21 courses with the subject DESN, each shown exactly as we captured it from the college's catalog, with every element we hold. Where the wording looks broken, that is our reading of the catalog, not the college's text.
DESN 10001Design2
54 hours CE level continuing studies course In this wide-ranging program, develop a concept for your own sneaker design while learning about product design, branding (graphic design) and interaction design. First, you’ll design and print a 3D model of your sneaker. Then, you’ll explore how to create a logo, tagline and brand for your footwear. Finally, you’ll create an interactive web and social media ad for your sneakers to help sell and promote your product. Pass / Fail Grading Only This course may not be audited.
90.0 hours 100 level undergraduate course Drawing is a mechanism for seeing and reacting to the world with greater clarity and understanding. This course is designed to develop the student’s ability to see, record, describe, and communicate through direct observational drawing. Assigned projects will explore process as well as the formal elements of line, gesture, space, scale, texture, shape, and tonal structure using a variety of drawing materials including pencil, charcoal, pen-and-ink and wash, among others. Projects range from the figure and still life to perspective and the environment. Students will keep a sketchbook to document visual explorations and thoughts outside the classroom. Priority enrollment to School of Design majors. This course is not repeatable for credit.
90.0 hours 100 level undergraduate course In this course, students explore the form and function of artifacts through the development of systems, services, organizations, and creative thinking processes. Coursework will initiate student application of design elements and principles, gestalt theory, and color theory and strengthen the ability to visually communicate concept, theme, emotion, and narrative. Through a combination of studio projects, exercises, workshops, and readings, students develop a common critical vocabulary for design thinking, making, and discourse. This course is structured to promote the interaction between design majors, encourage cross-disciplinary activity, and showcase professional possibilities in the Freshman Design Forum. Priority enrollment to School of Design majors. This course is not repeatable for credit.
90.0 hours 100 level undergraduate course Technology opens doors to new ways of thinking about design. In this course, students will learn about digital technology in design with project-based instruction using creative tools including Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and AfterEffects, in addition to exploring computer programming and markup languages. Technology best practices will be covered. Experimentation with tools to explore image, layout, motion, sound, and telecommunication technologies will prepare students to solve complex design challenges in future studies. Priority enrollment to School of Design majors, Game Art, Animation, Film & Animation majors and Graphic Design minors. This course is not repeatable for credit.
90.0 hours 100 level undergraduate course Drawing is the backbone of all forms of design and visual communication of ideas. Students will explore drawing that persuasively communicates ideas and information and learn how to apply design methodologies and strategies to visual problem solving. Through research, ideation techniques and thinking exercises, students will utilize the act of drawing as an iterative process of discovery. Projects expose students to a wide range of techniques and media experiences including digital drawing. Students will keep a sketchbook to document visual explorations and thoughts outside the classroom. Issues covered and developed in this course are the basis for critical thinking in all future design courses. Prerequisites DESN*111 Priority enrollment to School of Design majors. This course is not repeatable for credit.
90.0 hours 100 level undergraduate course Designers synthesize message, meaning, audience, and form to create effective visual solutions. Students will build on principles learned in Design Process, Theory and Communication and broaden their perspective with projects that examine scientific, social, cultural, historical, and political topics. They will learn the fundamentals of typography, further develop their skills in using form, structure, and color, and be introduced to concepts of marketing, business, and professional practice. Coursework will strengthen habits of mind, including effective time management and project planning, as well as technology use, presentation, and collaborative skills. This course is structured to promote the interaction between design majors, encourage cross-disciplinary activity, and showcase professional possibilities in the Freshman Design Forum. Prerequisites DESN*114 Priority enrollment to School of Design majors. This course is not repeatable for credit.
45.0 hours 200 level undergraduate course This course presents a selection of key concepts in the history of design, particularly the idea of human beings as designers and makers, i.e. Homo Faber. The focus of this course is on the period of prehistory through the Renaissance, and on to the Enlightenment and finally from the mid-nineteenth century to the late twentieth century within the broader context of this time period’s rapid technological change, social and political upheaval, and expanding cultural exchange. Looking at these periods, this course examines the relationship between design and culture, design and craft, design as problem solving and as a ‘rational method’, and design in relation to society. The primary objective of this course is to provide a deep historical context for the practice of design. Prerequisites WRIT*102 or WRIT*102H This course is not repeatable for credit. This course can fulfill a discipline history elective, critical studies elective, or general elective requirement.
90.0 hours 200 level undergraduate course This course introduces students to a practice-based, hands-on approach to developing visual communication design skills and methodologies that bring together message, meaning and form. Students are introduced to the Adobe Creative Suite, explore the creative process that can move ideas and information to the minds of others, and learn how to design with a specific audience in mind. While developing and applying individual and team-building problem-solving skills and taking part in critiques and discussions, students will also investigate other topics including design research, ideation, and storytelling. A guest lecture series presents work that demonstrates the possibilities of design thinking and application. The course gives students the opportunity to see themselves, their experiences and their environment as sources of creativity and communication. Prerequisites Complete 12 credits from Subjects IMAG, TIME, OBJT, and ENVI or complete 15 credits from DESN*111, DESN*114, DESN*117, DESN*120, and DESN*123 Priority enrollment to School of Design majors. This course is not repeatable for credit.
DESN 206Design for Persuasive Visual Communication3
90.0 hours 200 level undergraduate course With an emphasis on using persuasive communication, audience research and visual and verbal ideas as project catalysts, the principles of graphic design will be explored in print and screen-based work. This course integrates conceptual problem solving and digital design as students further develop their Adobe Suite skills and apply them to more complex projects. Critical strategies and professional examples will be covered in weekly lectures scanning the history of contemporary persuasive communication to help students working in creative teams develop a wide-ranging conceptual approach to the design process. Field trips to local design studios and agencies will provide the opportunity to observe and learn from design communicators in professional settings. Prerequisites DESN*117. Students majoring in Graphic Design are not permitted to register for this section. Students majoring in Illustration are not permitted to register for this section. Priority enrollment to School of Design majors and Graphic Design minors. This course is not repeatable for credit.
45.0 hours 200 level undergraduate course This lecture course builds on the broader historical overview of design presented in Design History by investigating and problematizing contemporary design issues and connecting these to their historical antecedents. Emphasis is placed on the expanding and evolving role of design in contemporary society and culture vis-à-vis pressing conditions such as environmental sustainability, globalization, DIY culture, technological advancement, network culture, and so on. By looking at a range of emerging models of design practice and the forces that influence these shifts, students will develop a greater understanding of the social and cultural implications of design while considering how design interfaces with an increasingly complex and interconnected world. Discourse by a range of contemporary designers, theorists, and critics will comprise the primary source material. Prerequisites DESN*200 This course is not repeatable for credit. This course can fulfill a discipline history elective, critical studies elective, or general elective requirement.
DESN 305Business Communication for Design Professionals1.5
22.5 hours 300 level undergraduate course Business communication is paramount to the successful transition from student to professional. This course prepares students to find internships and careers in their field by covering how to communicate effectively in all manners of business correspondence, the fundamentals of professional etiquette, the development of a personal brand, and preparation for a job search and interview process. Course curriculum includes: writing E-mail, cover letters, resumes and artist’s statements; website content; keeping a professional online identity; social media; personal branding; submitting informational interview requests; the Elevator Pitch; references; networking; and interviews. This course also provides insight into recognizing a potential client’s objectives and methods of successful outreach. Priority enrollment to Game Art and School of Design majors. This course is not repeatable for credit.
DESN 307Business & Preparation for Design Practice3
90.0 hours 300 level undergraduate course This course covers business principles and practices in the context of everyday professional design affairs, and the interrelated dynamics of design, business and the economy. Students will develop self-branded promotional packages for themselves, including artifacts such as websites and business cards. They will practice researching and presenting client pitches. This course also prepares students to find internships and careers in their field by covering how to communicate effectively in all manners of business correspondence, the fundamentals of professional etiquette, the development of a personal brand and preparation for a job search and interview process. Priority enrollment to School of Design majors. This course is not repeatable for credit.
90.0 hours 300 level undergraduate course School of Design Workshop is a cross disciplinary, collaborative opportunity for students to work with and learn from three to five world-class contemporary designers. The visiting instructors will share their talent, insights, and expertise in relevant areas of the market. Each of the visiting designers presents their work and then teaches an intensive segment of the course through lectures, technical demonstrations, and studio assignments. Students will work through a demanding process to produce innovative design solutions and finished projects. This flexible curriculum allows for timely design issues to be covered as they develop in the field. Prerequisites DESN*206 Priority enrollment to School of Design majors. This course may be completed 2 times for credit.
90.0 hours 400 level undergraduate course The first in a sequence of two senior thesis studios, this studio course is expected to be the culmination and synthesis of the knowledge and skills acquired from the successful completion of the preceding courses within the major. In consultation with faculty, research is undertaken and students define a self-generated capstone project. Projects may be collaborative or individual. The range of degree projects will mirror contemporary issues and best practices in design. Often, projects will address real world needs and require the participation of external collaborators/stakeholders. Prerequisites GDES*350, ILUS*341, IXDE*322, or PDES*312 Prerequisite override available. This course is not repeatable for credit.
90.0 hours 400 level undergraduate course The second in a sequence of two senior thesis studios, this studio course is expected to be the culmination and synthesis of the knowledge and skills acquired from the successful completion of the preceding courses within the major. In consultation with faculty, research is undertaken and students define a self-generated capstone project. Projects may be collaborative or individual. The range of degree projects will mirror contemporary issues and best practices in design. Often, projects will address real world needs and require the participation of external collaborators/stakeholders. Prerequisites DESN*401 This course is not repeatable for credit.
90.0 hours 400 level undergraduate course Enrollment in this course is open to Graphic Design, Illustration, and Industrial Design students and requires prior permission from the Internship Adviser. Interested students should contact the Adviser before registering for an advising session. Once students are registered for the course, they can begin the process of coordinating their internship placement under the adviser’s guidance. This course is a supervised art or design practicum taking place off campus in a cooperating business or studio that helps students bridge the gap between their academic learning and the practical application of that learning in the professional world. It is an excellent way for students to nurture their interpersonal skills, be exposed to new ideas in the industry, learn new skills by observing others in the workplace, develop real world problem solving abilities, and make professional connections. Many types of internships are available, with outlets ranging from commercial to altruistic. The placement represents 90 contact hours of professionally relevant experience and training, for the 15-week semester. A University professor observes, advises, and assesses the student during the course of the internship through in-person and e-mail correspondence. Open to majors in the School of Design only. Requires completion of 60 credits. Pass/fail grading only.
45.0 hours 500 level graduate course This seminar explores the social implications of design as a cultural product and catalyst for social interaction. Semantic principles and design vocabulary are introduced through lectures, weekly readings, discussions and exercises. Students will approach design as a languaging process in the completion of individual projects to increase competence in translating these ideas, concepts and principles into design practices; applying replicable design methods towards proposing particular products whose meanings matter. This course is not repeatable for credit.
67.5 hours 500 level graduate course This course is a studio for the pursuit of design research and inquiry, serving as a potential springboard to senior capstone or other involved projects. The focus of research and project direction is determined by the individual student, and can range from conceptual to structural while encompassing technological, historical, or theoretical design questions. Students also have the option to collaborate on teams designing and executing all materials for Liftoff, the year-end exhibition for the School of Design. Students will create proposals, iterations, and finished work for two short and one comprehensive researched design projects on topics of their own devising. Experimentation will be emphasized. Final deliverables can include print publications, posters, advertising and social media campaigns, websites, apps, written papers, artist collaborations, environmental or wayfinding projects, and emerging media formats such as AR, VR, and motion capture-based work. We make the path by walking. Prerequisites DESN*114, DESN*117, DESN*123, DESN*206, IMAG*101, OBJT*101, or MSEM*609 This course is not repeatable for credit.
45.0 hours 600 level graduate course A seminar devoted to examining the shift in cultural, technological, material, and professional landscapes that a graduate design candidate must navigate. Through readings, presentations, and discussions, students explore how these evolved contexts are changing the nature of design practice and thinking. Special emphasis is placed on developing key concepts and ideas that inform the work that the students undertake throughout their program. The seminar works in parallel with the studio course; topics and themes covered in the seminar are germane to the studio projects. This course is not repeatable for credit.
45.0 hours 600 level graduate course This course is focused on design research as it applies in a human-centered design context. Through readings, presentations, and discussions students learn to distinguish and articulate different research strategies, review methods and ways of making sense of data collected. Making sense of complexity by doing and devising actions based on abductive thinking produce meaningful argument that support decision making and iterative design development. Special emphasis is placed on ethnography, communication theory, and interventions in organizational systems and cultures. Restricted to Graduate students and Undergraduate Seniors. This course is not repeatable for credit.
30.0 hours 600 level undergraduate course This graduate seminar and workshop examines the theoretical underpinnings of effective collaboration and co-design within the contexts of organizations and communities relevant to designers working in several fields. With particular emphasis on the creation of successful consultant relationships between designers and their clients, the course explores such topics as systems thinking, facilitation and leadership, emotional intelligence and consulting dynamics, and co-design and participatory design frameworks. Through theoretical study combined with practical applications and tactics, students will gain an individualized understanding of how to better craft and maintain new collaborative relationships in the the context of their design practice. Priority enrollment for Grad Design Programs This course is not repeatable for credit. This course requires permission by the offering program office.
