FALL 2025: DSGD 100
Visual Communication & Process in Graphic Design
This class teaches students the importance of visual organization as well as the communication of ideas in design. Each semester introduces a theme in the form of a word that students are required to follow when designing their projects. This semester's theme involves students designing an object that can perform the word "shift".
The object I used was a folding fan and throughout these projects, I used Procreate, Adobe Software, as well as my camera to showcase the numerous uses for this everyday object.
Project 1.1
Design three highly refined reductive representations of your object, all drawn in a vector-based application:
• A solid black-and-white reductive drawing of the entire object
• A reductive drawing of the object, cropped into a square frame, using 2 flat colors
• A reductive drawing of the object, cropped into a square frame, using 3 flat colors
Project 1.2
Design a collection of 15 experimental depictions of your object:
• 3 analog representations of your object
• 3 digital representations of your object
• 3 photographic representations of your object
• 3 AI-assisted representations of your object
• 3 abstract visualizations of your object and/or theme
Project 2.1
Design four compositions, each with one or more representations of your object:
• 2 compositions integrating typography and a visual representation of your object to communicate an aspect of the object, and in which the typography is the hierarchical focal point
• 2 compositions integrating typography and a visual representation of your object to communicate the same or another aspect of the object, but with the object as the hierarchical focal point
Project 2.2
Design a 15"×20" informational poster discussing the connection between the object and the word shift.
The purpose of this is to explain the purpose of this object in relation to "shift" to a general audience. To showcase and teach viewers how this object can be used to perform the word "shift"
Project 3.1
Build a set of the three examples of paper engineering methods listed below:
• One pop-up, slotted structure (also called slice forms), and a folded pattern
Build a set of paper prototypes that express the design ideas listed below:
• One paper prototype that expresses contrast, transition, and repetition
Project 3.2
Design and produce a sculpture that evokes a central idea about your object or the theme (Shift) into three-dimensional form.
Project 3.3
Design an interactive board game. This game should aim to enhance a participant’s understanding of your subject through the interaction you design