What's the deal with Design 166?

1 / / / What’s the deal with Design 166?

Hey you! We heard you’re confused about Design 166. You’ve probably looked at the Reddit threads, heard from UW Design students, and maybe even looked at that one Tumblr blog. But some questions remain, and we’re here to answer...

What’s the deal with Design 166?

By Stephanie Chou + Chloe Koh / / / SOAAHD

2 / / / What’s the deal with Design 166?

By Stephanie Chou + Chloe Koh / / / SOAAHD

I want to take this class.

Where should I start?

Hey there! I’m Stephanie, a senior in the Interaction design program. The most memorable moment in Design 166 for me is the friendly atmosphere in my section. Despite the stress, we all helped each other out to make great designs!

First of all, we’re glad you’re trying design!

­— Stephanie Chou, Co-author of this broadsheet

We recognize how much work Design 166 requires and wanted to help out future ­students by turning our own experiences into advice. We realized that there was a lot of ­misconceptions and general nerves surrounding this class, and wanted to offer more resources and advice in order to encourage future students to continue to pursue design. To ease you into it, here’s a little bit more about us.

Hi! I’m Chloe, a senior in the Visual Communication Design program. My most memorable 166 moment was going to CLUE the first time and making new friends. It was so nice to get to know other people who were also passionate about design!

Keep reading for more information on everything you need to know about ­Design 166, and keep an eye out for advice from other design students and even some instructors! We wish you the best of luck as you embark on this time-consuming, but very r­ ewarding, journey.

­— Chloe Koh, Co-author of this broadsheet

Ready to jump in?

Here’s a brief overview of how the class works.

SPRING + BEYOND

WINTER QUARTER

WINTER BREAK

Before Design 166

During Design 166

After Design 166

Preparation

Week 5-9: ID

Results

You signed up for the class, yay! If your ­professor has sent you the material list, grab that ASAP so you’re not missing items when you need them.

It’s time for the second project: the cardboard project! Whether you have to design a plant holder, a ping-pong paddle box, or a toy, get ready to test your craftsmanship skills.

Congratulations on finishing Design 166!

Depending on how well you did, there are three options: become a UW Design major, submit an application to get into the Design major, or pursue other options.

Week 1-5: VCD

Week 9-11: IxD

Get ready to design a magazine cover around a theme like “friendship” or “loneliness”. Make sure to focus on your visual composition skills!

Being able to take good photos, crop in an interesting manner, and tell a story is key.

And you’ve made it to the final project! A short and quick two-week journey map aims to help you think about the user and put yourself in their shoes. You got this, you’re almost at the finish line!

What should I know before the first day?

% OF STUDENTS WHO USED THE SOFTWARE BEFORE DESIGN 166

Design 166 is known to be a high-stakes and high-workload course because it is the fastest way to get into the Design major. From personal experience, we STRONGLY recommend you to make Design 166 your top priority for the quarter.

You will spend a lot of time creating, redoing, and polishing your work!

Students who received a 3.7+

60%

Students who did not receive a 3.7+

40.6%

Stephanie & Chloe’s Design 166 Checklist Take a course load that allows me to focus on Design 166.

Familiarize myself with the design critiquing style.

Prepare to live and breathe design (and have fun!)

40.8%

Look into design related extracurriculars/jobs.

29.1%

BE ME PREP E DES T NE ARED W T I WI GNIN PEOP O TH G CO IS B LE; E MP AN ST Y!

Try to meet people who are also taking Design 166!

OPTIONAL: Learn frequently used design software.

“There isn’t a box that you have to fit in in order to be the quintessential “designer.” Be passionate about your other ­interests and incorporate that into your practice and embrace what makes you different.” ­— VCD Senior

“Some cohorts are more expensive than others. From what I’ve heard, ID students spend a lot on materials.

Luckily for me who was unaware of these things back then, IxD has a good balance of physical and digital materials (although it leans towards the latter).” ­— IxD Senior

Although you should have a basic ­understanding of Photoshop ­before starting the course, your prior knowledge doesn’t really ­correlate with the final grades you’ll receive at the end.

What’s the deal with Design 166? / / / 3

What qualities should a design student have?

Curiosity for everything You need to always be on the look out for new opportunities Designers are problem-solvers. If you aren’t curious, it is very hard to identify problems. You should always wonder how you can make things better, and how you can improve on the design!

We asked 27 UW Design students what they thought, and this is what they said. All of the ­qualities listed here were answered three times, or more. Please note that this is not a ­comprehensive list! Designers have many different traits that ultimately make who they are.

Passion for your craft

A willingness to learn

In order to succeed as a designer, you need to be passionate. This was the quality that was mentioned the most times because it is the most important! The main reason why Design 166 is a pathway to getting admission to the major is because it gives you a chance to show how passionate you are about the subject.

You need to be ready to learn at all times. Make sure to seek out knowledge wherever you can, and give it your best effort whenever possible! It shows in your work, and it will be better because of it. A designer never stops learning, even after they graduate.

Work hard, play hard

Have an open mind

You can’t get anywhere without some good old hard work. The same can be said for probably every thing you’ll do in college, but it is especially important in Design 166. This class is going to be hard! But if you can do the work, and do it well, we promise you that you will be just fine.

Be open to anything! You’ll have a lot of incredible opportunities as a designer, but also have to experience many different things. There will be many times where you’ll be asked to design something you’ve never even heard of before, but isn’t the point of college is to learn anything you possibly can?

Embrace creativity

Be determined

You can’t be a design major without being creative! Creativity doesn’t need to be in the artistic sense, but rather how you approach problems, develop solutions, and make visuals.

A creative mind isn’t the most common trait, but it is a very important (and special one) to have as a designer.

Design consists of trying, trying again, even more trying, and so on and so forth. You have to be determined to continue to move forward. Never let go of your goal, it’s just straight ahead!

Keep trying new ideas, and you’ll find one that works, eventually.

Where can I go to study and print my designs?

The MILL has spacious tables, perfect for your ID project needs.

If you’re living in a dorm, you might not have the space you need to work on projects (especially for the ID project). Presenting: this handy map!

1

NORTH CAMPUS

4

Art Building

3

1

WEST CAMPUS

Odegaard Library AKA the undergraduate library. A well-known study area, you can reserve individual classrooms or use the printing area on the second floor.

Home of the creatives! The Printing Lab (SoACC) is located in Room 025C (Basement). Make sure to double check the opening hours before you go!

4

THE QUAD

6 2

NORTH CAMPUS

The MILL (McCarty Hall)

5

A design makerspace open to all UW students where you can design, cut, print, and use their machinery.

WEST CAMPUS

Design Help Desk (Allen Library) A space where you can get additional feedback for your projects! The Allen Library also has letter-sized printers.

The Odegaard and Allen libraries are nice, quiet places for focused design time.

RED SQUARE

Area 01 offers a nice mini makerspace (the Dabble Lab) if you live on West campus.

5

DRUMHELLER FOUNTAIN

3

NORTH CAMPUS

The 8 (McMahon Hall) A makerspace like The MILL. Located on the lower floor of McMahon, it offers a cozy place to design (and the cheapest place to print).

Printing Services

Design Makerspaces

6

2

WEST CAMPUS

Area 01 (Maple Hall) The Dabble Lab in Area 01 features a mini-makerspace area to work on design. Area 01 also offers letter-sized printing, for your convenience!

Study Workspaces

4 / / / What’s the deal with Design 166?

By Stephanie Chou + Chloe Koh / / / SOAAHD

What is critique, anyway?

Critiquing skills are one of the most important things you’ll learn as a designer. Your work won’t get any better unless you know how to give and take criticism on your work. Know that it’s not personal, it’s to make your work the best it can be.

Why is critique important to designers?

Critique helps designers improve their work.

Without critique, it is very hard for your work to improve.

You need feedback in order to make your work better.

More often than not, others will have ideas and suggestions you never thought of, or point out things you may have missed while you were working. Ultimately, a design is much better when many people have had their eyes on it.

How can I give my peers good critique?

Critique encourages ­teamwork and collaboration.

Be specific.

When critiquing other works, make sure to be very targeted about what is working and what isn’t. Be detailed and offer solutions as well, it’ll make the other person a lot more understanding of where you’re coming from.

Designers rarely ever work alone. If not with a design team, they’re dealing with clients or coworkers who weren’t trained in design. In allowing space and time for critique, it gives others a chance to collaborate and offer a different perspective that you might not have seen before.

Don’t be silent!

Critique gives you a space to talk about your work.

The worst thing you can do in a critique session is to not say anything. If you offer suggestions and ideas, people will want to help you in return when it’s your turn to present your work. Critique is a group activity, so make sure to be a team player.

Designers need to know how to justify their decisions.

The first step to doing that is in critique. If you aren’t able to speak about your work in a room full of peers, how are you going to be able to talk to clients and employers?

Listen to others.

Most of the time, you can learn how to give good critique by listening to others who have been doing this for a long time. Listen to your professors, TAs, student tutors, even upperclassmen, and take note of what they say and how they say it.

“Don’t doubt yourself, you can be your own worst critic. Ask for help and be willing to grow from your new findings. Accept that times, you need to rest and take a step back.” ­— ID Senior

“Go to CLUE, go to office hours, talk a lot during crit, ask a lot of questions during crit, don’t be afraid to put yourself out there, and remember to make friends and memories :)” ­— VCD Junior

“Learn that you shouldn’t try to reinvent your project entirely after every critique, and have more of a slow-and-steadywins-the-race mindset.

It’s easier to come up with simple solid ideas at the beginning and build off of that than try to be a genius every time you get a few ­criticisms from the instructor.”

­— VCD Senior

“Hang in there! Don’t forget to have fun! You’re never gonna get it “right” the first time, so you gotta keep failing and you gotta keep TRYING!” ­— ID Senior

“Be open to change, but use ­critique as a consideration not a decision. Go to CLUE, because it’s basically extra chances to refine your design.” ­— IxD Senior

What’s the deal with Design 166? / / / 5

What critique should I be listening to?

Not all critique is useful...

What if ­everyone hates my work?

Sometimes, some people may make suggestions that you just aren’t interested in or have tried before. When you encounter this, you may just have to file these suggestions away. Don’t throw them out completely, just in case they come up again, but you are allowed to ignore it if you decide that it does not help. It is up to you and the direction you want your project to go in!

You ultimately have to decide what best fits the needs of your project.

It’s okay to cry.

Realistically, no one is going to completely hate your work. But we are all human, and sometimes a critique goes badly. It feels worse when you have spent so long working on something, only to receive what feels like only negative feedback. Don’t worry, though, pick yourself back up and continue pushing forward. Remember that everyone who gave you feedback is on your side (even if it doesn’t feel like it) and just wants to help you make your work better.

But, make note of what comes up most often.

A skill you need to have as a designer is how to prioritize. Critiques tend to bring up many more problems than you’ll have time to address, so you’re going to need to pick and choose where to focus your attention on.

Never give up.

Most of the time, you can figure this out by keeping an eye out for what is mentioned most often ­during a critique session. It’s even better if you have ­specific questions you can ask when you ­present your work, so you can make sure you know exactly where to target.

Although it may seem like it’s the end of the world, it isn’t! You can make changes and improve your work. It’s honestly better to get negative critiques sometimes, as it gives you direction and a place where you can move forward.

Throw out ideas if they’re not working.

You are allowed to start from scratch if you want to!

Starting over doesn’t mean you wasted time, it means you tried something and it didn’t work out the way you wanted it to. That’s okay, because you still spent time trying a direction, and that’s what matters. If you really like the idea, keep it in your back pocket and consider it for a personal project!

How helpful is it, really?

LEAR SEPA N TO YOU RATE FRO RSELF MY WOR OUR K.

Well, let’s hear it from former students! In the final student survey of the 2024 Design 166 class, 134 students were asked the question “Did the critiques you received in this class help you learn?” This is a summary of their responses.

Critique was helpful.

Critique was somewhat helpful.

Critique was not helpful.

The majority (117) of students said that critiques were helpful to them. They specifically called out that it allowed them to see different perspectives, as well as get an idea of where to go next.

16 students tended to get lost within contradictory ­statements from too many people. Although they liked ­critique, they felt like it was hard to figure out what to do with their projects after a critique session.

1 student had never had experienced formal critique before, and took too many opinions into consideration, which caused them to lose focus on their direction too many times.

6 / / / What’s the deal with Design 166?

By Stephanie Chou + Chloe Koh / / / SOAAHD

So... How hard is it to get a 3.7+?

Here’s a breakdown of grades from students who have “made it”.

CRIT PAR IQUE A N T CAN ICIPATIO D M N BRE AKE O AK Y R GRA OUR DE.

It’s important to know that these categories are weighted differently, with projects making up the largest portion of your grade. However, you should have good scores across the board to have the best chance. Student One got the highest grade in the class, and Student Four got the lowest 3.7 grade in the class. Please note that this is only a base sample size, and you never know what will happen when grades actually get entered in. It is not the end of the world if you don’t meet these scores when your first project grade comes in! You still have the other projects, and if you don’t make it through the class, you still have the portfolio review.

STUDENT ONE

97.93%

100%

91%

Total: 97.89% GPA: 4.0

100%

STUDENT TWO

93.76%

98.73%

100%

Total: 93.6% GPA: 3.9

75%

STUDENT THREE

93.56%

83.92%

100%

100%

100%

90%

Total: 93.16% GPA: 3.8

STUDENT FOUR

87.78%

98.09%

Total: 90.6% GPA: 3.7

Canvas Participation Score

Process Score

This is based of your participation in Canvas specifically (attendance, quizzes, surveys).

This is based off of how you progressed throughout the class... Make sure you listen to critiques and give your best effort!

Total Project Score

Critique Participation Score

This will be the majority of your grade. There were two ­projects in Winter 2024, a magazine cover and a toy (made out of ­cardboard) project. In 2025, there will be three projects.

This is based off your participation in critique. Make sure to speak up and offer your perspective. Your classmates will appreciate it, and your grade will too!

What if I don’t get a 3.7+?

Don’t give up! There’s still spots, you just need to make sure to submit a portfolio-based application!

Design Application Requirements

“Definitely take Design 166 to get into the design program if you are passionate about art, design, and making creative solutions. The design community is wonderful, tight-knit, and an overall amazing experience, just be prepared to take on the workload. And if you don’t get in through the class, don’t feel bad a good percentage of people get into the program through portfolios.” ­— IxD Sophomore

Resume Portfolio Projects from Design 166 Short caption describing all projects

WINTER 2024

Numbered pages

SUMMER 2024

SPRING 2024

Accepted offer

Passed w/ 3.7+

28

32

Specific requirements for your major

Admitted

Answers to supplementary questions

17

Applied

waived for financial reasons)

“Start working on your portfolio sooner than later, even if it’s just saving other people’s portfolios that you’re inspired by.” ­— ID Senior

Took Design 166 146

Transferred 15 Contrary to what most people may think, the majority of students in the UW ­Design program are admitted through the ­application process, not Design 166.

B.Des Class of 2027 60

50

$20 application fee (This can be

FALL 2024

What’s the deal with Design 166? / / / 7

Should I actually major in Design?

If you happen to be the small percentage that didn’t intend on ­majoring in Design, here’s a couple of design majors’ reasons why they decided to stay in this ­program.

Whatever decision you make, you should be proud to have made it this far.

“I became very interested in design doing layout and illustration for my high school newspaper, and then wanted to pursue it as a career.”

“At the time I was very lost in terms of what I wanted to do or what I found fulfilling.

Having a creative background, I decided to take 166 and see how it would go with very little knowledge of the Design ­program. I enjoyed ­meeting other creatively driven ­people and designers within the ­program as well. It felt ­gratifying to problem solve through ­creative means.”

­— VCD Junior

“I wanted to further ­pursue my creative interests in ­college while also having a stable career (I’m in the Bay Area, so something design and tech was ideal.)”

“[I] didn’t know what I was gonna major in college! like at all! and then I took 166 and realized I can major in something and possibly get a career in packaging design and conceptualizing cardboard nets and making physical prototypes and I was instantly hooked!” ­— ID Junior

­— VCD Senior

“I wanted a major that offered some blend between ­creativity and technology, and I didn’t just want to pursue an art major because I wanted to have a more structured course-load.

DESIGN 166 exposed me to the design major, and after seeing all the cool things the seniors did at the ­senior show [it] made me want to ­commit to the design major.”

­— IxD Senior

“Though I am heavily based in graphic design, I want to expand my abilities and how I think to incorporate user interactive elements. I love finding ­creative solutions to my own problems, so I think exploring the interactive space can really give me a unique perspective and skill set.”

“I was originally an Art major and didn’t feel academically fulfilled, and the Design program sounded like it would be more ­challenging to me and also aligned more with skills I wanted to build.”

­— IxD Senior

­— ID Junior

­— VCD Junior

What if I don’t get in?

SU MA PPLE J M CLU OR W ENT YO IT B MO S IF Y H JOB UR O RE S PRA U WA OR CTI NT CE .

Sometimes factors like not having enough time may get in the way, or the ­numbers may have simply just not been on your side. We know it may be discouraging to spend a quarter working on these projects, and another quarter working on your ­application, only to not be able to get in to the program, but there’s still other ­options. And if you still want to explore design, UW offers a lot of different activities that can support your design journey!

Which design concentration are you interested in?

Visual Communication Design BA in Communications Learn to effectively and clearly convey information and ideas by developing strong communication and interpersonal skills.

Interaction Design BS in Human Centered Design Engineering

Industrial Design BA in Architectural Design

Advance systems and technologies for communities to create accessible and sustainable futures.

Provides students with a firm foundation in the many different forces, disciplines, and areas that influence architectural design.

BA in Interdisciplinary Visual Art

BS in Informatics

BS in Industrial Engineering

Emphasizes research-based art production with a focus on exploring various innovative connections between disciplines.

Explore the intersection of technology and human values while creatively imagining more equitable and just information technology and systems.

Grapple with real-world problems, designing, ­developing, testing and evaluating the systems that power lives.

Nothing catch your eye?

Transfer

Reapply

If you’re completely certain that you want to major in design, your best bet is to transfer schools. You can look into other design programs across the nation, they’d be lucky to have you!

Although not recommended, you may be allowed to reapply to the design program once. Note that this is not common, and it is rare that someone is accepted after being rejected, but it is not impossible.

8 / / / What’s the deal with Design 166?

By Stephanie Chou + Chloe Koh / / / SOAAHD

Are there any other ways I can get involved in design at UW? For sure! UW has a LOT of design activities.

Whether you’re a Design major or not, the best way to be a designer is to look out for new opportunities.

This is not a comprehensive list, we’re sure that there are many more ­opportunities out there. Also, if you’re interested in something, and think there’s a way to add design to it, just ask! You can make many opportunities from just pure work and passion. For UW jobs specifically, keep an eye out any departments that we didn’t mention as well. There’s many on-campus organizations that have design roles (although they’re a bit smaller!)

Classes

RSOs (Clubs) Design for America

DES 150 (Take before 166)

HOMEROOM

DES 250

MESH

ENGL 388 (Resume workshop)

Muse

ENGL 390 (Portfolio building)

PupSupport

HCDE 496

TEDxUofW

INFO 200

Women in UX at UW WebImpact

Events

UX@UW

Dubhacks Protothon

UW Jobs

WiUX Conference

ASUW HFS Perks and Rec

Other

The Daily UW

Alpha Theta Delta

UW Career Center

Directed Research Groups

UW Libraries

Design Help Desk

UW Sustainability

Do you have any final words or advice?

Here’s a few words from instructors of the class, and of course, ourselves. We hope this guide helped you, and we wish you the best of luck as you begin your journey into the world of design!

“Here are three tips that I tell my 166 students every year: 1

Remember, compositions are made of shapes, not “things”.

A car isn’t a shape; it’s a ­collection of shapes that we see and i­nterpret as a car.

Compositional rules only work if they are applied to the shapes in the scene.

“IMO, the key to success in 166 is staying open minded and positive.

Successful students aren’t defensive.

They are genuinely want to understand why a design is or isn’t working.”

— Karen Cheng, VCD Faculty

2

What you show is what we know.

All the great ideas you had don’t matter once we’re pinned up for crit, if you didn’t include them in your work. Make sure your ideas make it out of your head so we can see them.

3

If you choose to add a shape or detail, it should seem ­intentional.

Don’t just cut a round corner because it’s easier, or include a stuffed bear on a couch in a photo because it was there. If it’s not positively ­contributing to your ­composition, leave it out, or change it so it does.”

“Design 166 is a foundational course that exposes students to ­introductory design principles and studio-style learning. In this course, you will observe that all students will be given the same prompt but there will be hundreds of different responses—all with varying elements of success.

Through critique, you will learn how to analyze image and form, provide and receive constructive criticism, and apply learnings from open discussions to your work. Design 166 will immerse you in the design process, ­challenging you to discover creative solutions through experimentation and revision.”

— Dominic Muren, ID Faculty

— Lisa Bambach, M.Des Student

GOO D YOU LUCK, G THIS OT !

From Stephanie, IxD Senior Design 166 was a roller coaster in the toughest, best way­ ­possible. It was the first time I was forced to think like a ­designer, adapt like a designer, and iterate like a designer.

While the stress of the 3.7+ definitely loomed over my head at the time, I found it rewarding and fun to see how far I could push myself. So while it’s important to pass, enjoy the moment! Always ask for feedback; more feedback means more refinement. Most importantly, take the time to get to know one another, it makes the class easier when you have friends :)

From Chloe, VCD Senior Design 166 really cemented my love for design. It was the first time I felt like I really knew what I wanted to be doing for the rest of my life. Yes, it is a little bit stressful knowing that this class can make or break your major, but ultimately, if you ­really want this, your passion and drive will shine through. Here’s a little advice for the road: Take any opportunity you can to get ­feedback on your work. Connect with the people in your class, and finally, just enjoy being a designer. Live in the moment a bit, really relish the whole process of it all, and you’ll do just fine.

Good luck in your Design 166 journey!