Art & Craft — Design, Mixed Media and Technology

Subtopic: Graphic Design (for age 10, Kenya)

• Understand what graphic design is in simple words.
• Use mixed media (paper, fabric, photos) and simple technology (phone, scanner) together.
• Create a bright poster for a school or community event using Kenyan ideas.

What is Graphic Design?

Graphic design is making pictures and words look good together so people understand an idea quickly. It can be on paper, on a phone screen, or on a poster. Designers choose colours, pictures, and words to send a message.

Kiswahili: Ubunifu wa picha na maandishi.

Simple poster parts (visual)

Easy design ideas (principles)

• Keep it simple: Use few words and clear pictures.
• Big title: Make the most important words large.
• Contrast: Dark letters on a light background or the opposite so text is easy to read.
• Balance: Put pictures and text so the page feels even, not crowded on one side.
• Repeat: Use the same colours, shapes or patterns to make your design look neat.

Simple colour palette (Kenyan feel)

Tip: Choose 2–3 colours from this set for your poster so it looks tidy.

Materials you can use (Kenyan & recycled ideas)

• Paper, cardboard, old school books, magazines (for cut-outs).
• Photos taken with a phone (ask permission first) or printed from school computer.
• Local fabrics (kitenge scraps), sisal, banana fibre, leaves for texture.
• Glue, scissors, crayons, markers, watercolour paints.
• Shared school computer, printer or a cyber café for printing copies.

Class project: Make a Kenyan Festival Poster (mixed media + technology)

Make a bright poster to invite people to a school festival. You will use both hand-made art and a simple phone or computer.

1. Choose a theme: wildlife show, harvest day, cultural dance, or sports event.
2. Draw or paint a central picture (animals, dancers, or the school). Take a clear photo of your drawing with a phone.
3. Collect magazine pictures or cut kitenge patterns for decoration.
4. On paper, plan where the title will go. Make the title large and bold.
5. Use glue to add fabric scraps or magazine cut-outs around the picture for texture.
6. If you have a phone or school computer: put your photo of the drawing on the computer and add text using a simple app (ask your teacher). Free tools: Canva, Microsoft Word, or Photopea.
7. Print the poster at school or a cyber café, or take a photo to share on the school WhatsApp group (with teacher permission).

What to show: Title, picture, date/time/place, and a bright call like "Karibu!" or "Join us!"

Simple technology tips

• Take photos in daylight so colours are clear.
• Keep the camera steady — hold with two hands or put on a flat surface.
• Use basic photo tools to crop (cut unwanted edges) and brighten if needed.
• Ask your teacher or parent before printing or sharing anything online.

Safety & recycling

• Be careful with scissors — cut away from your body and keep work area tidy.
• Use non-toxic glue when possible and wash hands after painting.
• Reuse old magazines, boxes and cloth to protect the environment.

Quick questions (for class)

1. Name three parts of a poster.
2. Why is contrast important? Give one example.
3. List two recycled materials you can use in mixed media.

Extra activity: Make a small booklet of Kenyan patterns — draw kitenge shapes and mix them with photos of items from your home or market.

Glossary (simple)

• Graphic design — making pictures and words work together.
• Mixed media — using different materials (paper, fabric, photos) in one artwork.
• Contrast — difference between colours or light and dark so things are easy to see.
• Layout — how things are arranged on the page.

Teacher's note: Encourage students to use local themes (wildlife, harvest, school events, cultural dress). Let them experiment with both hand work and simple digital steps if possible. Keep activities short and fun — 1–2 class periods.