Graduate Media Design Practices

In this course, students take an intensive project-based module that are based upon emerging topics in technology, culture, global politics, and/or emerging science, developed through one or more of the MDP's research interests. The student work that results may take a variety of forms. Students learn: form to questions in design; approach design as a critical investigation; structure their time and working process; document and articulate project contexts / concepts in presentation, exhibition, and web formats; work reflexively.

Course number: GMDP-568
Prerequisite: n/a

In this course, students take an intensive project-based module that are based upon emerging topics in technology, culture, global politics, and/or emerging science, developed through one or more of the MDP's research interests. The student work that results may take a variety of forms. Students learn: form to questions in design; approach design as a critical investigation; structure their time and working process; document and articulate project contexts / concepts in presentation, exhibition, and web formats; work reflexively.

Course number: GMDP-569
Prerequisite: n/a

In this course, students take an intensive project-based module that are based upon emerging topics in technology, culture, global politics, and/or emerging science, developed through one or more of the MDP's research interests. The student work that results may take a variety of forms. Students learn: form to questions in design; approach design as a critical investigation; structure their time and working process; document and articulate project contexts / concepts in presentation, exhibition, and web formats; work reflexively.

Course number: GMDP-598
Prerequisite: n/a

In this course, students take an intensive project-based module that are based upon emerging topics in technology, culture, global politics, and/or emerging science, developed through one or more of the MDP's research interests. The student work that results may take a variety of forms. Students learn: form to questions in design; approach design as a critical investigation; structure their time and working process; document and articulate project contexts / concepts in presentation, exhibition, and web formats; work reflexively.

Course number: GMDP-599
Prerequisite: n/a

This course provides a foundation in design-focused creative technology methods, strategies and applications. Students learn to effectively use technology for a range of prototyping approaches, from "wizard-of-oz" demos to high-fidelity functional experience prototypes. Topics include tangible interaction, networks, digital fabrication, sensors, actuators, programming, simulation, and electronics on a range of platforms, from microcontrollers to embedded computers to 3D authoring environments (e.g. Arduino, Raspberry Pi, Unity). Languages covered include Python, Javascript and C#. The course is designed to challenge both tech novices and experienced technologists alike.

Course number: GMDP-516
Prerequisite: n/a

This course offers design and technology projects that complement other courses in the program, and focuses on emerging technologies such as machine learning, AR/VR, and simulation. Students learn to apply new technologies in creative ways, and experiment with fast prototyping and experimentation to discover potential and unexpected affordances of technologies. Students will also have the opportunity to work on an independent technical project with mentorship of the faculty member.

Course number: GMDP-566A
Prerequisite: n/a

This course offers design and technology projects that complement other courses in the program, and focuses on emerging technologies such as machine learning, AR/VR, and simulation. Students learn to apply new technologies in creative ways, and experiment with fast prototyping and experimentation to discover potential and unexpected affordances of technologies. Students will also have the opportunity to work on an independent technical project with mentorship of the faculty member.?

Course number: GMDP-616A
Prerequisite: n/a

This course continues to offer a series of short project that focus on engaging with technology as a generative exercise ("making to think"). The topics complement other courses in the program, and focus on emerging technologies such as machine learning, AR/VR, and simulation, along with imaginative approaches to using more familiar tools and technologies. Students learn to apply new technologies in creative ways, and experiment with fast prototyping and experimentation to discover potential and unexpected affordances of technologies. The course also includes a seminar portion, which introduces diverse references, drawing from fields of Interaction Design, Interactive Media Arts, and Science Technology Society studies (STS). In the second half of the course, students will work on an independent technical project with mentorship of the faculty member and discuss how work with/about technology is part of their emerging practice.

Course number: GMDP-646
Prerequisite: n/a

This course is a weekly 3-hour seminar in which students build a strong foundation in the theories and discourses surrounding visual culture, mass media, and design. Rather than proceeding chronologically, students investigate ideas through a series of overlapping and interrelated thematics with the goal of developing frameworks that enable a robust and critically engaged media design practice. The course materials will address a variety of media and design practices as they intersect with key theoretical discourses. Most of the texts will focus on topics related to American and European visual culture, but not to the exclusion of other cultural and geographic contexts. Course materials will be examined from a variety of perspectives, and will explore questions of modernity, textuality, visuality, technology, gender, race, and globalization.

Course number: GMDP-504
Prerequisite: n/a

This course is a weekly 3-hour seminar in which students build a strong foundation in the theories and discourses surrounding visual culture, mass media, and design. Rather than proceeding chronologically, students investigate ideas through a series of overlapping and interrelated thematics with the goal of developing frameworks that enable a robust and critically engaged media design practice. The course materials will address a variety of media and design practices as they intersect with key theoretical discourses. Most of the texts will focus on topics related to American and European visual culture, but not to the exclusion of other cultural and geographic contexts. Course materials will be examined from a variety of perspectives, and will explore questions of modernity, textuality, visuality, technology, gender, race, and globalization.

Course number: GMDP-509
Prerequisite: n/a

In the Fall term, students produce the written component of their thesis, learning to use writing as an important generative tool in the development of the thesis. Students learn to situate their work within the discourse through both traditional and design-research-based scholarly activities.

Course number: GMDP-603
Prerequisite: n/a

In the Spring term, students focus on how to bring their work out into the world through a variety of venues from social media to academic journals to biennales. They meet and visit with curators, editors, and a range of practitioners from industry to the arts. Students learn how to frame and situate their freshly developing design practice and projects, culminating in the creation of a range of materials to promote and disseminate their thesis.

Course number: GMDP-653
Prerequisite: n/a

This course critically examines design's normative worldview via theory, case study, research and writing. Challenging the adequacy of modernist, European value sets for contemporary design, students will explore their own worldviews, and be confronted by those of others. How can a critically engaged understanding of culture and context equip designers for productively addressing contemporary issues? In what ways does a serious consideration of context shape our understanding of materials, aesthetics, or even design itself?

Course number: GMDP-517A
Prerequisite: n/a

This course continues to critically examine design's normative worldview via theory, case study, researchand writing. Students will explore their own worldviews, and be confronted by those of others. Students will begin to develop their own position to productively address contemporary issues through writing and reflection on their burgeoning design practice in preparation for the independent research of the thesis year.

Course number: GMDP-567A
Prerequisite: n/a

This is a studio-based course in which students learn about design through a critical approach to designerly making. Students will explore systems, text, narrative, interaction, and people through experiences for scales, contexts, and approaches. Through readings and viewings students will learn to incorporate theoretical and historical research into the making process. Through exposure to material and technological histories, as well as current and future perspectives, students will be encouraged to "work the material" to find novel approaches and projects. Throughout, students will learn to consider the role of the people who engage with their work as part of the design, and sometimes as part of the design process itself.

Course number: GMDP-518A
Prerequisite: n/a

This is a studio-based course in which students learn about design through a critical approach to designerly making. Students will explore systems, text, narrative, interaction, and people through experiences for scales, contexts, and approaches. Through readings and viewings students will learn to incorporate theoretical and historical research into the making process. Through exposure to material and technological histories, as well as current and future perspectives, students will be encouraged to "work the material" to find novel approaches and projects. Throughout, students will learn to consider the role of the people who engage with their work as part of the design, and sometimes as part of the design process itself.

Course number: GMDP-519A
Prerequisite: n/a

This is a studio-based course in which students learn about design through a critical approach to designerly making. Students will explore systems, text, narrative, interaction, and people through experiences for scales, contexts, and approaches. Through readings and viewings students will learn to incorporate theoretical and historical research into the making process. Through exposure to material and technological histories, as well as current and future perspectives, students will be encouraged to "work the material" to find novel approaches and projects. Throughout, students will learn to consider the role of the people who engage with their work as part of the design, and sometimes as part of the design process itself.

Course number: GMDP-549A
Prerequisite: n/a

In this course students will reflect on and focus their developing and ongoing creative practice and actively look at the culture and context in which their work lives. The course consists of a mixture of individual meetings, group discussion, design projects, milestone reviews, exhibitions, writing lab, workshops, and reading groups. Academic advisement meetings are also an important part of the Grad Lab class. On entering the program, students are assigned an advisor who will work with them individually to help determine and focus their pathway through the program, build their experience portfolio and take advantage of internal to external opportunities.

Course number: GMDP-554
Prerequisite: n/a

This course is a survey of the key principles and processes of human-centered interaction design across a range of contexts; from screen, software applications and products to constructed environments. In a studio environment, students experience an overview of the discipline and of the different professional roles a designer may play. This broad framework allows students to contextualize their more specialized future courses of study and understand the methods and applications of Interaction Design. Students will develop skills in sketching the user experience through low fidelity prototyping techniques such as paper, slideshow, animation, and simple interaction. Taken in conjunction with Interaction Prototyping 1 students will iteratively develop screen-based projects as well as personas, concept maps, process flows and user journeys across multiple media/customer touchpoints.

Course number: GMDP-505
Prerequisite: n/a

Course number: GMDP-690
Prerequisite: n/a

Course number: GMDP-799
Prerequisite: n/a

This course provides a structure for students as they work on their individual thesis projects. In weeks 1-7, faculty mentors guide small groups of students in the early stages of investigating and defining their thesis pursuits. In weeks 8-14, each student works with a thesis committee-a team of thesis advisors selected to support each student's particular subject and approach. Students meet with their lead advisor on a weekly basis and with committee members individually and as a group.

Course number: GMDP-625
Prerequisite: n/a

Required course for student that have completed all their course work but have not completed their thesis. This "0" unit, no cost course should be taken every semester until the thesis is complete.

Course number: GMDP-699
Prerequisite: n/a

Thesis Gateway is a Pass/Fail Zero unit course that Media Design students must pass in the Spring before entering into their final year... their Thesis Year. If a student does not pass, the student is required to do a Lite Term in that Summer to work on those issues in which the student is lacking. The student will re-take Thesis Gateway at that time. If the student does not pass a second time, the studnet will be dismissed from the program.

Course number: GMDP-610
Prerequisite: n/a

Thesis Studio 1 provides a structure for students to develop their individual thesis work. Design experiments and research activities are structured through assigned briefs and deadlines that help each student to follow a line of inquiry and progressively build a body of work. Regular participation in research cluster seminars led by one or more faculty exposes students to contemporary work and provides depth and context to the students' own research questions. By the end of the term, each student will have defined the research focus and design work that is the foundation for their thesis.

Course number: GMDP-602A
Prerequisite: n/a

Thesis Studio 2 provides a structure for students to develop their individual thesis work. Design experiments and research activities are structured through assigned briefs and deadlines that help each student to follow a line of inquiry and progressively build a body of work. Regular participation in research cluster seminars led by one or more faculty exposes students to contemporary work and provides depth and context to the students' own research questions. By the end of the term, each student will have defined the research focus and design work that is the foundation for their thesis.

Course number: GMDP-602B
Prerequisite: n/a

Thesis Studio 3 provides a structure for students to develop their individual thesis work. Design experiments and research activities are structured through assigned briefs and deadlines that help each student to follow a line of inquiry and progressively build a body of work. Regular participation in research cluster seminars led by one or more faculty exposes students to contemporary work and provides depth and context to the students' own research questions. By the end of the term, each student will have defined the research focus and design work that is the foundation for their thesis.

Course number: GMDP-602C
Prerequisite: n/a

Thesis Studio 4 provides a structure for students to develop their individual thesis work. Design experiments and research activities are structured through assigned briefs and deadlines that help each student to follow a line of inquiry and progressively build a body of work. Regular participation in research cluster seminars led by one or more faculty exposes students to contemporary work and provides depth and context to the students' own research questions. By the end of the term, each student will have defined the research focus and design work that is the foundation for their thesis.

Course number: GMDP-602D
Prerequisite: n/a

Thesis Studio 5 provides a structure for students to develop their individual thesis work. Design experiments and research activities are structured through assigned briefs and deadlines that help each student to follow a line of inquiry and progressively build a body of work. Regular participation in research cluster seminars led by one or more faculty exposes students to contemporary work and provides depth and context to the students' own research questions. By the end of the term, each student will have defined the research focus and design work that is the foundation for their thesis.

Course number: GMDP-652A
Prerequisite: n/a

Thesis Studio 6 provides a structure for students to develop their individual thesis work. Design experiments and research activities are structured through assigned briefs and deadlines that help each student to follow a line of inquiry and progressively build a body of work. Regular participation in research cluster seminars led by one or more faculty exposes students to contemporary work and provides depth and context to the students' own research questions. By the end of the term, each student will have defined the research focus and design work that is the foundation for their thesis.

Course number: GMDP-652B
Prerequisite: n/a

Thesis Studio 7 provides a structure for students to develop their individual thesis work. Design experiments and research activities are structured through assigned briefs and deadlines that help each student to follow a line of inquiry and progressively build a body of work. Regular participation in research cluster seminars led by one or more faculty exposes students to contemporary work and provides depth and context to the students' own research questions. By the end of the term, each student will have defined the research focus and design work that is the foundation for their thesis.

Course number: GMDP-652C
Prerequisite: n/a

Thesis Studio 8 provides a structure for students to develop their individual thesis work. Design experiments and research activities are structured through assigned briefs and deadlines that help each student to follow a line of inquiry and progressively build a body of work. Regular participation in research cluster seminars led by one or more faculty exposes students to contemporary work and provides depth and context to the students' own research questions. By the end of the term, each student will have defined the research focus and design work that is the foundation for their thesis.

Course number: GMDP-652D
Prerequisite: n/a