This is not a class about making stuff. This is a class about understanding. Before Designers start the process of making, we attempt to develop understanding by conducting research. During this course, we will be conducting research, trying to understand the people we are communicating with, trying to understand the context we are communicating within.
Getting a good understanding of people, a good understanding of context, takes more than reading articles, surfing webpages, or watching movies. A good understanding comes from talking with and spending time with the people, and from dwelling in the context.
By the end of this course you will develop a set of ways to learn:
- who sees/reads/cares about your communications
- what is the best context for communication with people
- when people are interested in hearing from you
- what media channels will transmit a message most effectively
- what motivates people to respond to communications
- how people will engage with your designs
Course Resources
Library Resources Guide
Tobey Stein’s (librarian) research resources WIKI
Prerequisites
ART 2222 and ART 2225
Required Textbooks
Design Research: Methods and Perspectives, ed. Brenda Laurel, MIT Press, 2003 (ISBN:0262122634)
Design Studies: Theory and Research in Graphic Design (A Reader), ed. Audrey Bennett, Princeton Architectural Press, 2006 (ISBN:9781568985862)
Recommended Textbooks
• Social & Cultural Anthropology: A very short introduction, John Mopnaghan & Peter Just, Oxford Press
• An Ethnography Primer, AIGA and Cheskin
• Visual Research: An introduction to research methodologies in graphic design, Ian Noble and Russell Bestley, Ava Academia
Additional readings will be assigned from supplemental materials. Discussion will follow these readings to clarify, pose questions and ensure understanding. A written response to the material may be a part of the reading assignment. Please bring in any reading you find interesting or feel free to make requests.
Materials:
For creating your work:
- Laptop Computer
- USB Flash Drive
- Digital Camera
- Digital Video Camera
- CD-Rs, CD-RWs, DVDs
- Sketchbook
- Pens, ink, pencils, etcetera…
For displaying your work:
- Printer
- Paper
- Solid Mat Boards or Chipboard
- Spray Mount (3M Super 77 recommended)
- xacto knife
- Binding Materials as needed
Other Readings
The following books will not be primary resources for this course, but you may wish to consume/acquire them to enhance your conceptual skills and/or technical abilities in design.
The Elements of Typographic Style, by Robert Bringhurst
(October 9, 2004)
Hartley & Marks, Publishers
ISBN: 0961454733
Art and Fear, by David Bayles & Ted Orland
(April 2001)
Consortium Book Sales & Dist
ISBN: 0961454733
Grid Systems in Graphic Design, Joseph Muller-Brockmann
(1996)
Arthur Niggli; Bilingual edition
ISBN: 3721201450
