Bachelor of Arts in Design Studies
Drawing upon the diverse resources of the research university, the BA in Design Studies program integrates the studio-based methods of the disciplines of graphic design and industrial design with explorations in the sciences and humanities.
Design Studies is ideal for students who have discovered design after starting college or have an interest in design that may span multiple disciplines. It embraces the collaborative and comprehensive design process through hands-on and thought-provoking exploration.
Combining methods and processes from both graphic design and industrial design, it focuses on the human experience in the design of communications, objects, and/or services. The program’s primary goal is to provide a focused introduction to design practices within the context of a liberal arts education.
Year 1 (Foundations Program)
Prospective Bachelor of Design and Design Studies students, alongside students enrolled in the CS+DES program, share in the Foundations Program experience—an intensive studio-based curriculum introducing techniques in form-making and conceptual visualization.
The year’s courses develop a student’s manual skills and proficiency with digital technology. Through exposure to design practice, design culture, and critical observation, students experience Chicago as a global design center.
Studio courses organized by Foundation Studio Coordinators, who are members of our full-time faculty, rapidly immerse first-year students into the processes of design. Foundation studio courses are taught by professional designers from within our faculty and from the Chicago design community. Courses in two- and three-dimensional form-making, analog and digital visualization, interactive media, and color theory provide the basis for entry into a BDes or BA program.
Courses leading to a BDes or BA degree depend on successful completion of the first-year program. For this reason, the UIC School of Design is not able to accept transfer credit for design courses from other institutions. Students completing the Foundations Program undergo a portfolio review by departmental faculty in consideration for a place in one of the major areas of study.
Click here for more information on the Foundations Program and the Foundation Review.
Year 2
DES208 TYPOGRAPHY: FORM provides an introduction to the aesthetics and mechanics of typographic form and usage. Students gain an understanding of measurement systems; learn recognition and classification; and explore alignment, hierarchy and legibility.
DES209 TYPOGRAPHY II: SYSTEMS introduces systematic properties of typography and visual order in the context of graphic design practice. Students explore connections between material and immaterial space in typographic systems and are introduced to micro and macro typographic patterns in print and digitally.
DES222 HUMAN EXPERIENCE IN DESIGN provides an introduction to design as it relates to people. Students conduct field research and document insights about people and how these insights relate to the design process and implementation. By assessing how a given design meets a human need, students are also able to compare how different designs can address the same need in different ways.
DES235 HISTORY OF DESIGN I surveys the history of design in Europe and the United States from the mid eighteenth century to about 1925. After taking this course, students will be able to identify and discuss key figures, events, and trends in the early history of modern design; analyze objects and primary source materials to determine their historical significance as well as their relevance for contemporary issues; and compose clear and concise arguments for written, spoken, and “designed” communication.
DES236 HISTORY OF DESIGN II surveys the history of contemporary design from various historical, methodological, and theoretical perspectives. Covering a wide range of fields, including art, architecture, and interior design, as well as industrial and graphic design, this course considers objects as indices of the larger cultural, economic, and political forces that have shaped the history of modern design.
DES255 BA DESIGN STUDIO I is an introduction to the design process: ideation and iteration. Emphasis is on understanding design through physical investigations using specific fabrication materials and methods for prototype and critique.
DES256 BA DESIGN STUDIO II is an introduction to interactions and systems in design. Emphasis is on understanding design through digital investigations using specific software for creative and analytic discovery.
DES322 DESIGN RESEARCH METHODS provides an overview of the role of research in the design process with emphasis on research support in identifying new opportunities, defining concepts, realization, and refinement. Students develop a research plan, conduct primary and secondary research, transform data into meaningful insights, and use research and storytelling to build a case.
Year 3
DES357 BA DESIGN STUDIO III orients students toward increasing complexity and deeper understanding of design making and thinking. Subjects of investigation respond to current and emerging trends in design practice. Collaborative team-based projects combine multiple tools and technologies.
DES358 BA DESIGN STUDIO PROJECT offers final-year Design Studies students the opportunity to engage in a yearlong investigation into a guided but self-directed research project. Students initiate and frame a complex design project, clarifying individual interests and strengths as they relate to professional aspirations. Work is exhibited in the UIC Design Year End Show.
PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE CAPSTONE engages students in a team-based interdisciplinary project, often with a client sponsor representing a commercial, cultural, or social concern. Students develop strong creative solutions in the context of real-world constraints. Emphasis is on teamwork and client interaction.
Each year the School of Design offers Professional Practice courses with changing topics. Courses are open to seniors in Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Design Studies, and Computer Science + Design, and often include faculty and students from other UIC departments. Past examples include:
DES430 INTERDISCIPLINARY PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT / IPD integrates industrial design, graphic design, business, and engineering students and faculty to develop product/brand concepts for a leading consumer products company. Past clients include Motorola, Coinstar, Cobra Electronics, Dell, Cricket Wireless, and Whirlpool Global Consumer Design.
DES440 DESIGN THINKING AND LEADERSHIP / DTL gives students the opportunity to work together in teams on a large-scale project concerned with the development of a visual identity for a participating client organization. A research and systems-based approach develops context, concept, and design documentation for client presentations.
DES452 INFORMATION AESTHETICS / INFO introduces students to information visualization and programming in the context of art and design. It is a project-oriented course that uses computer code and custom software for information analysis, representation, and creative expression.
