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ATTLEBORO - The slogan "Who's Behind Those Foster Grants?" is a well-known phrase to anyone who grew up in the 1960s or '70s.

Now eighth-grade pupils at Wamsutta Middle School will have a chance to learn a little about style and marketing with help from the folks who turned sunglasses into part of every movie star's wardrobe.

Sal Siano, marketing director for Foster Grant, and Rich Savignano, the company's creative art director, brought 150 pairs of free sunglasses and gave teens an assignment: Choose a celebrity whose look meshes with their sunglasses and create their own print advertisement featuring them.

The five students with the best designs will qualify for additional prizes.

The glasses are a reward for participating. The exercise will be part of a month-long exploration of commercial design in Mark Tortolani's and Tovah Stevenson's art classes in which pupils will also design and create their own sunglasses and packaging.

Tortolani, who grew up with Savignano in Seekonk, said the pair spent a good deal of their time "hanging around the art room."

Tortolani became a teacher and Savignano went on to a career in commercial art.

Mixing commercial design and marketing in art class gives students a chance to see beyond the classroom in ways in which art intersects with their lives, Savignano said.

"Art isn't something that just happens on canvas," he told the students.

Siano said Foster Grant is part of a family of sunglass brands marketed by FGX International, headquartered in Smithfield, R.I. The company has participated in similar student design programs with area high schools and colleges and values getting feedback.

"It's very impressive what we've gotten back from the students," he said.

RICK FOSTER can be reached at 508-236-0360 or at rfoster@thesunchronicle.com.