Entrepreneurship for Designers

Course Name: DESN 370-VT: Special Topics in Design – Entrepreneurship for Designers
Class Number: 42398
Day & Time: Thursdays 6:00 PM – 9:50 PM
Classroom: Online
Instructor: TBA

This course is designed for students interested in establishing their own design practice. Through personal reflection, analysis of existing design studios, and practical business skills, students will develop a foundational understanding of what it takes to launch a design-focused business. Topics include business structure, accounting, taxes, contracts, marketing, and project management. By the end of the semester, students will have crafted a personalized toolkit and action plan for beginning a sustainable studio practice.

Introduction to Lettering & Calligraphy

Course Name: DESN 370-VT: Special Topics in Design – Lettering & Calligraphy
Class Number: 40362
Day & Time: Thursdays 10:00 AM – 1:50 PM
Classroom: KP 481
Instructor: Amy Fortunato

This is a beginner-friendly course for letter enthusiasts that are looking to express themselves through hand-crafted letterforms. This is not a type design course that results in a digital font, but rather explores the artistry and bespoke qualities of hand-drawn lettering and calligraphy. Unique and beautifully crafted lettering creates stand-out portfolio pieces and is a useful asset for a multitude of projects.

A variety of exercises and workshops build hand skills with various tools and mediums that combine analog and digital techniques.

Character Animation

Course Name: DESN 370-VT: Special Topics in Design – Character Animation
Class Number: 42396
Day & Time: Mondays 8:10 AM – 12:00 PM
Classroom: IB 203
Instructor: Elliot Cowan

Looking to improve your character animation skills and learn traditional “acting with a pencil”? In this class you’ll take the animation principles you learned in your Intro To Digital Animation class and push them further to start delivering animated performances. Using Adobe Animate, you’ll create characters that think and emote and make the audience believe they exist. This class is perfect for anyone who wants to expand their animation skills, might want to pursue a career in the animation industry or simply wants to express themselves through the powerful medium of animation.

AI x Design

Course Name: DESN 370-VT: Special Topics in Design – AI x Design
Class Number: 42397
Day & Time: Mondays 6:00 PM – 9:50 PM
Classroom: Online
Instructor: Dustin Grella

In the rapidly evolving landscape of design, generative AI stands at the forefront, offering groundbreaking possibilities and posing new challenges. This course is designed for design students seeking to explore the potential of AI in the creative process. Students will delve into a comprehensive exploration of various AI tools, including Adobe Firefly, ChatGPT, DALL-E, MidJourney, Stable Diffusion, Eleven Labs AI, Runway ML, and others, learning to integrate them into design workflows.

The course combines theoretical learning with hands-on projects, enabling students to not only grasp the functionalities of these tools but also understand their practical applications in real-world design scenarios. As they progress, students will be encouraged to develop a critical perspective on the use of AI in design, particularly focusing on the ethical considerations such as bias, authorship, and the societal impact of AI-generated content.

Through lectures, workshops, guest speaker sessions, and collaborative projects, students will gain a nuanced understanding of how AI can augment, transform, and sometimes challenge traditional design methodologies. The course culminates in a final project where students will apply their learned skills to create comprehensive design works that reflect their mastery of AI tools and their thoughtful engagement with the ethical dimensions of AI in design.