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Design

Professor William Swann, Chair, Division of Fine Arts

Professor Adrienne Schwarte, Coordinator

The Major and Minor in Design provide guided instruction and discourse in design process, principles, elements, creativity, problem-based solutions and develops a strong visual literacy and criticism of the role and impact of design in a global society. The program complements the broad knowledge grounded in the liberal arts tradition with specialized technical and aesthetic design skills and expertise. The curriculum exhibits experiential and cooperative learning in conjunction with independent design research and projects, centralized towards compelling, effective, and culturally-sensitive visual communication. For all students, the curriculum embraces the belief that art both enriches and is enriched by its interconnectedness with other areas of human endeavor.

Students successfully completing the program of study will have achieved the following learning outcomes:

  1. Exhibit high standards of scholarship, creativity and integrity.
  2. Demonstrate a broad knowledge of diverse styles, genres, and media as well as technical and aesthetic proficiency with basic and advanced professional design software.
  3. Show a commitment to and self -critical awareness of their own design work and the ability to critique and evaluate others in a constructive, productive and collaborative manner.
  4. Understand major art historical movements, including the history of design, and the broad historical and cultural contexts in which they occurred.
  5. Demonstrate understanding of key aesthetic, ethical and technological issues that inform contemporary debate in the design fields.
  6. Make and defend informed judgments concerning historical and contemporary design.
  7. Express sufficient understanding of design concepts to enable effective visual communication.
  8. Apply the basic principles of effective typography and time-based motion graphics.
  9. Understand the philosophy of sustainable design and how it informs professional design practice.
  10. Comprehend the importance of team-based design work and learn to collaborate and communicate effectively in a team-based, client-driven environment.