Category: Academic Programs & Courses

IXD-702 UX DESIGN STUDIO IV

The Graduate Studio I, II, III, and IV courses are designed to address projects of increasing complexity and progressively strengthen your problem-solving skills in UX Design. Students solve a design problem rooted in a creative industries-related context, requiring substantive research and concept development phases, refinement, and execution phases. Research methodologies, design approaches, and techniques students learned in the UX-centered courses will be applied to develop and evaluate their solutions. These courses are structured to simulate the professional studio environment with formally scheduled milestones and defined deliverables and will be reviewed by faculty and industry professionals through formal presentations.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: IXD 701

CMD-602 STUDIO II: CMD BRAND NARRATIVES

In this course, students explore the role of color and materials in defining a brand narrative through Color Materials and Finish (CMF) design. Using research, students discuss how organizations have strategically used design, color, and materials to advance and elevate their brands. Making emotional connections is at the center of many brand strategies for resonating with their customers and audiences, and students are introduced to the visceral and experiential qualities of materials and color.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: CMD 601

DGR-500 GLOBAL LEARNING EXPERIENCE

(This is a faculty led study abroad course * syllabi will differ per destination), On a Global Learning Experience course, students are brought outside the typical classroom, for a 24/7 learning experience in varying locations outside the USA. The course will provide students with tools for analyzing your learning process and identifying cultural patterns, differences, similarities and values encountered during the journey. Students develop a sense of cross-cultural understanding, and navigate towards becoming a global citizen. Students develop a heightened sense of confidence, and leadership as they plan, and execute this excursion. In addition students discover the role of becoming an ambassador for their own culture. Practical issues about studying abroad (safety, money, packing, etc.) are delivered via pre-departure sessions with the International Student Services Office.

SUMMER 2024
COSTA RICA
There’s nothing quite like the rain forests of the ”Rich Coast.” At its heart, the Central American country boasts an epic landscape that is home to nearly 5 percent of the world’s biodiversity. Discover how fragile these endangered ecosystems are as you travel through different rainforest preserves and unearth dazzling displays of color and sound. Explore also the unique art and culture of some of Costa Rica’s most vibrant cities and towns.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites:

GRT-519 GRADUATE FOUNDATION STUDIO I

The graduate first-year transportation design experience is divided into two semester-length studios: one interior-focused, one exterior-focused. Students taking an interior-focused studio in the fall semester will then take an exterior focused studio in the winter semester, and vice versa. In both interior and exterior studios, students will be encouraged to pursue a user-center design approach. Incoming graduate transportation design students will be introduced to rendering and modeling techniques integral to the transportation design process. Course content may be reinforced through field trips to local design studios and factories. Students prepare a comprehensive presentation at the end of semester which includes critical self-assessment and reflection of their developmental strengths and needs.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites:

GRT-685 SPECIAL PROJECT

The Special Project course is offered on an occasional basis, with course content specific to the area being explored.
WINTER 2024
PORTFOLIO DEVELOPMENT & PRESENTATION
is course is taught in two seven-week modules. The first focuses on the development of student portfolios, resumes, and digital presence in preparation for applying for internships. The second introduces advanced 3D digital animation techniques for animating vehicle designs and interactive interior experiences. Students will be introduced to Blender as the main animation & rendering software and will also incorporate other digital assets and software for rigging 3D models and video editing.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites:

IXD-715 METAVERSE DESIGN

In this course, students study the conceptual and related UX design approaches to metaverse creation. Metaverse is a broader term encompassing technologies such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), mixed reality (MR), and virtual 3D environments where interaction will take place. Students explore various platforms, technical aspects, and design approaches applicable in a non-physical environment. The virtual worlds today are more than just technology. They have become humans’ alternative habitat to the physical one. Such tendencies require full attention from the new generation of UX designers and a profound understanding of the media phenomena from different perspectives. This is a hands-on course where priority is given to engagement on real-industry projects and searches for design solutions that include using metaverse and 3D virtual environments for video games, virtual classrooms, augmented chat platforms, artificial intelligence-generated content, and many other emerging applications.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: IXD 621

CMD-604 TREND RESEARCH METHODS,PLANNING

In this course, students learn how to identify, assess, and forecast both long-term and short-term trends that can be researched through a variety of information sources, consumer demographics, developments in technology, manufacturing and the sciences, as well as cultural, social, environmental and economic influences. Students explore how trends shape values and behaviors that lie deep in all of us; and how these values and behaviors influence the ways we perceive and adopt new ideas. Uncovering these insights in a rapidly changing world is an increasingly important challenge for all professional designers. The ability to understand and identify trends and their impact on consumer behavior is an important skill that will be utilized within the structure of the Color and Materials Design courses.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites:

GRT-520 GRADUATE FOUNDATION STUDIO II

The graduate first-year transportation design experience is divided into two semester-length studios: one interior-focused, one exterior-focused. Students taking an interior-focused studio in the fall semester will then take an exterior focused studio in the winter semester, and vice versa. In both interior and exterior studios, students will be encouraged to pursue a user-center design approach. Incoming graduate transportation design students will be introduced to rendering and modeling techniques integral to the transportation design process. Course content may be reinforced through field trips to local design studios and factories. Students prepare a comprehensive presentation at the end of semester which includes critical self-assessment and reflection of their developmental strengths and needs.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites:

GRT-701 STUDIO III: STRATEGIC BRANDING

This course will focus on the examination of brand identity and competitive market analysis to further the development of an original vehicle concept. Target user research will be conducted to assess specific needs and wants as well as to establish contextual scenarios that will help inform design criteria. This studio’s project brief can be either interior or exterior focused and students are encouraged to tailor this choice towards the specialty they hope to pursue professionally. This course will result in a final exterior or interior design executed as a technical digital 3D model data set capable of further engineering assessment fabrication and/or animation.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: GRT 602