and learning. Please remember that the most important of those three is the learning. Skimming quests is a very bad idea. What you learn and don’t learn will be evident in your actions, not to mention in your stats panel. You do not want to attract Agent Paine’s attention. Don’t just do, learn. Learn by doing and redoing. Repetition builds muscle memory. Exercise that muscle. You know, the one that sits right between your ears. Oh, and remember to have fun, too.