Class Syllabus
Course Description
Respected design leaders have excellent formal skills and conceptual rigor. They also have a strong understanding of the evolution of professional design practice through history, to the present day, and into the future. Our profession requires us to envision the future. We must apply this rigor to ourselves and our work. Designers must practice in a reflective manner, maintaining a broad knowledge of the design field, areas of practice, and possible futures. They are required to adopt new capabilities, and to pursue growth opportunities. This course presents the opportunity for the student to critically assess our design history and to develop the language of our profession. Our most critical task is to orient the student in the present. How did the Institute of Design arrive at this point in history? Why are you here? Our readings, discussions, assignments, and projects progressively lead to an articulation of why ID and your work matters.
Course Objectives
Through readings, discussions, exercises, and a final project, students will be able to articulate a personal perspective on the design profession. This perspective will be grounded in a historical understanding of our discipline’s evolutions, as well as the consideration of our design futures. The following objectives will be achieved in this class:
Learning Objectives
The following skills will be developed:
Students will develop fluency in design practice and culture
Students will gain an understanding of the various design disciplines
Students will be able to effectively communicate with colleagues
Students will develop facilitation and collaboration skills
Assignments will support conceptual thinking skills
Activities and projects will foster basic formal skills
Learning Outcomes
The following results will be achieved:
Students will develop an expanded design vocabulary
Students will demonstrate a knowledge of the design profession
Students will develop a reading and writing practice
Students will be able to act in the face of ambiguity
Students will focus their energy in areas of interest
Students will apply basic design tools and methodologies
Course Requirements
An Introduction to Design Practice is currently available to Foundation students at the Institute of Design. It is a part of the Foundation Sequence, and prepares students to confidently engage in the design community. There are no prerequisites. Grading will be based on the following four pillars:
Class Participation
As a survey, the class requires active participation and discussion. This constitutes 25% of the student’s grade.
Class Assignments
Assignments demonstrate active engagement with the readings. This constitutes 25% of the student’s grade.
Final Project
This project demonstrates a deep consideration of our profession. This constitutes 25% of the student’s grade.
Work Quality
Work demonstrates dedication to continuous improvement. This constitutes 25% of the student’s grade.
Absences must be excused; for each unexcused absence a single letter grade reduction penalty is applied.
Course Calendar
An Introduction to Design Practice is divided into seven design epochs of twenty years each, beginning with the transition from craft to industrialization. In the classes dedicated to these historical, the class will consider how design was practiced as a profession, and how we as professionals engaged with society. What did society need, and how did the profession rise to meet the challenges? These classes comprise the first half of the course.
The second half is comprised of a discussion of the tools, frameworks, and methods that designers have used to design products, services, and experiences for people. This second half is newly developed and will require adjustment and feedback. We conclude the course discussing design futures. You will present your vision of your career twenty years from now. This is a fun assignment.
First Half
Class 1
Aug 19th, 6:00 – 9:00 pm
INTRODUCTION/INDUSTRIALIZATION — The Course Context and Craft Versus Industrialization
This class will introduce the concept of design practice and the critical trends that will impact the evolution of the profession. We will review the syllabus and individual expectations. Questions will be addressed. We will introduce the Arts and Crafts movement and the response to rapid industrialization.
The class will perform a group exercise to introduce each other. We will also discuss several readings and our personal definitions of design.
Assignments: Reading, Hopes & Fears; Design definition
Class 2
Aug 26th, 6:00 – 9:00 pm
TIME — 1900-1920: Deutscher Werkbund to the Bauhaus
This class will introduce the formative period of design practice in Europe as well as the launch of the Bauhaus in Germany. We will review the past week and answer questions. Several students will present their product portfolio examples. Students will break into pods to discuss the readings. Lastly, we will introduce our next readings and assignments for the next week.
Assignments: Readings, Historical Product Portfolio
Class 3
Sep 2nd, 6:00 – 9:00 pm
SPACE — 1920-1940: Bauhaus to the New Bauhaus
This class will introduce the evolution of the Bauhaus and the forces that forced its closure. The New Bauhaus is introduced. We will review the past week and answer questions. Several students will present their product portfolio examples. Students will break into pods to discuss the readings. Lastly, we will introduce our next readings and assignments for the next week.
Assignments: Reading, Historical Product Portfolio
Class 4
Sep 9th, 6:00 – 9:00 pm
PSYCHOLOGY — 1940-1960: World War II to HFG Ulm
This class will introduce the post-war world and the economy driven by the growth of the middle-class consumer. The HfG Ulm is introduced. We will review the past week and answer questions. Several students will present their product portfolio examples. Students will break into pods to discuss the readings. Lastly, we will introduce our next readings and assignments for the next week.
Assignments: Readings, Historical Product Portfolio
Class 5
Sep 16th, 6:00 – 9:00 pm
SOCIOLOGY — 1960-1980: HfG Ulm to the Institute of Design
This class will introduce the rise of design methods and discuss the conflicts between creativity and systematic design. The mega-design practice is also introduced. We will review the past week and answer questions. Several students will present their product portfolio examples. Students will break into pods to discuss the readings. Lastly, we will introduce our next readings and assignments for the next week.
Assignments: Readings, Historical Product Portfolio
Class 6
Sep 23rd, 6:00 – 9:00 pm
GLOBALIZATION — 1980-2000: Globalization to the Internet
This class will introduce business consolidation And management that brought immense growth to global commerce. We introduce the topics of business and design strategy. We will review the past week and answer questions. Several students will present their product portfolio examples. Students will break into pods to discuss the readings. Lastly, we will introduce our next readings and assignments for the next week.
Assignments: Readings, Historical Product Portfolio
Class 7
Sep 30th, 6:00 – 9:00 pm
BEHAVIOR — 2000-2020: Connection to Control
This class will introduce the changes we have experienced in the past 20 years as a result of the internet and social technologies. We will review the past week and answer questions. Several students will present their product portfolio examples. Students will break into pods to discuss the readings. Lastly, we will introduce our next readings and assignments for the next week.
Assignments: Readings, Historical Product Portfolio
Immersion Week
& Mid-term Break
Oct 6th – 17th
NO CLASS
There are no classes this week. The mid-term assignment will be completed over the break period.
Assignment: Mid-Term Essay
Second Half
Class 8
Oct 21st, 6:00 – 9:00 pm
TOPIC: METHODS & DESIGN THINKING — The Design Methods Movement and Design Thinking
This class will introduce the emergence of Design Methods from the Operations Research foundations and contrast the beginnings of design thinking with the process of Design Thinking. Students will discuss the design frameworks they selected for their mid-term assignment, and we will discuss how to frame our project.
Assignments: Readings, Mid-term Assignment, Workshop
Class 9
Oct 28th, 6:00 – 9:00 pm
TOPIC: DESIGN RESEARCH — Design Research and the Context of Design
This class will introduce the topics of Design Research and Human-centered Design. We will discuss the reasons for the emergence of these design approaches. Wicked Problems and complexity are also discussed. Students will discuss the tools they applied to the project, and continue to develop the project artifacts.
Assignments: Readings, Contextual Inquiry, Workshop
Class 10
Nov 4th, 6:00 – 9:00 pm
TOPIC: SYSTEMS DESIGN — Applying Systems Thinking to Design Problems
We will discuss how designers began to face increasingly complex problems and the tools we use to understand the problems we are trying to solve. Students will apply systems thinking to identify the context of the problem. Students will discuss the tools they applied to the project, and continue to develop the project artifacts.
Assignments: Readings, System Map, Workshop
Class 11
Nov 11th, 6:00 – 9:00 pm
TOPIC: SERVICE DESIGN — Communicating and Positioning Successful Services
This class will introduce tools and approaches for delivering services. We will discuss why services became important to post-industrial societies and how organizations deliver services to accomplish complex goals. Students will discuss the tools they applied to the project, and continue to develop the project artifacts.
Assignments: Readings, Service Blueprint, Workshop
Class 12
Nov 18th, 6:00 – 9:00 pm
TOPIC: EXPERIENCE DESIGN — User Experience and Information Architecture
This class will introduce the emergence of User Experience and design tools used to aid people in navigating through complex information and services. Common tools and concepts used in designing complex systems will be discussed. Students will discuss their user journey for the project, and continue to develop the project artifacts.
Assignments: Readings, User Journey, Workshop
Class 13
Nov 25th, 6:00 – 9:00 pm
TOPIC: DESIGN FUTURES — Posthuman Design and Envisioning Future Scenarios
This class introduces the topic of Post-human design and the factors that contribute to its relevance on the design profession. We will discuss how artifacts help others visualize future scenarios. Students will discuss their future artifacts for the project, and continue to develop the project artifacts.
Assignments: Readings, Post-human Design Essay, Design Method
Class 14
Dec 2nd, 6:00 – 9:00 pm
TOPIC: REVIEW & FINAL PRESENTATIONS — Present Your Vision for Your Future Career
We will review the class and the trajectory we followed through the material. Students will share and discuss the project used to frame the conversation through the second half of the class. And, students will present their vision for their future careers as designers or otherwise.
Assignments: Class Project, Final assignment
Finals Grades Due
Dec 9th
END OF CLASS
Grades will be submitted one day prior to the Illinois Tech due date.
Course Tools and Support
It is expected that An Introduction to Design Practice class will be in-person at Kaplan Institute building. We will make adjustments as necessary, and may find that a class or two are virtual. If students are required to quarantine, we can support them by using Zoom. The class was virtual in the fall of 2020. We will utilize the following tools to support the class:
Canvas will be our central hub for class communication
Outlook will support direct communication with students
Zoom will be used to support virtual meetings
Mural will power our virtual collaboration
Additional tools will be added as necessary.
In addition to shared links and documents, we will utilize the following books in this class. Three copies of each title are available for sharing in the ID library. Bauhaus Futures is available in electronic bookstores. Both are highly recommended for your personal library.
World History of Design by Victor Margolin
Bauhaus Futures edited by Laura Forlano, Molly Wright Steenson and Mike Ananny
Image credits:
Bauhaus Dessau © Nate Robert License Under CC BY-SA 2.0
North Pole © Christopher Michel License Under CC BY 2.0