General Course Listing

ADD-1010 / ADD-1015

Principles of Visual Language I and II

Two semesters: 3 studio credits per semester

These studio courses will explore the fundamental principles of two-dimensional design and how these principles relate to visual communication. Through direct, hands-on participation in assignments and independent projects, students will work toward developing their own “visual language.” Experimentation with composition, visual hierarchy, typographic design, color interaction and visual narrative will be stressed. Students will explore a wide range of visual concepts, including abstraction, symmetry and asymmetry, contrast, figure/ground relationships, rhythm and harmony. Class time is used for the creation and execution of design work, along with critiques and discussions. Assignments are paper-based: supplies include construction paper, drafting and cutting tools, and gouache paint. The primary technique will be collage.

AHD-1010

European Painting: Late Gothic to Romanticism

One semester: 3 art history credits

The history of European painting from the late Gothic and pre-Renaissance eras to the early 19th century will be examined in this course. We will focus on the major movements and key figures during the 700-year period and include such topics as the varieties of Renaissance painting from the North of Europe to Italy, the development of mannerism and baroque art, and the emergence of neoclassical and Romantic painting. The aim throughout will be to understand the art of each time and place within the historical and political transformations taking place in Europe.

AHD-1015

Modern Art: European (and American) Painting From Realism to Pop

One semester: 3 art history credits

The transitions from 19th-century modernism to the advent of contemporary painting in the mid-20th century will be examined in this course. How trends in art influence and respond to major social transitions in the modern world will be considered.

AHD-1016

Non-European Art Histories

One semester: 3 art history credits

This course will survey various traditions of non-European art, and consider such topics as the ancient arts of East and South Asia, the Indus Valley and Indian subcontinent; African arts; and the indigenous arts of North and South America. The creation, function and meaning of religious and secular art in different types of arts will be addressed.

AHD-1017

Ancient and Classical Art

One semester: 3 art history credits

Art of the Western tradition from approximately 20,000 BCE to 400 CE will be explored in this course. It will include Aegean art of the ancient Mediterranean and Hellenistic societies. The course will conclude by considering classical art at the end of the Roman Empire and the art that appeared at the emergence of the Christian Empire.

AHD-1021

One semester: 3 art history credits

History of Art and Design In New York: Capital of the World

New York City’s history of art and design has been defined by its role as an important international hub in the exchange of perspectives, ideas and influences. This course will explore the artistic communities and movements—along with their broader reverberations in popular culture—that have come to make the city the dynamic and endlessly inspiring place it is today. You will be introduced to a variety of artworks, subjects and histories, including the migration of modernism from Europe to America, David Alfaro Siqueiros's Experimental Workshop, Andy Warhol’s Factory, the beginnings of minimalist and conceptual art, the East Village Art scene of the 1970s and ’80s, and beyond—inspiring you to see yourself as part of the city’s ongoing creative history. You’ll never look at NYC the same way.

DSD-1005

Thinking Design

One semester: no credit

This overview of advertising and design in the greatest city in the world offers students a chance to get acquainted with NYC’s creative resources. Listen to guest BFA Design and BFA Advertising alum discuss their various career paths—and learn about what it’s like to have NYC as your campus.

DSD-1010

Introduction to Visual Language

One semester: 3 studio credits

An exploration of the fundamentals of two-dimensional design and how they relate to visual communication will take place through experimentation and critique in this course. Through hands-on exercises, assignments and independent projects, students will develop and refine their own visual language. Students will also learn how to communicate effectively about their own artwork and that of their peers.

DSD-1040

Fabrication and Innovation

One semester: 3 studio credits

A study of visual perception through the use of three-dimensional media is the focus of this course. A conceptual approach toward problem solving, technical skills and utilization of various media will be emphasized.

DSD-1050 / DSD-1055

Visual Computing in the Studio I and II

Two semesters: 3 studio credits per semester

These courses introduce design techniques using the Adobe Creative Cloud applications as tools for visual creation. The essentials of Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator will be covered in the first semester, while InDesign and web design will be covered in the second. We will also touch upon other applications that can assist you in creating multifaceted visual solutions.

FID-1130 / FID-1135

Drawing I and II

Two semesters: 3 studio credits per semester

Focusing on the perceptual skills involved in image-making, these courses will examine drawing as an act of producing independent works of art and as a preparatory process in organizing a finished work. Assigned projects will explore the formal elements of art, such as line, space, scale and texture. Materials will include pencil, charcoal, pen-and-ink and wash, among others. Projects range from the figure and still life, for example, to mapping and storyboarding.

FID-1220 / FID-1225

Painting I and II

Two semesters: 3 studio credits per semester

Foundation-year painting will explore various means of representation through the application of pigments to canvas, panels and paper. Color and its organizational principles will be investigated—both as a practical and theoretical endeavor. An exploration of form and content will be undertaken with an emphasis on technical skills. Class critiques and museum visits will be employed as vehicles to develop critical terms concerning painting.

HCD-1020

Writing and Thinking

One semester: 3 humanities and sciences credits

This first-semester course helps students become critical and independent writers. To help establish a solid foundation in writing, the course introduces different types of writing using persuasive rhetoric in three writing genres, including narration, description, and cause and effect. Course readings are drawn from a variety of texts, including historical documents, short stories, drama, poetry and essays, which will be used as discussion and writing prompts. By the end of the course, students will have an enhanced understanding of writing as a means to think and better communicate their ideas.

Students are required to take and pass the Proficiency Examination during their first year at SVA.

HCD-1025

Writing and Literature

One semester: 3 humanities and sciences credits

This course emphasizes reading, critical thinking and essay writing. Students will build on their skills acquired in HCD-1020, Writing and Thinking, in order to work on more complex essays. Students will learn how to research, use proper citations, and continue to work on their grammar and essay development. Readings are drawn from a selection of literary works, including drama, poetry and the narrative, as well as the critical essay.

SMD-1020

Foundations of Visual Computing

One semester: 3 studio credits

Serving as an introduction to the tools, terms and techniques of visual computing for artists, this course will cover basic skills for operating and maintaining a computer, as well as the techniques to create collages and layered images and the tools required to display work on the web. The impact of technology on the visual arts will be examined and discussed from contemporary and historical perspectives.

DSD-2005

Design Thinking

One semester: no credit

What is design and how can it be used to create, engage and even drive social change? You are entering the profession at an exciting time. Design is everywhere, and designers now have opportunities that were unimaginable even a few years ago. Design is an ever-expanding industry where the role of the designer is highly valued both as arbiter of taste and creator of systems that educate, entertain and impact consumer behaviors. This course will provide an overview of the contemporary design industry in both traditional and emerging media. Through guest lectures, presentations, writing and selected readings, you will come away with a fuller understanding of the designer’s expanding role.

DSD-2020 / DSD-2025

Graphic Design I and II

Two semesters: 2 studio credits per semester

These courses introduce the various aspects of graphic communication and will cover concepts, typography, layout and general graphic techniques.

ADD-2030 / ADD-2035

Integrated Advertising and Communication I and II

Two semesters: 3 studio credits per semester

Whether you aspire to work at a digital agency, studio, or start-up, the “new normal” is influencing everyday human behavior as we interact with products, services, environments and systems. In these courses students will focus on identifying and solving big problems, concept ideation, designing for human interaction, branding digital spaces, iterative refinement, prototyping and communication of novel solutions. At each stage of the design process students will practice conveying their ideas by leading critiques and through presentations.

DSD-2050 / DSD-2055

Fundamentals of Typography I and II

Two semesters: 2 studio credits per semester

The applications of typography and color to a variety of graphic design projects will be explored in these courses. Assignments will also address the general rules of design and students will be encouraged to develop a personal vision within the framework of successful design solutions.

DSD-2060 / DSD-2065

Intermediate Drawing I and II

Two semesters: 2 studio credits per semester

These courses will explore drawing techniques using concepts of design, form, action, space, scale, texture and systems inherent to cohesive compositions.

DSD-2090 / DSD-2095

Click, Touch, Move: Designing for Interactive Experiences I and II

Two semesters: 3 studio credits per semester

As we increasingly encounter design in our digital experiences, the contemporary designer must not only learn new tools to better shape these experiences, but also master them to create entirely new ones. Over the course of a year these courses will explore contemporary design trends, best practices and the tools needed to create websites, apps, wearable technology, interactive prototypes, motion graphics, augmented reality, mixed reality and virtual reality, as well as introduce topics of future study such as creative coding, generative design and artificial intelligence.

AHD-2121

History of Advertising: From the 19th Century to the Present

One semester: 3 art history credits

This course traces the history of advertising in the United States and how it increased from a $200 million industry in the 1800s to a $3 billion industry in the 1900s. Through field trips, guest lectures and documentaries, this course will survey the art directors, writers, photographers, agencies and campaigns that helped to shape American culture from the war-raddled 1930s and ‘40s to the prosperous ‘50s to the Mad Men era that continued into the early 1970s and its impact on the ‘80s. In addition to exploring product and service campaigns, we will discuss several topics as they relate to advertising, such as political ideology, energy conservation, deforestation, public service and military recruitment.

AHD-2127

History of Graphic Design: A Survey of Styles from the Late 19th Century to the Present

One semester: 3 art history credits

This course will focus on various graphic design movements from art nouveau and Jugendstil to De Stijl and Dada; from the impact of the Bauhaus to the fervor of the streamlined 1930s; from the Swiss International style of the ’50s to the psychedelia of the ’60s and on to the punk ’70s and postmodern ’80s. We will also examine the subjects, themes and relationship of the designer to the period. Using examples of the period as a focal point, the evolving design styles and their relationship to politics, commerce, social mores, technology and pop culture will be explored. From the beautiful to the ridiculous, the ephemeral aspects of design will be studied. Guest speakers will feature individuals who have created important design work of the periods discussed.

AHD-2128

The International Typographic Style

One semester: 3 art history credits

The course will explore the development of the International Typographic Style from its constructivist origins and postwar Swiss Style design roots of the 1950s to its rapid expansion across Europe, the United States, Canada, South America, Japan, and beyond. We will examine the evolving design style and the role of the pioneer designer in society, with an emphasis on notable works, subjects and themes, and their cultural, political and social connections. Together we’ll investigate the international design pioneers who explored and expanded upon the movement until the mid-1970s (including many lesser-known and unrecognized figures), their evolving ideologies and principles, distinctive visual vocabularies, technological advancements, landmark exhibitions, publishing programs and institutional pedagogies, as well as the development of the emerging field of corporate identity and cultural communications. Slide lectures, primary readings, and discussions will be complemented with research and writing assignments.

AHD-2129

History of Type: Stories, Secrets, Experiments and Accidents

One semester: 3 art history credits

The history of type is a mix of stories, secrets, experiments and accidents. In this course students will explore why letters have thick-and-thin strokes, why the tail of the Q is on the right side, why some types are called “Fat Faces” and others are grotesque, why some people refuse to use Gill Sans, who Mrs. Eaves was, and much more. Everyone has a typeface they love (Helvetica)—and one they don’t (Helvetica). This course will explain why people love certain typefaces and hate others—and why they should love the ones they hate and hate the ones they love. If you have a question about type, this is where you can find the answer.

DSD-2168

Designer as Image-Maker

One semester: 3 studio credits

From the cave wall to the computer screen, the desire to communicate one’s vision has always existed. A great concept combined with the right technique, be it finger painting or Adobe Photoshop, can produce extremely powerful images. This course will focus on exploring style in design through experimentation with various mediums such as collage, rubbings, image transfers, use of found objects, and many other techniques. Students will be encouraged to think and create in unconventional ways. Projects for this course will include book covers, CD packages, editorial illustrations, food packaging and poster designs. Field trips are included.

DSD-2169

Experimental Book Art

One semester: 3 studio credits

The widespread availability of electronic communications has given the physical book an important place in our lives through its tactile three-dimensional quality. In this course students will produce a term project of their choosing, which can be expressed in an experimental and/or practical way; the book will be reviewed regularly throughout the semester. In addition, weekly exercises in a variety of materials will allow students to hone their bookbinding techniques. Typography, architecture, and the history of bookmaking and fine arts will come into play. The objective of the course is for students to explore their full potential and learn to trust their creative sensibilities.

DSD-2172

Zines

One semester: 3 studio credits

In this course we will explore the craft, history and contemporary culture of zines and artists’ books. Students will complete a series of projects that work through various zine and book forms (from quick folded pamphlets to larger bound objects to digital publications and beyond). Emphasis will be placed on exposing students to a wide range of tools and techniques (both physical and digital), with the goal of exploring how various forms and methods of production can influence content (narrative, typography, image, experience). We will learn from historical processes and tools, while leaning heavily on contemporary production methods (such as Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, web-based content management tools, Risograph printing). This is a course of rigorous making and experimentation with demonstrations, workshops and critiques. Students will complete the semester with a collection of publications they have designed and produced.

DSD-2174

Visual Storytelling: Autobiography Through Visual Language

One semester: 3 studio credits

Providing an overview of autobiographical storytelling through visual language, in this course we will examine the evolution and history of documentary storytelling, from the early cave paintings to The New York Times Op-Docs. Through interviews, documented research, travel (virtual or physical) and an examination of physical archives, students will complete a 15-week project that explores how they connect to the world with a unique voice and perspective. Any medium can be used for the project, including collage, drawing, rudimentary digital video (iPhone), graffiti and performance art, even a blog.

DSD-2179

Digital Photography for Designers

One semester: 3 studio credits

Designed to cover the basics of digital photography, this course is geared toward encouraging experimentation, boosting creative image-making and enhancing graphic design practice. Assignments explore photographic genres, including portraiture, still life, street shooting and documentary. It promotes technical skills and concepts that prove constructive and beneficial in graphic design work.

DSD-2186

Originality

One semester: 3 studio credits

Oscar Wilde said, “Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else’s opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation.” How can we make our work stand out as distinctly ours in the midst of the many thousands of visual and verbal messages that we absorb each day? Are we able to be visible in the ocean of images produced by artists and designers around the globe? For decades this course has been successfully helping students to remove the obstacles that block their unique identity in their work. New ideas do not come from thinking in the same old way. By bringing to attention the preconceptions, unconscious assumptions and beliefs, and the multitude of influences that shape us, we will open a path toward your personal, creative identity.

DSD-2189

Creative Curiosity

One semester: 3 studio credits

In a world of distractions, what saves the artist from getting lost and losing their passion? The fire of creative curiosity! Curiosity that leads to vibrant innovation is a top quality that the design and advertising industries seek out in creatives entering the field. This course will guide students through the process of pursuing and developing original ideas from beginning to end. Through creative exploration, students will choose the techniques that resonate with their sense of discovery—whether by hand, computer, traditional media, or emerging areas of design, such as AR/VR, creative coding, or interaction. The focus will be on how to spark our innate curiosity and then develop and nurture it. Processes include: learning to question; risk-taking; self-reflection; valuing the lessons of failure, perseverance, problem solving, collaboration, research, cultural discovery and inclusivity. By the end of the course each student will have followed their inspiration to create a collection of design projects for their own “curiosity cabinet”; the true reward will be their ability to access creative curiosity throughout their careers.

DSD-2193

Introduction to Fashion Branding

One semester: 3 studio credits

The relationship between fashion/beauty and graphic design exists where style, aspiration and storytelling converge. This course delves into the history of the fashion/beauty industries and the ways in which designers continue to play an ever-evolving role in shaping and influencing fashion/beauty. Students will be introduced to the core sectors of the fashion/beauty industries and become familiar with skills that include research, market identification and positioning. Together, students will build a deeper understanding of the strategic and creative needs of these industries. Through case studies, guest lectures and a set of fashion/beauty-based assignment briefs, this course will provide fundamental insights and skill sets that can be utilized in future courses and/or real-world experiences.

HWD-2042

Copywriting Fundamentals

One semester: 3 humanities and sciences credits

The ability to communicate visually and textually sits at the center of the practice of design and advertising. In this course students will further their short-form writing skills, learn to utilize research and writing strategies, and be introduced to best practices for effectively writing for a variety of project types and media, including advertisements, branding, social media, taglines and product descriptions. Projects will include writing-specific assignments along with the study and analysis of notable existing campaigns and products.

DSD-3010 / DSD-3015

Communication Graphic Design I and II

Two semesters: 3 studio credits per semester

These courses develop an understanding of visual relationships and how to use them to create visual impact and clarity while solving communications problems. Invention, intuition and discovery are combined with logical thought and thorough preliminary research. Special attention is given to refining the student’s perceptual abilities, hand skills and the integration of various media. Use of both traditional and computer technologies will be addressed.

ADD-3207 / ADD-3217

Advanced Advertising I and II

Two semesters: 3 studio credits per semester

These courses are about creative problem-solving—from integrated campaigns to business design. We’re not just going to be making ads. We’re going to be using design and creativity to reimagine what brands can do in a range of ways that are relevant today. Most importantly, we will be getting you ready to go out there and start an awesome career where you get paid to do something most people only dream of. It’ll be lots of work, this isn’t an intro class . . . but it’ll be worth it.

DSD-3219

Introduction to Motion Graphics

One semester: 3 studio credits

This immersive course is the perfect starting place for any student interested in learning the foundations of 2D motion design. Covering the essential tools, techniques and best practices, this course will empower students to utilize Adobe After Effects, Illustrator and Photoshop in the creation of their motion projects.

DSD-3222 / DSD-3223

Motion Graphics Workshop I and II

Two semesters: 3 studio credits per semester

Motion graphics is used not only to generate impactful animations, but also commonly applied at various stages of the design process. In the past few years, outgrowing its traditional role, motion graphics has become an essential and powerful tool that forms and informs the core of interaction design and user experience, as well as graphic design at large. These courses will familiarize students with the tools, techniques and practices that lie at the core of motion design, including Adobe After Effects and Premiere. Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop will also be employed in the creation of motion projects.

DSD-3306

Toys and Games

One semester: 3 studio credits

The toy industry is a trendy business where many innovative designs are introduced every year. In this course we’ll analyze successful products from different categories (tabletop games, plush, collectibles, action figures, learning toys, etc.), exploring what great concepts are and how to originate them. Various tools, techniques and materials will be demonstrated and practiced by students to create renderings and prototypes. By taking part in brainstorming sessions, critiques and hands-on workshops, and by play-testing their own designs, students will develop their concepts into finished products. Manufacturing, packaging, marketing and career opportunities in the toy industry will be discussed. Weekly projects will be assigned, and students may work on any product they wish, limited only by their imagination. The goal of this course is to create at least one finished product suitable for presentation to a toy company or for inclusion in a portfolio.

DSD-3336 / DSD-3337

Three-Dimensional Design I and II

Two semesters: 3 studio credits per semester

These courses will deal with design and illustration solutions to problems that involve making 3D structures. Discussions about methods and materials will include everything from fiberglass to hubcaps: whatever conveys the designer/illustrator’s ideas. There will be demonstrations of various techniques like mold-making, paper and cardboard construction and casting in plastic. Although problems will be given in class, students may bring in assignments from other courses to be completed in this one. You will produce finished pieces that may be photographed for your portfolio. Guest lecturers will include professional designers and illustrators who have careers based on 3D work.

DSD-3351 / DSD-3352

Design for Social Change I and II

Two semesters: 3 studio credits per semester

We’ll use design to call out new ideas and a new ethos of truth-telling. We’ll create ads, posters, books and logos to present alternatives to mind-numbing consumer culture. The focus of these courses will be on subjects that affect our lives—such as owning our own time, corporate impact on the physical environment and the human psyche, issues of economic fairness and alternatives to money obsession, gender, food, voting and animal rights. You will be able to choose subjects that concern you and communicate your views. We’ll explore and develop various means for making ideas for social change public. Work from this course is in the poster collection of the U.S. Library of Congress; on the website of the Center for Constitutional Rights; has been produced for the Washington, DC subways; and distributed throughout the New York City public school system, as well as in exhibitions, conferences, book fairs and guerilla contexts.

DSD-3371

Storytelling in the Metaverse

One semester: 3 studio credits

Brands need to think of themselves symbolically, beyond purely the visual, if they are to succeed in the metaverse. Creatives in this space must foresee hybrid collaborations between audio, visual and experiential human-centered design and emerging technology to incorporate all of our senses to truly merge the digital realm with our physical world. Inspired by physical space, relational identity and reconstructive storytelling in the digital age, this course instills how principles of interdisciplinary new media provide spaces for the exchange of multisensory ideas. Experiment with technology and social messages to produce high-impact campaigns and art products that build your portfolio and contribute to the industry’s discourse.

DSD-3378

Dynamic Data Visualization

One semester: 3 studio credits

Whether on screens or in print, we encounter information graphics on a daily basis. This course will bring data to life through smart, strategic and creative visualization focusing on the creation of design solutions using animation and interaction design. Students will make their own infographics, collect and chart their own data, and further explore the field of interactive data visualization. After Effects and Figma will be the primary tools used for animating and prototyping designs; p5.js will be used to design data-driven animations.

DSD-3380

Graphic Design x Fashion

One semester: 3 studio credits

The relationship between fashion and graphic design exists where style, aspiration and storytelling converge. This course offers students the opportunity to learn about, create and apply design skills and thinking to the needs of the fashion industry. With an emphasis on research, market identification and positioning, students will develop fashion-based design projects focused on creative direction, merchandising and retail environments combined with strategic marketing and business considerations. Throughout this course, projects will encourage students to consider their work across a variety of media, including traditional branding materials, exhibition design, social media ads, TikTok videos, AR and even NFTs. Opportunities for outside, real-world collaborations will also be explored.

DSD-3383

Building a Fashion Brand

One semester: 3 studio credits

In the highly competitive fashion industry, established brands rely on a crafted design language, heritage story and brand promise that connects with and their customers. On the other hand, fashion start-ups often rely on sustainability, charitable components and a unique ethos to differentiate themselves and connect to customers on an ethical level. This course will ask students to conduct research, engage in discussions and offer critiques of existing brands in service of building their own fashion brand. Each student will define an objective, identify the personality and audience of their brand, and develop the assets needed for a successful brand, including brand guidelines, packaging, advertising, storefronts, digital content and interior design. Students will watch films, study fashion shows, read various texts on historical and contemporary fashion issues, and work individually or collaboratively on their fashion brands.

DSD-3392

Drawing Inside Out for the Designer: Intuitive Drawing

One semester: 3 studio credits

Drawing can be a very intimate exercise of personal freedom, and a lifelong source of inspiration. Intuitive drawing is the foundational theme of the course. We will concentrate on the self as the reservoir of creative energy from which to produce original drawings. We’ll work on hand-heart rather than just hand-eye coordination. Our purpose isn’t to compete with scanners, cameras, copiers and computers to reproduce the realities around us. Instead, attention will be shifted to our individual experience of our “inner” energy. Drawing from it intuitively, you’ll develop a personal style that becomes an organic part of your creative repertoire. Originality is nurtured in this course.

DSD-3426

Branding

One semester: 3 studio credits

Understanding the fundamentals of brand identity and how to create exciting and engaging brand experiences through design will be the focus of this course. Through exposure to a variety of visual identity issues, students will be challenged to create unique ideas and solutions that meet real-world concerns. An emphasis will be placed on understanding and capturing the essence of a chosen brand (corporation, product, service, organization, personality, etc.) to ultimately develop visual identities that target all platforms on which the brand has to perform (packaging, editorial, environmental design, online, advertising, etc.). We will begin with specific visual branding exercises and students will choose topics to approach them. These exercises will then be extended into a visual identity development that encompasses several branding challenges.

DSD-3431

Book Design for Today

One semester: 3 studio credits

Someone once said, “Everything old is new again”—and book design is no exception. As digital design has become more ubiquitous, interest in the book as object has been rediscovered and revitalized by a new generation—resulting in work that is more rarefied, lust-worthy and, of course, well designed. This course will examine how to conceptualize, design and, ultimately, produce books while challenging students to push their skills in typography, art direction and product design to the next level. Coursework will include a deep dive into the enduring and irreplaceable importance of the medium from a variety of historical and cultural viewpoints. Students will be encouraged to make use of the tools and technologies offered within the BFA Design Department, including bookbinding machinery, production tutorials and Risograph printing. Guest speakers/critics and field trips can be expected.

DSD-3433

Package Design: Appetite Appeal Food Packaging

One semester: 3 studio credits

Food packaging is not just clear plastic. The best package demands superb typography and startling graphic design in two and three dimensions. Type is unlimited and color must challenge the senses. In this course you will design an array of packages for specialty and fancy foods—from olive oil to pastas, candy and wine. You will understand the unique restrictions involved in producing functional package designs. And you will learn that good package design can make a product taste better.

DSD-3436

Poster Design

One semester: 3 studio credits

Think big! Think graphic! Think simple! These are the elements that make a great poster through traditional or digital means. Whether for indoor or outdoor use, for a subway station or a bus stop, for a billboard or a brick wall, a poster is a form of communication with often only a moment to grab someone’s attention and get the message across. This course will focus on creating a strong, concise, visual metaphor with a seamless integration of image and typography, and playing with scale in a large format. Students will be encouraged to take risks, experiment and develop their own visual language. We will create three to four posters with a step-by-step process of research, thumbnails, sketches, comps and final art. We will also be using the Risograph printing process, including instruction on the machine. The course includes discussion of the sketches, guest speakers and a field trip.

DSD-3448

Basic Typography Letterpress Workshop

One semester: 3 studio credits

Letterpress printing has been used for centuries all over the world, from China and Korea to Europe and the Americas. By designing with movable wood and metal type students will explore a “back-to-basics” approach to design and typography and will create beautiful portfolio pieces. While the course will cover printing techniques and the use of the Vandercook presses, the focus will be on hand typesetting, typographic details and hand printing. Exercises will address type layout, hierarchy, typographic details and overall page composition.

DSD-3521

Editorial Design

One semester: 3 studio credits

In this course you will conceptualize and create a magazine, newspaper, or zine of your choice, honing your layout skills and developing your editorial style. A strong focus will be on typography, from large, impactful type solutions to the fine-tuning of information on the page—a must in the job market today. There is also a strong branding component to the course, one that can be carried forward in the rest of your design work. You will share your pages each week and will be encouraged to be verbal, insightful and helpful in critiques of your classmates’ work. We will begin by focusing on how to design features and the general look of a magazine, and then concentrate on finessing your magazine for a beautiful product to add to your portfolio.

DSD-3528

Experiential Design

One semester: 3 studio credits

Brands are no longer defined by what they say, but ultimately their actions. Experiential marketing is about finding the emotional connection between a message and people. This course will examine how to create lasting memories and natural brand advocacy by using facts, instinct and creativity to reveal the power of simplicity. Unlock your potential to reshape cultural behaviors and experiment beyond traditional boundaries that can redefine human interactions.

DSD-3529

Environmental Design: Spatial Branding

One semester: 3 studio credits

The built environment is no less an opportunity for design and branding than the page or the screen. In this course students will learn to study, develop and create work in a three-dimensional and architectural space. They will be challenged to imagine, develop and execute branding-specific design work on a large scale. Core concepts, technical skills and essential knowledge required for bringing three-dimensional work to life in the real world will be introduced.

DSD-3531

Multimedia Storytelling for Designers

One semester: 3 studio credits

This course will examine how to create engaging and dynamic visual narratives and user experiences for digital environments. Fundamental design principles such as composition, color, contrast and perspective will be combined with new tools and concepts, including audio, editing, sequencing, flow and rhythm, resulting in projects that are enriching and engaging experiences. Students will explore the primary tools of graphic design as part of a broader practice that includes space and time—and which, when used together, tell a visual story that has the power to connect with audiences on an emotional level. Projects include visual exercises, short video projects and the creation of a short documentary film.

ADD-3561

Hacking for Attention: Creative Advertising

One semester: 3 studio credits

We live in a world where brands, people and ideas all compete for the most demanding currency—our attention. This course is focused on how you can hack your audience’s attention to deliver purposeful work. Real-world scenarios will be examined to gain an understanding of strategic development, insightful design and executing a visual idea across multiple disciplines within an advertising agency.

ADD-3562

Authenticity in Advertising

One semester: 3 studio credits

Many of life’s culture-shaping ideas, products, businesses and brands were developed from personal problems and a bit of passion. This course is focused on identifying problems that you have (or may have) faced and finding culture-breaking creative solutions. Whether miniscule in scale (like waking up in the morning) or daunting life-altering issues (such as climate change)—you’ll find innovative ways to tackle the issue and turn your passion into creative ideas that can get you noticed and eventually hired.

DSD-3611 / DSD-3612

Designing with Typography I and II

Two semesters: 3 studio credits per semester

How can type be used to communicate? These courses will help you answer that question through using and creating type for both experimental and practical application. Through these courses, you should gain a greater understanding of how to think about typography and how to see typography.

DSD-3637 / DSD-3638

Creative Computing for Interactive Experiences I and II

Two semesters: 3 studio credits per semester

These courses will introduce the basics of computer programming as a tool for visual communications and user experiences. With no programming experience required, students will study computer graphics programming through hands-on sessions. We will use p5.js (JavaScript library) to illustrate the fundamentals of computation. The courses include lectures and presentations with a short assignment after each session, culminating in a developed project in the second semester. We will also look at techniques to build generative designs, image manipulations and digital interactions.

DSD-3653

Design Synthesis

One semester: 3 studio credits

Design today requires the ability to work across a variety of mediums and disciplines. This course provides students with the opportunity to synthesize their passions for design, advertising, image-making, motion/video, typography, etc., and apply them in exciting, hybridized and interdisciplinary ways. Students will learn to combine their understanding of design fundamentals and tools with video-editing software through projects that include short videos, experimental editorial, 3D typography and stop motion. Embodying the interdisciplinary spirit, this course will include special presentations and projects that collaborate with dynamic guest speakers.

DSD-3667

Honors: Visual Identity and Multimedia

One semester: 3 studio credits

Today’s constantly evolving multimedia world demands that a successful graphic identity be simple, bold, memorable and flexible. Held in the Chermayeff & Geismar & Haviv studio, this course will teach students how to create powerful, concept-based identities that thrive in the multimedia realm. Chermayeff & Geismar & Haviv has developed an idea-driven methodology for identity design that has resulted in identities for hundreds of major clients like Chase Bank, NBC, Museum of Modern Art and the Library of Congress. Affording students the opportunity to design directly for real-world clients, the course will lead students through the firm’s problem-solving approach to graphic design as they work with an organization or small business to develop a visual identity from start to finish. Students will be encouraged to explore opportunities for identity expression in new media.

DSD-3681

Honors: Finding Your Voice as a Graphic Designer I and II

Two semesters: 3 studio credits per semester

With the splintering of the discipline, it is more important than ever to have a specific point of view as a graphic designer. These courses will focus on the journey each student has taken as a designer up to this point, and we will work toward identifying and developing each student’s unique process, ideas, typography, form making and approach. The courses consist of a combination of lectures, field trips and individual (and group) design projects and in-class critiques. Projects will be geared toward empirical explorations to gain an understanding of each student’s design process, whether working individually or in groups. The development of a critical judgment and unique “design voice” is encouraged.

DSD-3693

Honors: Many Types of Creativity

One semester: 3 studio credits

This one-of-a-kind honors course will ask students to bring the many—and sometimes varied—passions and skill sets they have but rarely get to use together, including contemporary typography, hand-drawn letterforms, illustration, photography, 3D, motion, and more. With an emphasis on narrative, students will be challenged to create original and, at times, extremely experimental work in varying scale, application and media that will culminate in a motion project.

DSD-3696

Honors: Design, Content, and Not Losing Yourself in the Deluge

One semester: 3 studio credits

Do you ever feel like your work isn’t a true reflection of your true self? This course will encourage and instruct students on how to connect identity and creativity—on how to be a living representation of their work. Students will create both print and digital projects with a focus on how different approaches, media, and platforms can create connections between a designer and their audience. Individual and collaborative projects will combine complementary skill sets, as students also explore the influence in popular culture and the greater world around them.

DSD-3733

Introduction to Interaction Design

One semester: 3 studio credits

The fundamentals of user-centered interaction design are introduced in this course through design-thinking techniques and UX/UI design methodologies. Sessions will cover applications of interaction design, research and prototyping techniques, and digital design theory. Students will create user journeys across media and touchpoints while developing their UX/UI craft. The broad scope of the course provides a springboard for future study and career opportunities.

DSD-3741 / DSD-3771

Interaction Design and Communication I and II

Two semesters: 3 studio credits per semester

Working in today’s digital world encompasses both the usability and aesthetic of a product, service, brand, or strategy that relies on technology. In these courses you will learn how to tackle the unique challenges and opportunities that will be encountered on the job. Sessions will cover user interface design principles, information hierarchy and navigation, context and human-technology interactions, and how these elements combine to create a compelling experience. The course format will include lecture, discussion, exercises, interim presentations, and a thorough documentation of the research and design process.

DSD-3755

Honors: Yearbook I

One semester: 3 studio credits

Every year a team of SVA’s best designers creates and conceptualizes a unique book for the school’s graduating class. Submitted portraits are combined with custom elements like lettering, illustration, student surveys, and infographics. Social media and video elements are also included, making the “yearbook” a one-of-a-kind visual experience.

DSD-4003 – 4181

Graphic Design Portfolio I and II

Two semesters: 3 studio credits per semester

Entering the design profession is more demanding than ever. Your portfolio needs to reflect not only your own conceptual voice, but also communicate your values, strengths, interests, skills and ambitions. Whether your design discipline is traditional, motion graphics, interactive, 3D or alternative, this course will be a thorough and intense investigation of what your portfolio needs to be to meet your personal needs and professional goals. Students will develop their own ideas, define content and ultimately design the type of projects they want for their portfolio, as well as hone their communications skills for presenting themselves and their work in a professional environment.

DSD-4300

Presentation Skills Seminar

One semester: no credit, 4 weeks

Even the best work needs to be presented clearly and convincingly. This course will introduce students to industry standards and norms for constructing and presenting both themselves as well as their work—skills critical for all creatives. From the transformation of selling a story in the development of a deck to public speaking and personal representation, this partially asynchronous online seminar will examine a plethora of approaches and considerations when preparing to get a job, selling your ideas, being part of a team and, ultimately, navigating the waters on your way to success.

DSD-4400

Intellectual Property and the Law

One semester: no credit, 7 weeks

The general concepts of law and intellectual property law as they apply to the practice of design will be examined, including basic legal issues of contract and property law within the creative context. Among the topics explored will be the work-for-hire agreement, the consignment agreement and the agency agreement. The law of copyright, trademark and patents will also be explored. Issues such as registering a copyright, copyright infringement, registering a trademark and trade dress infringement and patents (in particular, design patents) will be examined from the perspective of the professional designer. In addition, design and information issues presented by current technology, such as the web, will be included throughout the course.

Independent Study: Design

One semester: 3 studio credits

Junior and senior design majors who wish to pursue a special project not covered by the parameters of their department’s curriculum are eligible to apply for an independent study course. Students must submit their study goals as a detailed proposal for approval by the department chair. Proposals for an independent study must be made prior to the course adjustment period for that semester. Please contact the department advisor for specifics.

Internship

One semester: 3 studio credits

Students can gain valuable experience and broaden their professional network through an internship with an employer. Internships-for-credit are available to juniors and seniors who have earned a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 or better. To receive credit, students must apply online during the designated application period, be approved by the Career Development Office, and registered for the internship by their academic advisor. Students need to work 150 hours during the semester (usually 10 to 15 hours per week), participate in a weekly online course with other SVA interns, and complete midterm and final self-evaluations. Elective studio credit is awarded for the successful completion of an internship. For more information go to sva.edu/career.

Senior Project Courses

DSD-4706 / DSD-4707

3D Graphics and Motion in Cinema I and II

Two semesters: 3 studio credits per semester

Whether your field of work is creative direction, design, film, AR/VR/XR, or motion graphics, Maxon Cinema 4D gives you all the tools you need to make your ideas reality. In these courses students will learn and utilize Cinema 4D for the 3D image creation of storyboards, animations, designs and the “metaverse.” The software’s intuitive interface and logical workflow make it possible for those new to 3D artistry to dive in. The foundations of the application, including motion and design workflows between C4D and Adobe After Effects will be addressed. We will begin with the basics of modeling, lighting, materials and animation, laying the groundwork for more advanced work in the second semester. Assignments will cover a wide range of real-world projects, such as 3D type and animated logos to bumpers and title sequences.

DSD-4723 / DSD-4724

Advanced Typography I and II: The Perfect Paragraph

Two semesters: 3 studio credits per semester

In these courses students will examine the principles of typographic design and color theory, as well as the fundamentals of traditional typesetting. Experiments with letterform design will include an exploration of color theory as applied to typographic design. Typographic books, original type treatments, word marks and logos for digital display and print will be created. Students will be encouraged to work with their own content, including original typeface designs.

DSD-4701

Production Studio for the Graphic Designer

One semester: 3 studio credits

Today’s graphic artist is required to have technical knowledge and production ability. This course offers an opportunity to work on projects in the classroom and then watch the final production on-site at A2A Studio, a full-service production studio. Complete instruction in the skills necessary to produce and manufacture finished portfolio pieces will be given. Using Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign, we’ll examine all aspects of production as they relate to print, including correct document construction, color space and color systems, separations, trapping, preflighting, print production and paper considerations. Assignments will be produced in the studio using various output devices, from inkjet proofers and large-format digital printers to high-resolution film imagesetters. Students will be able to produce their work combining digital output, transfers, direct imaging, laser cutting, UV printing, plotter cutters, embossing and three-dimensional packaging construction. The opportunity to experiment and work with digital and analog print production tools will be an invaluable experience.

DSD-4703

Fashion: The Campaign

One semester: 3 studio credits

Fashion and beauty are creative playgrounds for creative expression, experimentation and play in service of commercial needs and application. This course offers students the opportunity to develop and apply their voice and aesthetic style by taking on the role of creative director for a fashion/beauty project. Throughout the semester we will explore techniques and best practices for creating memorable and thought-provoking concepts, building a simulated creative team and formulating a production plan—culminating in the creation of a 360º campaign presentation deck. Visual creatives, hair and make-up artists, prop stylists and producers will be invited to the class as guest speakers and critics. Opportunities for real world, industry-based projects will also be explored.

DSD-4711

Experimental Coding

One semester: 3 studio credits

This course provides an introduction to experimental coding for design through a series of hands-on technical exercises and projects. During the semester HTML, CSS and p5.js (JavaScript library) will be used to illustrate the fundamentals of computational design. We will learn techniques to build for responsive web design, generative design and digital interaction. This course is designed for students with no prior coding experience.

DSD-4713

Metaverse: Augmented and Virtual Reality

One semester: 3 studio credits

From communication to commerce, much of our daily life has been defined by major shifts in technology. The latest major shift in technology is here, and it is the metaverse—immersive worlds and virtual objects augmenting the real world. All delivered on Web 3 via new protocols on the blockchain. In this course you will create for the metaverse by making 3D art, augmented reality and virtual reality through a series of hands-on exercises. Using visual prototyping tools, projects may include a blockchain NFT drop, memorable campaign, digital product, innovative service, or art installation. Knowing how to code is not necessary; the only prerequisites are an imagination and creative drive.

DSD-4716

Designing and Prototyping for Immersive Media (XR/AR/VR)

One semester: 3 studio credits

To understand XR, spatial computing for immersive media, you need to understand the technologies that enable it, how they are used and what their future holds. In this course an introduction to XR will be introduced, using a broadly chronological approach—from historical milestones to the wide ranges of mainstream applications today. As you learn about the technology you will develop hands-on experience in the field. The course is structured to strengthen your knowledge of human-centered design principles and offers a dive deep into the design patterns of spatial computing. Lectures are directly tied to hands-on workshops, and you will be building small applications and prototypes across the entire mixed-reality spectrum; from Instagram AR filters and VR interfaces to social VR avatars, and even creating your own personal VR portfolio showcase. How to translate your artistic voice and style into the spatial context of the entire spectrum of immersive media will be included. This course is designed for beginners with very little practice in XR/AR/VR coding as well as those with experience who want to expand their practice. Although no coding knowledge is required, there is an element of coding HTML, CSS and JavaScript that will be taught and practiced in class and home assignments.

DSD-4746

Differentiate or Die: How to Get a Job When You Graduate

One semester: 3 studio credits

You are about to graduate, and you might not have relatives that work at Apple or Google. You need to know how to sell, present, cold-call and talk about money to get a job. This course will address how to make a presentation with conviction and meaning; write a project proposal and how to talk about compensation; develop a unique point of view about design or advertising; craft a powerful résumé; sell your design services in the “real” world with more confidence and success; create persuasive, honest, and effective design presentations, and set yourself up to succeed after graduation.

DSD-4755

Honors: Yearbook II

One semester: 3 studio credits

Every year a team of SVA’s best designers creates and conceptualizes a unique book for the school’s graduating class. Submitted portraits are combined with custom elements like lettering, illustration, student surveys, and infographics. Social media and video elements are also included, making the “yearbook” a one-of-a-kind visual experience.

Curriculum