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Course Description

The Core Design Program is the foundation for undergraduate degree programs in the College of Design. Students are exposed to the fundamental languages and practices that support all the art and design disciplines. Design Studies 102 (Dsn S 102) is an intensive project-based course that requires students to learn art and design principles and demonstrate growth in being able to construct, critically evaluate, and iterate through making.

 

General Course Format

This course is taught using a combination of two formats: design studio and lecture. Design studios meet twice a week for multiple hours; in studios, a smaller cohort of students (16-20) will be assigned to one instructor and will work both individually and collectively on assigned projects. Studio courses may be managed in different modes, depending on individual instructor (e.g., Canvas, ISU, and/or email). Students are responsible for accessing these various forms of communication daily.  

Once a week, all sections will meet for a lecture; the lectures are there to support your studio activities, expose students to broader concepts of design, and present a diversity of perspectives from various designers. Faculty from the College of Design, Student Peer Mentors, and other art and design practitioners will address critical topics to help you better understand design processes and workflows. Friday Lecture will be held in person in Curtis Hall, rm. 0127, on Fridays from 8:50-9:40am. Attending is required. There are no hybrid or online options available.

• Announcements via Canvas, will be the primary way that the DsnS102 Coordinator and primary Friday lecturer, Nathan D. Edwards, will communicate with relevant announcements important to the course and your experience as a student. It is required and expected that you are proactively reading messages from the coordinator. Regularly check Announcements to keep up to date with information.

 

Course Learning Objectives (CLOs)

Upon completing this course, students will be able to do the following:

1: Demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental building blocks of the Elements and Principles of Design in both 2D and 3D Design products produced within the course projects.

• • Ability to Think Critically and Creatively
  • Ability to Integrate Research into Projects
  • Develop Ethical Awareness

2: Demonstrate an ability to analyze, evaluate, and communicate the fundamental building blocks of the Elements and Principles of Design in one’s own work and that other their peers through desk critiques, in-process project pin-ups, reflective writing, collaborative work, and verbal presentation of final projects.

• • Ability to Critically Evaluate Work

3: Demonstrate the ability to ideate, to evolve and transform ideas, as evidenced by visual products produced within each project.

• • Actively Participate in Design Process and Iteration
  • Ability to Tangibly Express Concepts and Ideas
  • Ability to Analyze and Respond to Design Context
  • Ability to Collaborate

4: Demonstrate an ability to use a range of analogue and digital media to convey visual imagery and design information.

• • Ability to Organize Work Visually
  • Ability to Use and Investigate Various Media

5: Demonstrate careful craft and curation of course work through both the physical display and storage of actual product and digital documentation.

• • Ability to Effectively Communicate Work
  • Ability to Document Work Effectively with Quality

 

Semester Projects: Brief and Calendar

You will complete three projects in this course. The individual projects are described in the project handouts under Modules. Your instructor will introduce each project in detail during the semester. Projects are assessed through a series of evaluation criteria detailed in the handout and rubric.  

Project 1: 302010, Weeks 1-5, Final Review scheduled for Wed, Sept. 20th and Thurs, Sept. 21st.

This project involves exercises that investigate the evolution of pattern and mark-making. This will be accomplished through the use of photography, drawing with pen, collaging. The goals of this project give an understanding of the use of two-dimensional design engaging line types and weights, pen as drawing media, materiality of collage, compositional strategies, design elements and principles, evaluating work produced and thinking through the development and presentation of a concept.

Project 2: Processional Form, Weeks 6-10, Final Review scheduled for Wed, Oct. 25th and Thurs, Oct. 26th.

Working in groups, you will design, construct, and carry a full-scale processional form through various spaces on campus as part of a coordinated performance. This processional form will explore themes of color, form, volume, materiality, and movement. At the completion of the project, as a class, the series of forms will move through various indoor and outdoor spaces across campus in a celebratory procession.

Project 3: Place, Weeks 11-15, Final Review scheduled for Wed, Dec. 6th and Thurs, Dec. 7th.

The final project leads students to explore and understand a specific site, indoors or outdoors, with the goal of defining Place.  Exercises explore Place through site-analysis, the creation of visual maps, environmental interventions of material, and visual representations such as plan view and cross section imagery.

Documenting Your Course Work:

Get into the habit of documenting your work! Keep a record of your design process for all projects. Photograph and scan your work as you produce it.

You are encouraged to set up and/or use a photography set area that may include a table, a plain cloth (black, white, or grayscale), a lamp, a tripod, and a good camera or camera phone. Photograph your work from multiple angles, high and low, and with strong lighting. Make sure to ask your instructor and studio student peer mentor for tips on documenting your work! Document all your sketches, notes, photographs, 3D models, and anything else you produce as you go. Save all your work until it is properly documented. Things that you initially think are inconsequential may become important markers of growth in your design journey. Your instructor will discuss this more in studio throughout the semester. 

Documentation resources that are available to you are listed under the "Course Overview" module.

Tutorials about documentation techniques are included under the "General Skills" module.

Course Materials

The link below will includes the full SUPPLIES LIST and will provide information on the Core Toolkit as well as the General List of Materials/Supplies used in DsnS102.

There are options for students with financial need to use the Design Closet.  Please follow the link for more information: https://www.design.iastate.edu/current-students/multicultural-services/design-closet/

If purchasing art supplies from the ISU Bookstore, please be aware of their return policy on some items. For example, it is recommended to carefully examine a piece of art paper or craft board before buying to make sure it is not damaged or stained. Once you buy it you can’t return it.

Please read the following list carefully. Some items that are listed are not required or only needed if requested by your studio instructor. Your instructor will advise you on what you do and don’t need to complete your studio work for each project.

Full Course Materials list for DsnS102 Fall 2023

 

The Design Studio Culture

The studio is the central place of design education, and its operating premise is based on ongoing, self-generated work, supported by a dialogue between students and instructors, and student peers. Using your designated studio time well will ensure you are producing work consistently and are available for pertinent discussions and interactions.

The role of your instructor, among other things, is to help you learn to think for yourself. Your instructor will not tell you exactly how to create, or what constitutes the correct response. Ambiguity is inherent in all creative processes, and a diversity of approaches is expected and valued. It is assumed that you are mature, have self-discipline, and accept responsibility for your education and therefore will intentionally explore your creative process.

Design is a critical endeavor. The more of your work you submit for criticism, the better the critique you receive and the better your design will become. Never take the critique of your work personally. Good criticism is a skill acquired with practice. The critique session, either at your desk, virtually, or in a final review, is one of the most important aspects of your design education. Differing opinions and constructive criticism will be consistently offered. You’re expected to exert yourself as a critic and you may find that the more active you are in this role, the better your own work will become.

What you are learning will be evident in the nature of your questions and answers, your ability to take and generate criticism, and the quality of your design work. You must work independently and produce new work prior to and each time your studio meets. No work means no feedback. During collaboration components throughout the course, you are expected to work honestly, respectfully, and to the best of your ability.

Iteration and reiteration are perhaps the most crucial aspects of studio practice. Have you made three designs? Make even more to explore your creative process. Was the critique challenging? Was the critique “amazing?”. Create more iterations with this feedback in mind.

 

Behavior in Studio and Friday Lecture:

Professionalism accounts for the skills, good judgment, and behavior crucial to professional success. These traits include consistent academic preparation, actively engaging in discussions, meeting deadlines, collaborating courteously with classmates, giving, and receiving respectful academic criticism, incorporating design feedback, managing time effectively, respecting the course space and building, and communicating in a polite and considered manner.

 

Responsibility for Understanding:

All efforts will be made by the instructor to present assignments and lessons in a clear and transparent manner. However, the problems given are speculative and abstract in na­ture and will require interpretation by students. If for any reason, at any time, the goals of the class seem unmanageable, it is the student’s responsibility to schedule a meeting with the instructor to discuss the difficulty and to actively seek a solution.

 

Space Use Outside of Class Time:

You are encouraged to find productive work spaces in the College of Design and King Pavilion to support you during your time in the Core. The designated 102 studios in the Lower King Pavilion are available to you after 3:00pm on Mon/Wed and after 5:00pm on Tue/Thurs, Please be respectful of classes that are in session and wait to use the lower KP until after DsnS102 studios have been dismissed. Sometimes there will be project reviews from programs and courses outside of DsnS102 held in the Beckman Forum (the center space) and, on occasion, in the studio spaces. Unless listed, Fridays and over the weekends there are no scheduled studios in the lower KP. Therefore, students are welcome and encouraged to use the designated DsnS102 studio spaces in the lower King Pavilion as additional workspace. Lower KP Interior Design studio spaces are off limits for use.

The College of Design has plenty of additional work space in the atrium and at the landings on each floor (at the center and also at both ends). You are encouraged to use the building to work and explore to find your favorite working space.

 

 

Table 1. Grade Distribution

Participation area	Points Possible
Project 1: 302010	100
Project 2: Sculptural Form	100
Project 3: Place	100

  

Grading is both formative (i.e., ongoing, every day progress) and summative (i.e., based on work produced for specific deadlines).

Grades are earned, not given. Work is assessed through a sequence of critiques, frequent discussions, interim and final reviews, which occur in the studio and occasionally virtually, as per studio. The completion of each project, including your required presence at every review, is necessary to pass the course, but completion in and of itself will not get you a good grade.

Your grade is also based on your engagement in discussion, production of substantial and quality work, design work during your studio time, and thoughtful conversations with peers and faculty. Coming to class not prepared, especially not completed phases of exercises each class meeting as directed by your studio instructor will negatively impact your project grade.

The evaluation criteria for each project, when it becomes available prior to the start of each project, and for the course are available to you on Canvas with the rest of the course materials.

 

Grading Policy By Studio Section

All studios will progress through the same project briefs and are aimed at fulfilling the shared course learning objectives. However, by design, each instructor will have unique ways of leading the course activities and assessing the work—the work from studio to studio will be different. Follow the guidance and instructions of your studio instructor as you complete the course work and communicate frequently with the studio instructor to best understand the progression of your work.

The instructor governs the evaluation of student performance for each studio. Instructors have the freedom to establish evaluation criteria and specific rubrics for each assignment—these rubrics are tethered to the overall course learning objectives that are shared across all sections. Carefully review the assessment information provided by your studio instructor for each project handout to better understand the qualitative and quantitative aspects of grading—ask questions if you would like more clarity. Please note that this grading system may not utilize a conventional point system for each assignment and may instead rely upon other methods to provide feedback—feedback methods are nearly always a combination of verbal, written, and graphic formats intended to convey more nuanced information about design progress.

Students are expected to have progress (or assigned) work completed at the beginning of each studio session; this day-to-day progress of work factors into the overall project grading. To receive a desk crit (feedback) from your instructor students must be prepared with completed work. Students who do not have work completed will not receive a desk crit and will be graded appropriately. Final work will not be accepted if progress work hasn’t been regularly shared with instructor.

Grades and evaluations are given based on the work produced by the individual within a group setting and not relative to other students within the studio as a whole. There are no ‘curves’ or quotas. Individuals working as teams may receive different grades depending upon individual work performed and peer evaluation feedback. Discrepancies between students within a group should be noted in peer evaluations and discussions with the instructor so that this can be considered when grading individual members of a team. Grades are strictly confidential.

The grading schedule will vary by each instructor (two weeks is typical). The format by which grades are shared and discussed will also vary by instructor; the instructor may provide interim grades at any time during the semester. Letter grades will be given by the studio instructor at midterm for students performing at ‘C-‘ or lower, and at the end of the semester.

Passing each project with a minimum grade of a D is a requirement of passing the course. Unexcused absences from studio class and Friday lectures will adversely affect your grade (see attendance policies below). Unexcused absences for any of the three final reviews is grounds for failing the project (and thus the course).

Studio instructors may opt to provide students with a Self-Assessment form for the projects—these forms are useful ways to think through one’s individual contributions across the multiple categories of assessment. Some instructors may have additional handouts available to help you work through a process of development and self-assessment.

 

Attendance Policy

This course follows all the overall attendance policies listed by Iowa State University in the course catalog.

Students are expected to attend ALL class meetings as scheduled (both studios and lectures). Attendance is mandatory and is tracked—multiple unexcused absences affects your grade. Instructors set attendance policies and excuses are handled between the student and the instructor—a shared attendance policy across 102 sections is articulated below.

Your studio instructor will keep track of attendance. Instructors will track attendance in studio each class meeting.  Friday Lecture attendance sheets will be collected at each Friday Lecture and submitted to each studio instructor.  Arriving late and/or leaving early in both studio class and Friday Lecture will affect your grade. Combined unexcused absences of Studio and Friday Discourse Attendance will be factored into your Total Course Grade. This means, after the total score from all three projects.

By policy, absences are classified as either excused or unexcused. Excused absences may include illness, field trips, extra-curricular events, military service, etc. The following link lists the overall policies related to these types of absences: https://catalog.iastate.edu/academic_conduct/ Written notification of excused absences that qualify under these conditions must be issued to your individual studio instructor in a timely manner. All other absences are consider unexcused.

In the case of illness, you must email your instructor prior to the start of your studio time, notifying them that you will not be in attendance. Doctor’s notes are not required by university policy. In the case of prolonged illness or absences that result from a crisis scenario, students should contact the instructor AND the Dean of Students office in order to coordinate an emergency notification process and to access other resources for assistance. https://studentassistance.dso.iastate.edu/emergencynotificationforstudents).

Without notice, all absences will be considered unexcused. Arriving late or leaving early, unless authorized by the instructor, will be considered an unexcused absence. Students are required to have all the tools, equipment and material needed to work effectively during class—leaving class for prolonged periods of time to get resources without instructor approval will be considered unexcused.

For all absences, the student is responsible for getting access to all course information covered independently—not from your instructor. Understand that many course activities (e.g., in studio lectures, Friday lectures, desk critiques, etc.) can’t be recreated outside of class time for students that have missed class. When absences occur at designated deadlines, the student is responsible for coordinating arrangements to hand-in any work that was due before the deadline has expired in CLOSE coordination with each instructor. Failure to contract instructor in a timely manner and/or to submit work on time will result in deductions (based on individual instructor’s policy).

If there are general questions about Friday Lecture, please notify the DsnS102 Coordinator, Nathan Edwards at nedwards@iastate.edu.

If you are absent at a scheduled in-person Friday Discourse (e.g. because you are sick), please report this to your studio instructor by email prior to the Friday morning of that lecture.

 

Grading consequences for Unexcused Absences:

Students may have a maximum of three unexcused absences from all sessions (studio and lecture) without any consequences to their grade (the equivalent of 10% of studio time).  A forth unexcused absence will drop the final course grade by one full a letter grade (e.g., B to a C).  Five unexcused absences will result in failure of the course—regardless of what the overall course grade is at the time.

 

Class Absence Excuse Memo Fall 2023

College Documentation of 102:

Student work created in the DsnS102 studios may be promoted on the College of Design and university affiliated sites, news and announcement items via social media, websites, and printed material, and similar.  Work used toward visibility efforts will use appropriate image labeling to credit students.  The Wearables Design Show promotes student work in this way, but visibility efforts will include 302010 and Place, along with activities within the studio classroom.

Photographs of studio activities will be expected throughout the semester to promote visibility efforts.

• Through photography and some writing:
  • Within the Studio, Friday Discourse, and other related Events:
    • Photographing the studio classroom and activities:
      • Taking photos of:
        • students working
        • student process work
        • student engagement in activities and groups
        • of instructors engaging with students
        • presenters and instructors lecturing
        • of materials and techniques demonstrations
        • pinup reviews and final critiques
      • Providing written descriptions of items on list above:
        • If necessary, reporting, and interviewing students and instructors (voluntary) 
        • A brief explanation of what is happening in the documented activity
        • Provide correct labeling of the instructor, students involved, the studio, and the activity
      • Capturing the raw experience as well as staged scenes.
    • The goal is to establish an archive of visual content that can be used to promote DsnS102 through the College, Recruitment, and news platforms for Alumni, the College, and the Community, etc.

 

Inclusive, Professionalism, and Mutual Respect Statements

 

ISU’S PRINCIPLES OF COMMUNITY:

Students are responsible for living the tenets established in ISU’s Principles of Community: Respect, Purpose, Cooperation, Richness of Diversity, Freedom from discrimination, and the Honest and respectful expression of ideas. Visit ISU’s Principles of Community webpage (http://bit.ly/isuprinciples)

 

GENDER IDENTITY AND/OR GENDER EXPRESSION:

Class rosters are provided to the instructor with the student's legal name. Your instructor will gladly honor your request to address you by an alternate name or gender pronoun. Please advise your instructor of this preference early in the semester so that they may make appropriate changes to their records.

 

ISU INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE POLICY:

All university publications and communication, whether oral or written, shall use inclusive language and illustrations. Inclusive language refers to language that makes every attempt to include comprehensively all groups in the community. Whenever possible, selection of academic materials will also reflect efforts to uphold this university policy.” Visit the Policy Library’s Inclusive Language website (policy.iastate.edu/policy/language).

 

HARASSMENT AND DISCRIMINATION:

Iowa State University strives to maintain our campus as a place of work and study for faculty, staff, and students that is free of all forms of prohibited discrimination and harassment based upon race, ethnicity, sex (including sexual assault), pregnancy, color, religion, national origin, physical or mental disability, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, or status as a U.S. veteran. Any student who has concerns about such behavior should contact his/her instructor, Student Assistance at 515-294-1020 or email dso-sas@iastate.edu, or the Office of Equal Opportunity and Compliance at 515-294-7612.

 

ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT: 

Iowa State University is committed to assuring that all educational activities are free from discrimination and harassment based on disability status.  Students requesting accommodations for a documented disability are required to work directly with staff in Student Accessibility Services (SAS) to establish eligibility and learn about related processes before accommodations will be identified.  After eligibility is established, SAS staff will create and issue a Notification Letter for each course listing approved reasonable accommodations.  This document will be made available to the student and instructor either electronically or in hard-copy every semester.  Students and instructors are encouraged to review contents of the Notification Letters as early in the semester as possible to identify a specific, timely plan to deliver/receive the indicated accommodations.  Reasonable accommodations are not retroactive in nature and are not intended to ! be an unfair advantage.  Additional information or assistance is available online at www.sas.dso.iastate.edu, by contacting SAS staff by email at accessibility@iastate.edu, or by calling 515-294-7220.  Student Accessibility Services is a unit in the Dean of Students Office located at 1076 Student Services Building.

 

RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION:

Religious Accommodations: Iowa State University welcomes diversity of religious beliefs and practices, recognizing the contributions differing experiences and viewpoints can bring to the community. There may be times when an academic requirement conflicts with religious observances and practices. If that happens, students may request reasonable accommodation for religious practices. In all cases, you must put your request in writing. The instructor will review the situation in an effort to provide a reasonable accommodation when possible to do so without fundamentally altering a course. For students, you should first discuss the conflict and your requested accommodation with your professor at the earliest possible time. You or your instructor may also seek assistance from the Dean of Students Office, website (http://dso.iastate.edu) or via phone 515-294-1020 or the Office of Equal Opportunity, website (https://www.eoc.iastate.edu) or via phone 515-294-7612.

 

DESIGN CRITIQUE + REVIEW + PIN-UP ETIEQUETTE:

Design critique, pin-ups and reviews are an integral aspect of the design studio environment. Often visiting professors or professionals are taking time from their practices to give feedback to students and their time should be respected. Students are expected to dress and behave professionally and should have their work on the wall and/or ready to present digitally by the beginning of studio, 1 PM unless otherwise indicated. All work, drawings, and models are to be removed at the end of each review or presentation, students are to remain until all trash is removed, chairs stacked, and pin-up boards returned to their original positions.  Those with courses immediately prior or after studio should make arrangements with their classmates. During reviews students are expected to remain in the review space, respectfully watching or participating in the review, cell phones are not permitted, and ringers should be silenced. Please note this includes texting and using the internet while peers are speaking. Students who violate these policies will be asked to leave class. This will count as an unexcused absence.