Design Education Workshop

DESIGN N I T A S H I A J O H N S O N

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WHAT IS DESIGN? Design could be a plan or something that serves a purpose. Most times its used as a way to show the look and functionality of something such as clothing buildings, furniture, advertising and much more. Sometimes It require collaboration to solve a problem. Design is everywhere and you can’t avoid it. Usually its implanted in businesses we interact with everyday, it represents the objects we use in our daily lives. For the longest time I felt that design communication was what design stood for. After attending undergrad I then found out that design is just the umbrella for all of the categories it supports. Design can be defined as a noun or verb.

In a pdf document provided by the Design Council they define design with just a few points: What is design?

The single word ‘design’ encompasses an awful lot, and that’s why the understandable search for a single definition leads to lengthy debate to say the least. There are broad definitions and specific ones - both have drawbacks. Either they’re too general to be meaningful or they exclude too much. One definition, aired by designer Richard Seymour during the Design Council’s Design in Business Week 2002, is ‘making things better for people’.

TYPES OF DESIGN • • • • • • • • • •

Apparel Design Interior Designer Graphic Design Industrial Design Exhibit Design Fashion Design Game Design Product Design Toy Design Transportation Design

I feel that design is used for everything; it makes up the world we live in.

DESIGN IN THE CLASSROOM I truly believe that art and design education in the school lives of children and youth uniquely provides them a magnificent way to understand the world.

Some class insights on what the design process requires:

Critical Thinking Collaboration

Discussions

Plan

Research

Brainstorming Ideas

Mock-Up

Revisions

My Challenge: Introducing design in the classroom The workshops during this course will teach me how to do so.

STUDIO WORKSHOP: EXPLORING PLACES AND SPACES

DESIGN WORKSHOP: PLACES AND SPACES JAN 9th During the first workshop we had to chance to meet and work with guest designer Nadine Gerdts. In the first half of the workshop we did a small exercise where we imagined and sketched a map of streets in downtown providence based off memory. This was a really fun activity; although I completed my drawing later realized my sketches were not as accurate as they would have been if i had the chance to walk around and document the streets . Later we were granted the opportunity to do so with a fellow peer Things I realized while doing this assignment:

-Very often do we notice the streets surroundings when we travel.

-I never thought about the structure of the buildings and the streets -What could I have students do with places and spaces?

-How could I make the projects fun, yet something that has meaning?

With our fellow colleague we walked the streets of down town for about ten minutes. During that time we took photos and documented the streets and the buildings that hugged them. We noticed that the landscaping and the cleanliness of the area. We also noticed the street signs and different abstract shapes. We even paid attention to the traffic lights. This was a very fun exercise, it helped me understand how important it was to observe your surroundings. One question I asked myself was,” how on earth could I apply this kind of assignment in the classroom”? We were given the Urban Observation Journal assignment where we documented areas as we traveled. Similar to what we’ve done in the workshop, we were to take notes of things we observed an along with a visual map that showed the location.

COOPER HEWITT VISIT / UNDERSTANDING DESIGN AND WAYS TO APPLY IT IN THE CLASSROOM JAN 14th It was really exciting taking a trip to the Cooper Hewitt, I didn’t even know this museum existed.

I never knew that there was a gallery carted to“design”. Before we had the chance to tour Cooper Hewitt, we sat and listened to information from staff members Michelle Cheng , Kimberly Cisneros, and Kameko Branchaud. I took notes as each member presented useful information. Below is the list I complied with important data about the museum and its educational programs: -Last year 1400 enrollments 95% on free and reduced meals

-Design & civil engagement which is connected to the toddler program

-Digital Badges (After school connection)

-Students learn 80% outside of school

How to bring design into the classroom -Relate to steam

-Introduce what design is

-Clarity

- Advise them that design is a part of their lives

What They Have!

-Designers Talk

-Community Programs open to the public

-Universal Design

-Artist Visits

-Design Tails

-Design Center in Harlem

-Programs usually run 45 minutes

-Design in the classroom that has carted to over 70,000 New York students -There is a teacher resource package / over 400 design lessons The museum has both contemporary and historical work. It has a variety of information about design humans use in their daily lives. I loved the work and the labels that went along with them. On the following page are photographs from my museum visit.

These are just a few images I took during my visit at Cooper Hewitt. This museum was very different, you could actually touch items and interact with them which is a ton of fun (Not that I have anything against traditional museums).

STUDIO WORKSHOP: EXPLORING PRODUCTS AND THINGS

DESIGN WORKSHOP: DESIGN TOOLS FOR EXPLORING PRODUCTS AND THINGS JAN 16TH This workshop was so much fun! We had the chance to meet and work with designer/educator Bobbi Jarvis. She gave a bit of information about herself including what she does for a living. I love artists visits because I learn about their work while taking down notes on how well they perform as the presenter. This helps me improve on my very own presentations.

On this day we created a project from recycled material. For the assignment we had an hour to create a water bottle that functioned better than a regular drinking bottle. Before getting our hands dirty we brainstormed as a class. We also went over the design process which is as follows: Assignment/ Design Problem Consumer Research / Questions Brainstorm Concept Sketches - 2D or 3D Design Review and Feedback Concept Testing Revisions Product Definition and costing Presentation Model Product Illustration Product Concept Review Repeat as needed This is one of many examples of the design process, which could be altered if needed. The question I asked myself was, what would my design process look like? Should I make a poster for the classroom, handouts?

We took about 15 - 20 minutes to brainstorm together. As we shouted out ideas Bobbi wrote them on the board. I thought this was a great technique that could be really effective in my own classroom. Evidence from our insights and collaboration can be found on the next page.

DESIGNING WITH BOBBI!!!!!!

After our brainstorming session we were given the assignment. We were told that we had one hour to create a design for a new and improved water bottle. I’ll admit I was a bit nervous at first, but I ended up making an awesome bottle. After brainstorming together, it was easier to come up with a prototype. If we would have missed this step in the design process our projects may not have been successful. From Bobbi’s visit, I learned how to engage students in the design process. It helps to collaborate and work together when coming up with ideas that way students feel confident when later working alone.

Insights / Brainstorm

Examples / Final Work

I’m thinking about using “Water Bottle Revamp” as one of my student teaching lessons. The Unit goal was as follows: The Design Process is a method used by designers to understand a practical problem and to develop concepts to solve the problem. This lesson could be done at the high school or elementary level. I will get my students to engage by using some of the same techniques used during Bobbi’s demonstration.

MY BOTTLE IS AWESOME!!!

The yellow water bottle is mine. It is a Sponge Bob water bottle that giggles when kids sip water from it. It also informs the child about how much water they’ve consumed that day. If the child gets sick of the giggles there is a switch to turn him off. The Character Plankton is in the straw as the child sips he is thrown to the top as if he is being kicked out of the sea. I loved my water bottle it was fun making it; as I designed this I thought about my niece who is my inspiration.

STRATEGIES FOR IMPLEMENTING DESIGN IN THE CLASSROOM

DESIGN WORKSHOP: FORENSIC ARCHAEOLOGISTS STRATEGIES FOR DESIGN LEARNING IN THE CLASSROOM Can design expand? Does it have some type of meaning? Does it stand the test of time? All of these questions came to mind during this workshop. Design does have meaning; it has a purpose. To get students to understand objects and places we have to get them to deeply examine things they may find extra ordinary .For example a student could look at a chair and think nothing of it but probing questions may help them think deeply about it represents: What kind of chair is it? Who would use it? What is it made of? Where does it belong?

Interpretation is the key even with design and we must get our students to understand that.

Visual Culture During this workshop we all pretended to be archaeologists. We found objects around the POD studio and pretended as if it we were far in the future and had found objects from the past civilization. We had to first study our objects, draw a model them, and take then notes of our interpretations.

This was a very exciting project, a lesson I would urge in every classroom. For my object i found a old Motorola Razr phone. My from my observation I figured this was a tool used by soldiers when out at war. It was a device used to keep track of the number of days they were out on a mission. The clear screen on the front of the object was a mirror that would allow the soldier to watch out for enemies behind them.

EXHIBIT PREPARATION: GRAD SHOW

DESIGN WORKSHOP: GRAD SHOW DISCUSSION AND INFORMATION WITH KRISTINA SANSONE JAN 23RD Things to consider: Layout Text Audio Student Work Documentation Images Lesson Information Curriculum Map Messages Demonstration Times

This show is very important, not only will we showcase who we are as educators but the work done by our students as well.

DESIGN WORKSHOP: TEXT AND IMAGE PSA

DESIGN WORKSHOP: TEXT AND IMAGE PSA JAN 29TH During this workshop we learned how design could be used to bring awareness. We learned that it is necessary to gather information and brainstorm on ways to communicate a message most effectively. As a group, using iMovie we created a PSA about why it is improtant to recycle plastic waste. We used a combination of video, audio, text, and images to convey an important message. Together we learned technical skills that would allow us to create a meaningful project.

Title: Call to Action PSA: PSA is “Public Service Announcement�

DESIGN WORKSHOP: PERSONAL OBJECT VIDEO

DESIGN WORKSHOP: PERSONAL OBJECT VIDEO FEB 5TH The Necklace is a short video about a personal object that’s been around in my family for over 20 years.

I really enjoyed making this video I was excited to do so. I used design process for this assignment. I first examined my object taking in the beauty of what it actually was, which is a necklace a locket meant to be worn. I then thought about the personal connection I had with it.

The necklace is broken so what on earth would I hold on to it for? The necklace belonged to two of my sisters. Over the years I tried over and over again to get my hands on it, but they would not let me have it. It was later lost but some how some way it ended up in my possession. The necklace reminds me of my childhood; when look at it I immediately think about my siblings. Its so lovely, I keep it because it is a memory and an important part in my life.

Link to Video: https://vimeo.com/118550401

REFLECTION

I understand what design is now and its not just graphic design. I will admit I was a bit selfish when I heard the word design ,my profession is all I could think about. After this course I now respect all fields of design. I learned how it could be utilized in the classroom and how important design is when it comes to education. I am now at ease about design and because of this course I can successfully introduce it in my very own classroom.