DES1311

This course provides students with foundation skills and techniques necessary to communicate their ideas effectively thought drawing. The starting point for the course is instruction based on learning concept sketching techniques. Concept sketching entails learning freehand drawing and visualization fundamentals as a basis for successfully drawing from your imagination in order to successfully communicate three-dimensional concepts. It includes gaining a practical grasp of how two-point perspective and foreshortening of forms in space work so that students can gain confidence in quickly expressing their ideas visually, as a mode of design communication.

Drawing from imagination, learning to visualize from the imagination; these are indispensable skills in visual communication. These skills can be learned; understanding them and learning how to apply them does not depend on “talent” but on practice. The skills of effective visual communication are acquired through practice.

Building on these basic skills, the course will directly address modes of concept development through visual communication that relate to the four disciplines in our department—hence the designation of “common core” for this course. These are Apparel Design, Graphic Design, Product Design, and Retail Merchandizing. So, broadly speaking, the course will focus of the four disciplines though study and practice of forms in space (Product Design), composition and understanding of the use of design principles (Graphic Design), the human figure (Apparel Design), and the representation of retail space (Retail Merchandizing). Obviously, the intention behind this common core course is that students see the connections between these four perspectives and are enriched by learning how these categories intersect and build on each other.