People say that print is dead, but Amy Moore and her graphics technology students would have to disagree.
They spend hours a day in Goose Creek High’s print shop, which serves all of Berkeley County School District and occasionally outside businesses, bringing people’s designs to life.
Need a banner for a grand opening? They can do that!
How about a poster for a conference? Coming right up!
1,000 t-shirts? No problem! They have a direct to garment printer that can take an image and put it right on a shirt in a few minutes.
The world of graphic communication is vast.
“Everybody communicates through visual aspects,” Amy Moore, GCH’s graphic technology teacher, said. “I love showing them how to do it and opening their eyes to the world of print.”
Moore tries to get her students to see there’s more to visual communications than being a graphic designer, there’s packaging and the physical element of printing as well.
“Think about when you walk into a grocery store, somebody had to design that packaging and somebody had to print it,” said Moore.
To pursue a career in graphics technology, students don’t necessarily have to pursue a four-year degree.
Moore said she’s seen her students thrive in the industry in all types of ways. Some of them by becoming amazing freelance designers after completing a two-year or four-year degree program, some by immediately entering the workforce and working at a local or in-house corporate print shop.
“There’s a lot of printing companies around here,” Moore said. “Santee Cooper, MUSC, Ross Printing, Night Press, Summerville Printing Associates…there’s more than what you think.”
While they’re in Graphics 4, graphics technology students can receive co-op opportunities where they work in the field with a local company during the school day. Or, if they complete all four of the graphics technology classes, they can return to Goose Creek High’s print shop for work-based learning with Moore. Students who choose the latter would help Moore complete jobs for the school district, which can be submitted through an online work order or by emailing moorea@bcsdschools.net.
Senior India Chisolm, a Graphics 4 student and work-based learner, loves working in the district print shop, especially on the cutting machine.
“It’s cool to see the blade cut through,” Chisolm said. “I love like when she (Moore) teaches us what the different machines do and how to work them.”
Chisolm decided to take the class after seeing her sister take it during her time at GCH. However, since she had Graphics 1 during 2020, she had a very different experience at first and could only start using Adobe programs like InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop once the print shop was reopened.
All Graphics 4 students have the opportunity to take the ACA Associates Adobe Certification Test and learning these programs is a large part of the digital design element of the class. So, while students were still able to learn about design principles and create sketches at home, it was a difficult transition back to the classroom.
“I didn’t think I was going to come this far, but something kept me going,” Chisolm said. “Now, I want to go to school for graphics and learn more about graphics.”
Chisolm plans to attend the Savannah College of Art and Design this fall and major in graphic design.
