Landscapes

Since 2009, the Seine-Saint-Denis County Council has been backing “la Culture et l’Art au Collège (CAC)”. This project is based to a large extent on the presence in class for several weeks (40h) of an artist or scientist whose mission is to engage the students in a process of research and creation. 

Tutors: Alexandre Dechosal, Maxime Foisseau, Alice Gavin, Valentin Bigel/ graphic designers

Project manager: Anna Mezey

Objectives:
Some people in the graphic design community love entrusting their creation to a computer. The computer is then no longer a tool but an alter ego with which the designers have a veritable contract – it is up to the computer to generate what the brain and hand can only imagine and design. By incorporating these trends, the students have the chance to develop the most extraordinary landscapes.

Workshop:
Dynamic graphic design
Graphic design and us: by interpreting our everyday life, together, the students and contributor seek out “places” where graphic design is at play: the media, culture, leisure, fashion, etc. More specific research identifies the computer-assisted projects. In parallel, several practical exercises are organised in class. The students test various creative formulas with the computer. 

Graphic design and software
Once they have mastered the necessary IT skills, the students are then introduced to coding itself. They play, handle and divert IT coding tools to design unique graphic forms. They learn to modify computer responses by changing the parameters: they learn notions of time and duration, the cursor’s position on the screen, etc. 

Graphic design and landscapes
The students and contributor draw up a written definition of full specifications to describe not only all the visual aspects of envisaged landscapes but also their modes of interaction with the public. When the time comes to produce their work, the students create collections - landscapes rendered using shapes and diagrams. They also adjust modes to make elements appear and disappear. Lastly, they create the sound environment.

Outcome:
Each class delivers its “best” landscapes; these selections are then brought together in a single video support. The classes organise a screening of the video in their school – it is up to them to devise the principle: using the school computers, screening onto the entrance hall wall, iPads, etc. In parallel, the students must provide a commentary for their creations and the processes they used.

Outings (selection):
- GAÎTÉ LYRIQUE: GUIDED TOUR OF “PARIS MUSIQUE CLUB”, INTERACTIVE SENSORIAL EXHIBITION WITH INSTALLATIONS TO PLAY, EXPERIMENT AND LIVE.  
- MUSÉE D’ART MODERNE DE LA VILLE DE PARIS: GUIDED TOUR OF THE EXHIBITION “ALBERT MARQUEZ, PEINTRE DU TEMPS SUSPENDU” TO TAKE A LOOK AT MORE TRADITIONAL LANDSCAPES.  
- CITÉ DES SCIENCES ET DE L’INDUSTRIE: TOUR OF THE “JEUX DE LUMIÈRE” INSTALLATIONS TO SEE THE INTERACTIONS BETWEEN GRAPHIC DESIGN AND LIGHT.

Participating schools:
- Class 6 e E, Collège Georges Brassens, Sevran
- Class 4e 5, Collège Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Pré-Saint-Gervais
- Class 5e D, Collège Pablo Neruda, Pierrefitte-sur-Seine
- Class 3e 1, Collège Jean-Baptiste Corot, Raincy