Communication Systems

Investigates the elements, layout, and information structures in communication systems.

Objective & Outcomes

Through this course, students will investigate how shape, color, typographic choices, arrangement, dynamism, repetition, and layout affect the interpretability of information. Students will consider how the creation of design systems, self-consistent sets of rules and decisions, can be applied to structure visual information for more effective, persuasive, accessible, and reusable design outcomes. Course focus varies by semester, and may include themes like branding, data visualization, generative AI, expressive typography, narrative illustration and motion graphics, and curatorial and educational materials.

This course takes on these interrelated awareness, educational, and communication design challenges while building student skill sets in visualization strategies for complex systems. Students will complete projects focusing on finding, framing, and visualizing problems and opportunities within systemic contexts. At the same time, students will reflect on how the tools and methods we use change the ways we think and design.

Typical Schedule

Session 1: Introduction to Topic
Session 2: Project #1
Session 3: Project #1
Session 4: Project #1
Session 5: Project #2
Session 6: Project #2
Session 7: Project #2
Session 8: Project #3
Session 9: Project #3
Session 10: Project #3
Session 11: Final Project
Session 12: Final Project

Session 13: Final Project
Session 14: Final Project