The Visual Communication Design curriculum addresses the incredible breadth of skills the discipline requires, from critical thinking and principles of successful communication to the extensive took kit of technology.
Actual course content may occasionally deviate somewhat from the descriptions included here. Such changes are made with the intention of improving courses, including updating their content.
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V210 VC 1: Elements and Principles of Visual Communication 6 credits |
Studio course. Introductory skills development for Visual Communication majors. Exploring varied means of graphic representation utilizing formal elements and principles of visual communication design. Identifying, contrasting and analyzing techniques for the invention of two-dimensional form with the purpose of communicating information, concepts, emotions. Prerequisite: Foundation Year |
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V211 Typography 2: Elements and Principles of Typography 3 credits |
Studio course. Introductory skills development for Visual Communication majors. Typography as a medium of visual communication. Focusing on the formal properties of letterforms within the roman alphabet and the relationship between visual and verbal forms of language. Terminology, typographic history, and technical issues. Prerequisite: Foundation Year |
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V212 Image 1: Elements and Principles of Visual Representation 3 credits |
Studio course. Introductory skills development for Visual Communication majors. Imagery as strategy for visual communication and symbolic representation. Focusing on production and critical examination of visual forms and formats as indexes of representation. Basic visual semiotics. Using a learner-centered method to examine and find meaning in visual representations. Prerequisite: Foundation Year |
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V220 VC 2: Design Methodology 6 credits |
Studio course. Application and integration of knowledge and skills for Visual Communication majors. Defining communication problems; evaluating analytical, synthetic, intuitive approaches to problem solving; creating visual concepts to represent complex messages; developing critical thinking. Integrating professional service for civic communication with reflection on personal values. Prerequisites: V210, V211, V212, V214. |
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V221 Typography 2: Message Hierarchy 3 credits |
Studio course. Intermediate skills development for Visual Communication majors. Exploring communication design potentials using text type and typographic technology. Focusing on congruency between visual and verbal hierarchies, formats for informational organization problems, and technical details of typographic specification and layout. Prerequisite: V211. |
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V222 Image 2: Narratives 3 credits |
Studio course. Intermediate skills development for Visual Communication majors. Imagery as strategy for visual communication and symbolic representation. Focusing on production and critical examination of visual narratives within specific cultural contexts. Examining the roles of message makers, media, audiences and contexts in the production and interpretation of meaning. Prerequisite: V212. |
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V310 VC 3: Identifying Problems 6 credits |
Studio course. Application and integration of knowledge and skills for Visual Communication majors. Methods for managing complex visual communication design needs of institutions. Directing inquiries in unstructured situations with undefined problems. Managing expressions and impressions. Integrating professional service for civic communication with reflection on personal values. Prerequisites: V220, V221, V222. |
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V311 Typography 3: Systems of Typography 3 credits |
Studio course. Advanced skills development and applied research for Visual Communication majors. Structuring systems of typographic form according to information hierarchies, user needs, and multiple modalities of visual representation. Application to the organization of tables, charts, displays and publications. Prerequisite: V221. |
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V312 Image 3: Systems 3 credits |
Studio course. Advanced skills development for Visual Communication majors. Focusing on production and critical examination of image making as strategy for persuasion and power within dominant and sub-cultural discourses. Examining the roles of message makers, media, audiences and contexts in the manipulation and reinterpretation of meaning. Prerequisite: V222 |
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V320 VC 4: Facilitating Solutions 6 credits |
Studio course. Application and integration of knowledge and skills for Visual Communication majors. Methods to facilitate solutions to unframed community issues. Exploring social roles of designers as researchers, reporters, and editors in collaborative teams. Integrating professional service for civic communication with reflection on personal values. Prerequisites: V310, V311, V312, V314 |
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V410 VC 5: Designing for Innovation 6 credits |
Studio course with cross-disciplinary team collaboration. Application, integration, synthesis of knowledge and skills for Visual Communication majors and subject matter experts. Advanced methods for designing for innovation. Discovering and shaping opportunities for socially relevant innovations. Integrating professional service for civic communication with reflection on personal values. Prerequisite: V320 or permission. |
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V420 VC 6: Capstone Portfolio 3 credits |
Capstone studio course. Application, integration, synthesis, evaluation of knowledge and skills for Visual Communication majors. Applying tools for managing complexity to develop professional career plans. Reflecting on personal, academic, pre-professional experiences. Analyzing and evaluating transferable skills. Developing portfolios that demonstrate depth, breadth, adaptiveness of knowledge and critical thinking. Prerequisite: V410 |
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X401 Designing Integrated Experiences 1 3 credits |
Studio course elective in Experience Design track for major. Prerequisite: V320 |
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X402 Designing Integrated Experiences 2 6 credits |
Studio course elective in Experience Design track for major. Prerequisite: V320 |
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Y401 Exhibition Planning and Design 1 3 credits |
Studio course elective in Exhibition Planning and Design track for majors. Prerequisite: V320 |
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Y402 Exhibition Planning and Design 2 6 credits |
Studio course elective in Exhibition Planning and Design track for majors. Prerequisite: V320 |
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