Readings

Each week there will be readings that will expand on the ideas discussed in the course. The readings are design writings taken from many vantage points and from varying moments of design and art history. These readings will broaden your scope and allow you to be open minded about concepts that you may be able to utilize in your own work. We will have a brief discussion as a class each week about what we have read.

Presentations

Each week one student will be selected to give a brief presentation of an artifact of design that they have found that inspires them and to expose the class to something new. Consider your choice in relationship to the projects at hand. This presentation will showcase new or historic examples of design and the student should be able to explain why you chose this design in terms of relevance, functionality or visual interest. You should create a simple PDF presentation to show your findings.

Process

Each project begins with research: seeking information, material and observations about the subject matter. From there, you go to your sketchbooks, where you can start to visualize roughly your responses to the research. The projects will call upon your skills in analyzation with what is presented before you, in how to concept and visualize your ideas and working with images, typography, composition and production to enable communication within your final output.

The process is equally as important as the final and by using Are.na as a sketchbook you will be able to take notes, lists and add in visual references and inspiration so that it is easy to follow along your process as you go. Use a physical sketchbook to develop and record your visual ideas and then scan or document these and update your Are.na sketchbook.

There will be suggested process steps and milestones along the way that lead to your final work. We will work together to create a process that is productive so that you are able to be confident in taking on challenging multi part projects with ease. Your working mode should be independent, self-motivated and critical, but give yourself space to play —don’t try to create and analyze at the same time, they are different modes of your process, give room for both.

Note about Are.na sketchbook

In order to keep your ideas organized we will utilize the website Are.na. This will be a sort of ‘digital sketchbook’ for what you come across in your research. You will be expected to have an Are.na channel with images / digital content that you’ve been gathering for the course and your projects, and there is a chrome extension that might come in handy for you as you work. You can also take notes directly in Are.na if you like. At the end of the course there will be an option to print a PDF or a book of your findings

Inclusive Learning Statement

Your success in this class is important to me. We will all need accommodations because we all learn differently. If there are aspects of this course that prevent you from learning or exclude you, please let me know as soon as possible. Together we’ll develop strategies to meet both your needs and the requirements of the course. I encourage you to reach out if you are struggling as to how you could improve your learning as well. If you need official accommodations, you have a right to have these met.

Work expectations

We have a mutual understanding that learning takes work on both sides. I expect you to attend and participate in the course with a positive, constructive manner and produce the best work that you are capable with the resources available to you. As your instructor, I will mirror that energy. Together, let’s pull everything we can from this experience.

Aim to plan your time to manage your assignments and readings in the allotted schedule. Be proactive. Communicate with me clearly and promptly if you are having difficulties or need reasonable accommodation (within this remote learning paradigm we find ourselves in). Please bring your focus during class time. While working independently, I recommend turning off your phone to improve concentration. You might enjoy the feeling more than you can imagine, please give it a try.

Attendance Policy

For virtual meetings, class attendance is mandatory. It is your responsibility to catch up with class announcements, assignments, and materials on Canvas. You may not receive credit for a course in which you fail to be present 80% of the time, as determined by the Attendance records. Students should not disrupt class by conducting any activities that interrupt.