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CONTEMPORARY
ISSUES IN DESIGN: A WRITING INTENSIVE CLASS ABSTRACT
Andrea
Marks
Assistant Professor
Oregon State University
The Writing Intensive Curriculum (WIC) program was created in 1989 at Oregon State University and is an important part of the Baccalaureate Core requirements. These upper division writing intensive courses are taught by professors in the major, with the idea that students can learn about topics they are truly interested in through writing. Assignments include non-graded or minimally graded assignments, as well as formal graded projects. The Department of Art at Oregon State University offers four WIC courses in the areas of Art History, Fine Arts, Photography and Graphic Design. The designated WIC Graphic Design course entitled; Contemporary Issues in Design is taken by junior and senior design majors and focuses on reading and writing about contemporary issues in design. The five themes discussed last term in the class were: Identity: Branding Strategies and Concepts Appropriateness: Appropriation, Portrayals and Morals Activism: Social Responsibility in Design Sustainability: Green Consumption The Future: Experience Design We spent two weeks on each area and though this is not much time, students were introduced to many new topics. I have taught this class for the past 6 years and I have found it to be a very successful way to bring awareness of the multiplicity of the discipline to students coupled with furthering writing skills. There are many students who believe they will rarely have to write once they graduate and practice in the field of Graphic Design. Many students have only one or two writing classes in college and feel very insecure about writing. I see this course as a way to build more self-confidence in writing skills. In addition to ungraded freewriting exercises, short essay assignments and a research paper, students are introduced to the many ways graphic designers use writing in the discipline, from resumes and cover letters to design manifesto's. In September, I will publish a Writing Guide for Graphic Design students. This text will be used by students in the class.