DES 333: Design Deconstruction
Unpacking the fundamental elements of design
During this class, your approach to generating design ideas will be “turned on its head” through the process of deconstruction and reconstruction. You will be encouraged to expand your view of design, typography, composition, ideation, and effectively communicating with diverse audiences. Throughout the course, you will solve design problems by exploring and applying creative strategies. By the conclusion of this course, you will have generated a host of basic and refined conceptual pieces and acquired new methodologies for individual or team creative work.
About This Course
Project-Based Learning
A series of creative projects develop and test your understanding of timeless principles. Assignments include: Visual questionnaire, Vernacular Message Sequence, Redaction and Intention, Creating Symbols: Symbology and Language as Design, The Online Meme, and Design Over Time (Motion). Class discussions will stretch your creative and critical thinking skills in a group setting.
What Skills Will I Develop?
Students in this course can expect to learn to:
- Deconstruct and reconstruct multiple design concepts and layouts.
- Explore, evaluate, and synthesize historic and contemporary design theories and perspectives regarding typography, composition, and communicating with diverse audiences.
- Produce, curate, and present multiple ideations of design concepts with an emphasis upon innovation.
- Develop and refine conceptual design pieces informed by critical feedback as well as extensive exploration and research.
What Software and Supplies Do I Need?
- Computer with Internet connection.
- Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign CC.
Course Instructor(s)
The course is taught by the following instructor(s):
Andrew Shalat
Andrew Shalat is an author, designer/illustrator, educator, and Mac expert who is a regular speaker at Macworld and has written several books on design for McGraw-Hill and Peachpit Press.
Course Outline
Deconstruction
We will explore what we mean by "deconstruction" in this course, and how deconstructing design can give us creative tools for a wide range of contexts.
Creativity Is a Skill
We will examine how creativity is rooted in an understanding of art/design principles. Each design principle we discuss will provide a new creative lens to view our work.
On Using Type, Form, Grids, and Meaning
We will provide overview of the elements of design we will explore through a series of course projects. In every week of the course, you will be provided a fun and creative challenge that helps you "get inside" a specific design concept.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How Do The Courses Work?
Our courses are project-based and instructor-led. In each course you’ll complete a series of lectures, projects, discussions, and critiques designed to stretch your creative skills. Weekly assignment deadlines keep you on track, so you can build your studies around your schedule. Two live Zoom meetings in this course provide the opportunity to work 1to1 with your instructor.
Who Are The Instructors?
Our courses are developed and taught by our industry-leading faculty of creative professionals. This means that you’ll learn in-demand skills, get feedback on your work, and build a portfolio of creative work. View our Student Gallery for featured student projects.
When Can I Start?
Classes start January, April, and August, and this course is completed in a 15-week term. This course is part of a Bachelor's Degree program at Sessions College. You can enroll in this course on an individual basis or as part of a program.
How Do I Register?
To register for a program, complete our program application. To register for this course on an individual basis, please contact our admissions team at admissions@sessions.edu. An Admissions Advisor will contact you to setup your enrollment.
| Course Tuition and Fees | |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $300/credit |
| Registration Fee* | $200 |
| Total Course Price | $1100 |
Registration fees are nonrefundable after 5 days from enrollment.
Is Sessions College Accredited?
Yes. Since 2001, Sessions College has been accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC). The Distance Education Accrediting Commission is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a recognized accrediting agency and is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).