Students build their knowledge of design discourse and professional design methodologies through a mix of readings, writings, lectures, and discussions. Students deepen their vocabulary for discussing, evaluating, and observing a broad range of design practices, such as branding, experience design, service design, information design, social design, and design for sustainability. Theoretical topics covered include affordances, embodied cognition, multisensory perception, design thinking, inclusion, authorship, globalism and decolonisation. Students respond each week to writings by contemporary and historic designers, critics, and theorists. This course prepares students for framing an independent degree project, supporting work that will take place during the spring semester. Visiting artists provide presentations on special topics. Discussion groups to allow students to develop writing skills and discuss topics in more depth.
Senior Graphic Design majors only