This course explores how graphic design shapes the way people navigate physical and digital spaces. Students will study the principles of wayfinding, information design, typography, mapping, environmental graphics, accessibility, and user experience through case studies and hands-on projects, the majority of which will be completed in response to real design challenges.
Working from research and observation, students will develop signage systems, spatial graphics, and navigational tools for real-world environments such as campuses, museums, transit systems, and public spaces.
Emphasis will be placed on systems thinking, visual communication, and human-centered design, while introducing career pathways in environmental graphic design, exhibition design, branding, user experience, and public space design.
Across the semester, students will develop a portfolio of creative work while strengthening presentation, critique, and collaborative problem-solving skills, enriched by field trips to relevant cultural and industry sites and guest speakers representing a wide range of food and design disciplines.