DES - Design

This workshop is designed to teach the basics of craft to comply with industry standards in the design field.

Design Core 1: Fundamental Design Studio provides freshman design students with an introduction to critical design concepts and methods representative of creative practice across all design disciplines. This 3-credit semester course encourages entering freshman to think critically and act creatively about and upon design, the world around them as they secure a skillful level of craftsmanship in the conception, development, and making of all studio-based work. Semester work focuses on key design issues such as process, method, technique, technology, and the production of visual and physical items necessary for the envisioning and development of design.

This workshop is designed to teach the basics of the print process compliant with design industry standards. Prerequisite: DES-100.

This introductory course will expose the student to the human centered design thinking. Developing an approach to design that listens, connects and then creates design solutions. This class involves students in a social design process which includes these steps...Empathy-Define-Ideate-Prototype-Test.

This workshop is designed to teach multiple methods of prototyping for quick ideation and testing. Prerequisite: DES-150.

This course is designed to introduce students to the theory, field, and practices of user experience design. The content will focus on designing for the user in a variety of screen-based contexts such as websites, mobile and web applications, design systems, and other environments, incorporating research, process, testing, rapid prototyping, and iterative design. Prerequisites: DES-101.

Design Core 4: Typography will introduce sophomore design students to the fundamentals of typography through a series of lectures and applied problems. Design students in this studio will become proficient with typography's enduring basics: structure, layout, and information hierarchy as well as terminology and typeface selection. Projects are designed to help students develop an understanding of, and sensibility toward, typographic details in order to create successful typographic messages. The course will first focus on individual letterforms, then proceed to words, sentences, and short paragraphs with multiple levels of hierarchical meaning. Prerequisites: DES-101.

Design Core 5: History of Design will introduce design students to both pivotal movements in the history of design and the theories associated with critical influencers. Students will be exposed to and expected to understand past and contemporary issues of the profession and to involve themselves in a rigorous design based dialogue. Covering a wide range of design contexts, this course considers the larger cultural, economic, and political forces that have shaped the history of modern design. In addition, it examines individual works from the last century in depth in order to understand how they reflect the social, material, and economic imperatives that confronted the designer and asks the question, "What now?" Prerequisite: DES-101.

This workshop is designed to address basic portfolio production in preparation for entry into a professional design career. Prerequisite: DES-200.

VCD 1: Making Meaning Studio introduces Visual Communication Design students to the skills, methods, and theory involved in the creation and use of semiotics (icon, index, symbol) and visual rhetoric as modes of visual expression within visual communication (graphic design). Over the course of the semester students will develop and strengthen skills in visual communication strategies, communication theory, and roles within message senders and receivers in the communication process. Students will be expected to design relevant, meaningful and appropriate visual form in response to contexts and communication problems while integrating visual and verbal messages meant to communicate to a clearly defined audience. Prerequisites: DES-202.

VCD 2: Advanced Typography Studio continues the development of typographic knowledge and extends beyond basic vocabulary to a deeper understanding of more complex visual communication problems. Students will address the role of typographic syntax and strategic messaging. Beyond hierarchy, context, sequence, and gestalt, design students will be pushed to focus on type as a pointer for series based works and explore how typography behaves across media. Increasing complex typographic systems will be designed and implemented in three-dimensional, sequential page, and time based projects. Prerequisites: DES-202.

In this course, students are introduced to the basic skills they will need to be an actor in the field of social innovation. They will complete readings, journal assignments, and group activities while learning about change models, research methods, relationship building, and facilitation techniques. At the end of the course, each student leads a group discussion, drawing on skills explored throughout the semester.

This class will help students learn to collaboratively and strategically shape the physical and social character of neighborhoods, towns, cities and regions. It will accomplish this by researching and analyzing social design which animate public and private spaces, rejuvenates structures and streetscapes, improves local business viability and public safety. The class also helps equip students in collaborative design skills they will put to use within communities to create positive social change. Prerequisite: ART-101.

This course will expose students to best practices and roles for user experience research methods. Content will cover research techniques, including interviewing, user personas and scenarios, testing, and gathering data to inform design decisions. Special emphasis will be given to behavioral observation, psychology principles in user experience, basic business concepts, and user-centered design thinking and theory. Prerequisite: DES-201.

This course will take an in depth look into the area of information architecture within user experience design. Content will cover intuitive and effective organization of content, information hierarchy, goal-based decision-making, user flows, site mapping, and wireframing. Special emphasis will be given to Gestalt theory and application as well as web communication. Prerequisite: DES-201.

Portfolio Review is the portfolio presentation and evaluation at the end of the Sophomore year. Students who plan to major in Visual Communication Design, Design for Social Impact, and User Experience Design at IWU are required to pass the BFA Portfolio Review before continuing to Junior level studio classes. The portfolio review normally takes place during the end of the Sophomore Spring Semester, however accommodations can be arranged for a Fall review for students who have transferred from another major, or institution, or who have specific conditions (dependent upon approval). To be eligible for review, students must have completed all Art and Design Foundations, all Design Core classes, and be enrolled in Spring semester Sophomore major studio courses. Prerequisites: DES-203.

This workshop is designed to teach the basics of photography as it applies to the design process. Prerequisite: DES-250.

Form and Function Studio is an exploration of the relationships among people, places, and the visual objects and information they use. Attention will be on the different roles of the designer as observer, empathizer, communicator and experience builder. From package to experience design, students will strengthen their communication design skills by utilizing various empathic driven design processes. Methodologies will be explored for visualizing information for clarity, and resonance with special attention to the relationships among audience and context in the creation of meaning. Prerequisite: DES-251.

VCD 4: Identity Design Studio focuses on the robust development of visual identity and branding as an integral part of professional practice. Working collaboratively in teams and with real clients situated in the vast marketplace, students will explore the branding process from the ground up. From deep research, market analysis, and brief building, teams will create identity systems that include color, texture, tone, type, image, semantic units, identity standards all of which will be presented formally in print and digital samples. Along with studio practicum, students will learn strategic marketing methods, theories, and professional implementation practices from the creative business spectrum. Prerequisite: DES-251.

This class will teach students how to collaboratively and strategically shape the physical character of structures. It will accomplish this by exploring design which rejuvenates structures and streetscapes, improves local business viability and public safety. It also helps equip students in collaborative design skills through an introduction to the fundamentals of structural design. Prerequisite: ART-101.

Continuing efforts of engaging the community in the transformation of physical space learned in DES 2XX DSI 2: Placemaking Design, workshop activities, comparative readings, and community discussion will contribute to urban planning of public spaces to meet the needs of local stakeholders in this course. Complex graphic methods of representing designed public spaces will prepare the student for visual standards in the urban and architectural fields. Prerequisite: DES-254.

Interface Design will emphasize the visual design portion of the user experience. Content will cover the history of interface design as well as current trends, best practices, design elements, and visual perception. Students will focus on designing for a variety of contexts such as digital interfaces, digital environments, and design systems through the lens of user-centered design. Prerequisites: DES-201 and CIS-122.

This workshop is designed to address the basic principles of motion design, movement, and time-based media. Prerequisite: DES-300.

Service and Research Design examines critical approaches pertinent to the profession of design today through research in order to produce relevant and meaningful visual communications solutions. Through specific service oriented assignments, design students will learn how to harness value in their design solutions by applying investigative processes, formulations, and tactic based strategies. Students will learn how to obtain hard qualitative and quantitative data through a series of research based methods. Working collaboratively, students will implement theory into action, which informs individual design practice thereafter. Much time will be spent in deep analysis over research texts supplemented by follow up discussion, defining of terms, and group dialogue. Prerequisites: DES-301 and DES-302.

This course will guide the student through the grant writing process - learning best practices for developing grant programs, proposals, and budgets for social art and design projects will be emphasized. In this class a student will have the opportunity to initiate conversations with people in the community to understand the type of funding needs common to a private or public entity. From their research and networking with people, the student will write a grant in an effort to raise a predetermined amount of money to assist the group or organization. The student's efforts will not be limited to fundraising. For the purpose of developing empathy, the student will be encouraged to participate in the organization's activities to better understand the people he or she are serving.

This is a foundations class engaging in the research of design methods and problem solving related to sustainability issues which affect the life of individuals and communities. While exploring responsible use of resources and materials students will learn various approaches to sustainable design. They will explore how sustainability issues affect everyone and every community. This class encourages students to be positive agents of change in the ways resources are employed.

Interaction Design focuses on the elements of designing interactive environments and issues encompassing the ramifications of viewer interaction. Human-computer interaction and heuristic theory will be addressed, as well as usability and accessibility. Content will include motion, animation, sound, and navigation conventions. Prerequisites: DES-255.

This course is designed to build upon the learning in prior design courses and provide contexts for implementation through front end programming methodologies. Content will cover exploration and use of industry best practices, processes, technologies, markup languages, frameworks, usability, testing, and design implementation. Prerequisites: DES-255 and DES-354.

This workshop is designed to teach the work of art direction and project management for the purpose of leading a team of designers toward a unified message. Prerequisite: DES-350.

Information and Visualization Design is a comprehensive studio with instruction on analysis and visualization of complex data sets. Students will concentrate not only on the presentation of data, but how data and visuals can be used to draft narratives to tell story and engage audiences. In-depth research will be conducted to help visualize data and organize and interpret information. Students will become familiarized with the fundamental ideologies and theories of systems thinking and how such thinking is applied to complicated design problems. Prerequisites: DES-305 and DES-351.

This cumulative course combines urban landscape, development of New Urbanism. Ecological practices combined with building a sense of community will be the focus. Prerequisites: DES-303, DES-304 and DES-353.

This course is designed to explore the field and practices of digital product design and management. Content will cover prototyping techniques, testing, user research, product development, iterative design, and business needs and concepts. Special emphasis will be given to solving for real-world problems through digital products as well as user centered design theory and practice. Prerequisites: DES-255 and DES-354.

During this first of a two-semester senior capstone class, the student will research a design problem in preparation for Senior Project 2. A professional creative studio environment will support an independent design process similar to what is expected in the industry. Prerequisite: DES-257.

This workshop is designed to address and explore freelance design as it relates to their personal practice, including best business and marketing practices, client relationship interaction, and industry tools and tips. Prerequisite: DES-400.

In this course, students will apply best practices, strategies, and design thinking to solve for a human-centered design problem. Students will collaboratively generate an innovative, design-based entrepreneurial solution to a social problem and/or opportunity. Empathy-driven research will inform design decisions and a case study will also be completed at the end of the semester. Prerequisite: DES-351 or DES-353 or DES-403

A professional internship prepares the student to participate in a creative design environment after graduation. The integration of knowledge and theory learned in the classroom is applied alongside technical skills providing the opportunity to gain valuable experience and develop professional relationships. Working under the guidance of a trained professional affords guidance and evaluation from designers away from the familiar academic setting.

After successfully completing Senior Thesis Studio 1, the student will implement the design plan and process to complete a creative design solution. The process will move through the stages of concept, prototyping, testing, and implementation concluded by a presentation to a jury or selected project stakeholders. The student will write a full case study at the conclusion of the course. Prerequisite: DES-405.