DES Students! Three New DES Elective Course Offerings for Spring 2023

Author: Ellen Christensen
November 15, 2022

DES Students! The DES department is offering three new elective courses in Spring 2023. 
See below for further details about each of the classes.

 

DES 277: Exploration in: Meaning and Discourse Through Design

Professor Sosa-Tzec 

This course explores how design relates to producing meaning and discourse in society. Through lectures, critiques, and exercises, students will discuss and demonstrate the application of theory from semiotics and rhetoric to design analysis and production.

Specifics: Students must be design majors or minors, and have completed DES 200 and DES 222 to enroll in this course. Activity. 3 Units. Letter Grade.

Student Learning Outcomes: Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

  • Utilize foundational concepts of semiotics to analyze and engage in design.
  • Utilize foundational concepts of rhetoric and argumentation to analyze and engage in design
  • Utilize foundational concepts of multimodality to analyze and engage in design

 

DES 377A : Experimental Image Making for Graphic Designers

Professor van Kampen  

Design is the combination of word and image. This course will explore multiple ways of conceptual image making both representational and non-representational for graphic design application. Students will be using digital and analogue methods of making including but not limited to: photography, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, and 2D / 3D material exploration. Students will learn about the rhetorical value materials hold and how to use this to support the communication of an idea or concept. 

Specifics: Restricted to DES majors; DES 200, DES 222 with a grade of C or better; or consent of instructor. 

Student Leaning Outcomes: Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

  • Create conceptual imagery using materials and technology.
  • Identify methods of making and selection of materials that will enhance the communication of an idea/concept.
  • Work through a rigorous design process including: research, ideation, and refinement.
  • Select and utilize materials and approaches based on their relevance to the context of use and articulate why this is so.
  • Document and present their work according to professional expectations employing verbal, visual, and written means.

 

DES 377B: Visual Storytelling 

Professor Christensen 

Introduction to visual storytelling in design with analysis of narrative theory and structure, point of view and persuasive techniques, and intended audience(s). Guided assignments in pairing of image and text. Exploration of sequence, pacing, content and image selection, translation of material into new formats, and development of design "voice" to tell a story. 

Specifics: Students must be design majors or minors, and have completed DES 200, DES 222, DES 322, and DES 325 to enroll in this course. Activity. 3 Units. Letter Grade. 

Student Learning Outcomes: Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

  • Identify how narrative structure, sequence, and voice operate in design 
  • Communicate complex narratives through visual storytelling approaches utilizing the selection and translation of text and image 
  • Demonstrate a narrative arc from beginning to middle to end through the application of sequence and pacing