Embodied Design

Advances knowledge and skills for three-dimensional design experiences

At the end of this course, students should be able to explore, create, and communicate design directions for simple products and environments taking into account design principles, human factors, technology, and business issues.

Learning Objectives

To give students the ability to successfully work on design problems: framing opportunity areas, identifying user issues, working within constraints, prototyping throughout the design process and presenting their solutions through many forms of visualization all while developing a sensitivity to the importance of craft in design.

Learning Outcomes

Students should be able to:

• Frame a product design problem
• Create multiple credible concepts
• Present through reasoned explanation their product solution
• Use many prototyping techniques to develop and express their thinking
• Understand and utilize the design process
• Critique work through a vocabulary of design
• Gain experience with a wide range of product design constraints

Format & Grading

The course is taught as an all-day studio class. A series of projects provide students with experiences to develop their design thinking and skills. By using a structured design process, students learn to analyze problems, define issues, and develop multiple ideas leading to detailed concepts that are clearly defined and defendable. Students learn to delineate a strong point of view fitting user needs resulting in viable product solutions. An emphasis is placed on building skills in sketching, 2D and 3D visualization, paper prototyping, storytelling, and presentation.

Evaluations will be based on your contribution to class discussions and reviews, and the quantity and quality of your work. Quality work is substantive, conceptually strong, and visually clear.

Enrollment Restrictions

No prerequisites. This course is available to all Institute of Design Students