Mike Wolanin | The Republic McKinley Shook of South Decatur High School talks about designing and producing this year’s C4 holiday card during an interview in a C4 classroom at Columbus North High School in Columbus on Dec. 13.
While elves are busy making gifts at the North Pole, C4 students have been crafting away at Columbus North High School — with computers and a laser engraver in tow.
Graphic design and layout students have wrapped up production on this year’s C4 holiday card, with teacher Jeff Metz saying that about 200 copies would be sent out. Recipients include principals and superintendents from the different schools and districts in C4’s service area, as well as community members on a general advisory committee.
This year’s card was designed by McKinley Shook, a junior from South Decatur High School. The design imitates a snow globe, with a circular top and a rectangular base. Different layers fold together to create a finished backdrop of pine trees, houses, and Santa flying off into the starry sky.
“It’s simplistic, but yet it looks real complex,” said Metz. “The depth of field in it is pretty cool. … This is one of my favorite cards that I think we’ve ever done, just because of the simplicity of it.”
Every student taking graphic design and layout was tasked with creating prototype designs for the card, he said. C4 administrators selected a couple of finalists, which were reproduced in card form. Administrators then chose the final design.
Shook got his idea from a globe design he found on the internet.
“He did all of the Illustrator files, and each side is a separate Illustrator file,” said Metz. “Then we placed that into InDesign to print it, and that’s where we print the card two-sided. And then from there, after they’re printed, we take them to the laser engraver where he has to create a third file that does … the actual cutting of the card. And then we pull it out of there and fold it down, and our director signs all of them.”
Shook said that he’s proud of the finished product and was able to learn more about Adobe Illustrator during the process.
“The best part would be getting to actually let people look at it,” he said. “It’s something that I’ve done, that I’m proud of.”
For Metz, who is retiring at the end of the school year, this is his last time working on the annual holiday card.
“It really helps the kids with planning a major project out,” said Metz. “They have to really think about how the paper is going to fold, how the design is going to look finished before they even do their sketches and stuff. But above and beyond that, they’re giving something kind of back to the community, a little bit. … And it’s promoting our program too, but I think that’s the least important part of the project.”
