Catalog
This course prepares students to function as professional artists and/or designers. It provides an introduction to contemporary business theories, trend analysis, and branding techniques and practices. As well, students learn and use basic project management principles, project costing models, and the elements of business plan design. This course satisfies the General Elective requirement.
Credits: 3
Prerequisites: DEN 102
This course addresses the skills and knowledge needed to succeed as a contemporary artist while sustaining a professional studio practice. Topics include creating and organizing your professional profile, documentation and marketing, pplications for field related opportunities, and basic small business skills. Students will learn how to develop a resource data base, create valuable professional networks, and consider marketing and exhibiting from a broad range of commercial and alternative contexts. Guest lecturers, and visiting-artist presentations connect course information with real-world experience.
Credits: 3
Prerequisites: DEN-102
This course is offered to students who wish to understand branding, marketing, creative and integrated marketing communications, and how they work in industry. The course consists of small student teams, whose interactions and work efforts mirror those in an industry marketing firm or agency. Teams create a new product or service for their brand, and work to get it ready for a final presentation to a small group of industry subject matter experts and practitioners. Over the weeks, teams conduct secondary research, define a target audience, develop a strategic brand platform, brand name and visual ID system, create messaging content, digital, experiential co-marketing, and guerilla marketing plans. These are followed by customer relationship management and customer loyalty programs, along with personal and team skill advancement. Teams make weekly presentations to the instructor, which create an ongoing feedback loop to enhance team and personal improvement. This course may count towards liberal arts or general elective credit.
Credits: 3
Prerequisites: DAS 213 OR DAS 303
This course instructs students in principles of financial management specifically related to the needs of artists and designers. It builds on knowledge gained in DAS 213, Business Practices, to deepened understanding of fundamental business concepts and methods. Through coursework and practice, students develop a set of skills and tools relevant to operating a small or growing start-up company, working in an independent freelance practice, or working in a corporate design studio or other creative environment. This course will examine such topics as: measuring cash flow; working with budgets and forecasts; evaluating financial performance; managing working capital; allocating resources; identifying sources of funding for entrepreneurial ventures; presenting business cases to investors and corporate managements; understanding business related taxes, including tax planning and legal considerations; selecting an accountant or other financial advisor using sound financial criteria; recognizing the advantages and disadvantages of ownership such as sole proprietor and LLC. This course may count towards liberal arts or general elective credit.
Credits: 3
Prerequisites: DAS 313
This course is offered for students enrolled in the CCS Minor in Creative Entrepreneurship. It is taught as a cohort and is followed by the final capstone business class, DAS-316. After successfully completing these two capstone courses, students are prepared as entrepreneurial thought and action leaders and have been trained to launch their own creative industry venture. Students are first introduced to different organizational structures including leadership, cultural, and behavioral options and select those most compatible with their mission and values. Using research, students evaluate their venture’s competitive landscape, and then create and defend their strategic brand platform, brand name, product/service offerings, and core customer base. This leads to the creation of behaviorally motivating brand content, applied to an integrated set of customer attraction, conversion, retention, and sales programs. Students also learn to refine their soft skills, including engaging, listening, and selling. This course culminates with students’ intensive interaction with actual business owners and creative industry experts in formal presentations
Credits: 3
Prerequisites: DAS 313, DAS 314
DAS-316 follows DAS-315 to form the capstone experience of the Minor in Creative Entrepreneurship. Students will focus on operational and oversight aspect of their venture, including studying, selecting and integrating information analysis and business software into a customized enterprise reporting platform. This review will include accounting information, project management and team communication, search engine optimization, customer acquisition and retention, digital marketing optimization, and enterprise resource planning. Interpersonal skills training will include internal team and business partner management, customer service and satisfaction, and business development, sales and presentation training. Finally students will secure a mini-internship with an appropriate entity. Mini-internships must be approved in advance. As needed, Design Core Detroit will help through their Design Network. This course can be used for Liberal Arts or General Elective credit.
Credits: 3
Prerequisites: DAS 313, DAS 314, DAS 315
The Special Project class is offered on an occasional basis, with course content specific to the area being explored.
FALL 2023
SETTING UP SHOP
This course is designed as a special project for students interested in designing, creating, and maintaining a store where students and alumni can sell their art. Students will develop and implement a business plan using market trends and project management principles. Students in this course will create a contact network to contribute to the long-term success of the student/alumni shop.
Credits: 3
Prerequisites: DAS 213
Independent Study is available to students who are at Junior or Senior level standing with a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or above. The student may receive approval to work in an area or on a project that is not otherwise offered or addressed in the regular curriculum. An Independent Study should include opportunities for individual student voice and provide a space for diverse perspectives. Students may receive credit toward graduation for no more than 6 credit hours. The student must submit to the chairperson of the department in which they wish to study, an Independent Study Proposal of 150 words (no less) of the student’s plan for study and her/his reason for choosing to study independently. Once the department chairperson provides approval and the instructor for the Independent Study is determined, the faculty member must write an Independent Study Syllabus with education goals, learning outcomes, meeting dates, course expectations, timelines, and due dates. Art Education candidates must pass DAE 490 with a grade of ‘C’ (2.00) or higher to qualify for certification.
Credits: 3
Prerequisites: DEN 239