GDMA Studio 2—Syllabus

GDMA Studio 2 | Spring 2020

Course Description

This semester you will create, exhibit and document a self-directed Thesis Project. Think of the thesis as a premise or viewpoint that you demonstrate through the body of work you create. The work will be the result of multiple studio-based explorations and should originate from that which inspires, excites, concerns and intrigues you about design and the world.

Learning Outcomes

to formulate a personal process of generative thinking and making
to seek and define multi-layered, complex design problems
to generate content that is culturally, historically or personally significant
to generate form that articulates content and concept using the vocabulary and tools of graphic design practice
to critically evaluate your own work and the work of others in terms of form, context and audience
to clearly present your work in written and verbal formats
to plan and execute a compelling exhibition of your work

Bulletin Description

In this course designers will create and exhibit a self-directed design project with the aim of developing and nurturing an individual design process and disciplined studio practice. A traditional outline of research, ideation, synthesis, production and evaluation will lend structure to personal investigations. This project will culminate in a written summary of the student’s research and methodology. Students will continue to grow their bank of design knowledge, skills and resources through independent and collaborative projects.

Course Structure

This class meets once per week for six hours. Class time in the MA Studio will be spent on critiques of your work, in-class exercises, field research, lectures and readings that lend context to studio projects. Two guest critics, Margo Halverson and Nick Emrich, will join us for a mid-project review of the Thesis Project and again for a final gallery critique.

Course Resources and File Collection

Program resources and information as well as project briefs, readings and reference material will be posted to the Google Drive folder, “GDMA Program_Spring20” and we will use the following website for day-to-day class plans and links: mica.upwithq.com/gdma2. You must be logged in to your MICA account to access folders.

Documentation: sketchbook, writing, photos, screenshots, sources, etc.

Do not wait until the project is finished to start documenting! Spend time right now thinking about how you will collect your notes, sketches, prototypes, material tests, conversations, etc. See the Thesis Handbook for suggestions. Everyone will create a Google Doc saved to the “Thesis Work” folder to contain your thesis writing.

Outcomes

Your thesis is not simply a single project, but instead consists of multiple sub-problems based on a single topic or subject area. Investigating process, methodologies and research related to your work is as important as the final outcomes — an exhibition and thesis book. You may choose to exhibit only part of the work done for thesis in the MICA Grad Show, but all projects and visual explorations should be documented in the thesis book.

Exhibition
Due Friday, March 27, 5pm

This really means everything should be installed by March 26, which will give us time to clean up the gallery, adjust the lighting, etc. Please help each other and work together to make this happen! Events include an opening reception and gallery talks with visiting critics.

Thesis Book
Digital file due April 30

A written narrative about your research, process, outcomes, resources and conclusions as well as observations, photos, illustrations, datasets, experiments, etc. is required to communicate and frame your thesis work. The publication should clearly present the research you engaged in, as well as comment on your personal design process. Thesis books will be developed in both GDMA Studio 2 (writing focus) and Transmedia Type Lab (design focus). One printed copy of the book (we use blurb.com) is to be submitted to the program by May 14.

Documentation
Due Friday, May 8

In addition to submitting files for Spring coursework to the GDMA program via Google Drive, it is a graduation requirement that you submit thesis work to the Office of Graduate Studies / Decker Library. Thesis projects will be archived in the library as well as on the GDMA program website. A full list with specifications will be provided.

Resources

Print Techs

Marian Ochoa

gradprinttech@mica.edu
in GDMA Studio on:
Mon   1:00 to 3:00 pm
Wed   1:00 to 3:00 pm
Fri       1:00 to 3:00 pm

Karl Ericksen

kericksen@mica.edu
shared with GD BFA
GD Production Room / Brown 209
door code: 4+2, 3 enter

Grad Photo Studio

Brown 409
door code: 4, 3, 5

Writing Studio

Gateway, 140
writing@mica.edu
Make an appointment on line

Graphic Design Librarian

Siân Evans
sevans01@mica.edu
Make an appointment on line

Decker Library Digital Archives

Link to search past thesis projects

Exhibitions Department

Fox,120
Consultation:
Make an appointment with
Andrew Liang, tliang@mica.edu

Equipment checkout:
Monday - Friday:
10 – 11am & 3 – 4pm

Career Development Office

Gateway, 200
Career Counselor drop-in hours:
Tu, Th 2-4pm
Make an appointment with Marsha, the GD career counselor

Wellness Center

Student Counseling Center
1501 Mt. Royal Ave
Drop-in hours:
Monday - Friday: 2–4pm

Tentative Schedule

Jan 23

Review thesis project ideas

Jan 30

Define topic and research, Index due

Feb 6

Abstract and visual statement due

Feb 13

Review proposal

Feb 20

Work in progress

Feb 27

Mid-project review with guest critics

Mar 5

Work in progress / Exhibition Installation Workshop

Mar 12

Work in progress

SPRING BREAK

Mar 26

Exhibition installation (all week)

Mar 27

EXHIBITION RECEPTION, 5pm

Apr 2

Gallery talks with guest critics

Apr 3-7 GALLERY PHOTO SHOOTS

Apr 9

Documentation and writing

Apr 13 – 14 EXHIBITION DE-INSTALL

Apr 16

Work in progress

Apr 23

Work in progress

April 30

Send book to print / course evaluations

May 8

Documentation due / optional field trip

May 14

Printed book due to GDMA

Important Dates

Feb 14

Mandatory grad meeting, 5pm

May 12

GDMA Party!

May 14

Mandatory grad meeting and Grad Picnic

May 18

Commencement, 10:30am

May 22

Studio move out

Expectations and Grading

Work & Critiques

This semester is all about time management. You must meet all project milestones on the provided schedule matrix. Trust the process!
Plan final production far enough ahead of a due date to account for any unexpected problems.
If you are having difficulty completing your work, it is your responsibility to talk to us right away.
At the time class begins, be ready to discuss your work, readings or class assignments. Be direct and provide constructive criticism that will develop and elevate the skill level of the group.
If you have not finished work for a critique, come to class anyway to engage the discussion.
It is important that you are respectful of your classmates and give them your attention when they present their work. Please… no checking news or photo feeds, texting or chat during critiques, lectures or guest critic talks. Do not be tempted! Leave your phone at your desk.

Assessment and Grading

Graduate classes are Pass (P) or Fail (F). Your work in this class will be assessed based on the following criteria:
Process: evaluation of research (quality/quantity), development of ideas across time, articulation of the problem, ability to convert research into idea generation, ability to communicate ideas and research in visual form and improvement of work across the semester.
Product: evaluation of appropriateness of the design solution as a response to the thesis inquiry or proposal, understanding of the user/audience, inventiveness of the solution and execution of technique and craft.
Professionalism: evaluation of attendance, ability to meet deadlines including materials for presentation, exhibition and publication, participation in class critiques, written presentation skills, verbal presentation skills.

Attendance and Tardiness

We expect you to participate in class activities or work independently at your studio desks for the entire class period, aside from scheduled breaks.
Missing 3 classes will automatically result in an F for the class.
If you arrive 10 minutes past the scheduled class start time, this is considered tardy. 3 tardies will be counted as an absence. Arriving more than 30 minutes late will marked as an absence.