Photoshop Creativity on International Dot Day

Mr. Schwartz's Computer Graphics & Design 1 students celebrated International Dot Day, a worldwide celebration of creativity, courage, and collaboration inspired by Peter H. Reynolds’ book The Dot. The story revolves around a girl named Vashti who is an unwilling participant in her art class. Her teacher encourages her to draw something as simple as a dot and then sign the paper, which she then puts on display as artwork. 

Vashti challenges herself to create a “better” dot and before she knows it, she is creating all sorts of art that uses dots. At the school art show, her teacher puts all of her work on display and a little boy tells Vashti that he wishes he could be an artist like her. She encourages him to draw something on a sheet of paper and he draws a squiggly line, which Vashti asks him to sign.

The story is one of resilience, creativity and lending support to others. It has been translated into dozens of languages and continues to be published - the most recent version in the shape of a dot!

For this activity, the emphasis was on creativity and participation rather than grades. Students were free to experiment with their new Photoshop skills, try different ideas, and learn without the pressure of being assessed.

What began with a simple dot became an opportunity for students to build confidence, explore their creativity, and discover where their own ideas could take them!