School of Design
Important Note: This is the archived version of the 2013–2015 Undergraduate Catalog. The information on these pages was archived on August 6, 2013 and will not be updated as requirement and/or program changes are approved. Please see www.uic.edu/ucat for the most up-to-date requirements.
Bachelor of Design in Graphic Design
Bachelor of Design in Industrial Design
- Degree Requirements—Bachelor of Design in Industrial Design
- Sample Course Schedule—Industrial Design
1300 Art and Architecture Building (AA)
(312) 996-3337
design@uic.edu
http://adweb.aa.uic.edu/web/
Administration, Director: Marcia Lausen
Assistant Director: Analisa Lafontant
Business Services: Annabelle Clarke
Academic and Student Services: Chevonne Totten Garner
Academic Advisor: Eric Hartman
The four-year Bachelor of Design program provides a professional education within the broader context of liberal arts courses provided by the University. With a deliberate balance of the practical and the visionary, UIC Design prioritizes the skill of design making and the strategy of design thinking. The UIC School of Design is organized with two program areas: Graphic Design and Industrial Design. Program curriculum focuses on the critical contemporary challenges of design education, theory and practice and is designed to address the complex demands of a rapidly changing professional environment.
All students in the School of Design share in the First Year Program experience. The curriculum introduces various techniques in two- and three-dimensional form-making and conceptual visualization in the context of advanced design studies. Emphasis is placed on both analog and digital methods. Through exposure to design practice and exhibition and critical observation, students experience Chicago as a global design center.
Upon completion of the First Year Program, students undergo a portfolio review in consideration for acceptance into a major area of study: Graphic Design or Industrial Design.
| Courses—First Year Program | Hours |
| DES 110—Design Colloquium | 1 |
| DES 120—2D Form Studio | 4 |
| DES 130—3D Form Studio | 4 |
| DES 140—Design Drawing | 4 |
| DES 150—Digital Media Design I | 4 |
| DES 160—Design Photography | 4 |
| DES 170—Color Theory | 4 |
| Total Hours—First Year Program | 25 |
Bachelor of Design in Graphic Design
Graphic design makes ideas visible. Instruction combines the art of typography with the skillful rendering of signs, symbols, and images. The practice of graphic design serves to communicate, distinguish, characterize, clarify, brand, instruct, guide, promote, and inform. UIC Design students are taught formal principles and acquire the skills necessary to engage these principles in practice. The program offers opportunity to work collaboratively in interdisciplinary teams. Students learn to communicate visually—and compellingly—in the service of community, industry, and the greater good.
Degree Requirements—Bachelor of Design in Graphic Design
To earn a Bachelor of Design in Graphic Design degree from UIC, students need to complete University, college, and school degree requirements. The Graphic Design degree requirements are outlined below. Students should consult College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts section for additional degree requirements and college academic policies. A portfolio review is required prior to acceptance as a Graphic Design major.
| BDes in Graphic Design Requirements | Hours |
| First Year Program | 25 |
| General Education and Foundation Courses | 34 |
| Graphic Design Major Requirements | 60 |
| Electives outside the School of Design | 13–14 |
| CC 120—UIC First Year Dialogue Seminar (Required of new freshmen only) |
1* |
| Total Hours—BDes in Graphic Design | 133 |
*New freshmen are required to complete CC 120—First Year Dialogue Seminar for one hour. These students will complete 13 hours of electives for the BDes in Graphic Design. All other students complete 14 hours of electives for the BDes in Graphic Design.
First Year Program
See previous section on First Year Program for a list of courses that meet this requirement.
General Education and Foundation Courses for the Graphic Design Program
| Coursesa | Hours |
| ENGL 160— Academic Writing I: Writing for Academic and Public Contexts | 3 |
| ENGL 161— Academic Writing II: Writing for Inquiry and Research | 3 |
| Understanding the Individual and Society coursea | 3 |
| Understanding the Past coursea | 3 |
| Analyzing the Natural World courseab | 4 |
| Exploring World Cultures coursea | 3 |
| Understanding U.S. Society coursea | 3 |
| AH 110—Art History Ic | 4 |
| AH 111—Art History IIc | 4 |
| Art Elective | 4 |
| Total Hours—General Education and Foundation Courses | 34 |
a Students should consult the General Education section of the catalog for a list of approved courses in this category. Students may choose a General Education course that falls below the recommended semester hour value for a particular category as long as the student reaches a total of 24 hours of General Education distributed across the six categories.
b Students who select a course worth less than 4 hours from the Analyzing the Natural World list will need to take an additional General Education Core course as part of their electives.
c This course is approved for the Understanding the Creative Arts General Education category.
Graphic Design Major Requirements
| Courses | Hours |
| DES 208—Typography I: Form | 4 |
| DES 209—Typography II: Systems | 4 |
| DES 220—Form and Image Studio | 4 |
| DES 250—Digital Media Design II | 4 |
| DES 251—Digital Media Design III | 4 |
| DES 318—Typography III: Dimension | 4 |
| DES 319—Typography IV: Expression | 4 |
| DES 350—Digital Media Design IV | 4 |
| DES 410—Senior Design Colloquium I | 1 |
| DES 411—Senior Design Colloquium II | 1 |
| DES 480—Graphic Design Thesis I | 4 |
| DES 481—Graphic Design Thesis II | 4 |
| Two courses selected from the following: | 8 |
| DES 420/421—Professional Practice Project I/II (8) | |
| DES 430/431—Interdisciplinary Product Development I /II (8) | |
| DES 440/441—Design Thinking and Leadership I/II (8) | |
| DES 452/453—Informational Aesthetics I/II (8) | |
| DES Elective selected from the following: | 4 |
| DES 351—Social Media Design (4) | |
| DES 432—Interaction Design (4) | |
| Art History Requirement for the Major: | |
| DES 235—History of Design I: 1760–1925 | 3 |
| DES 236—History of Design II: 1925 to the Present | 3 |
| Total Hours—Graphic Design Major Requirements | 60 |
| Electives outside the School of Design | 13–14a |
*New freshmen are required to complete CC 120—First Year Dialogue Seminar for one hour. These students will complete 13 hours of electives for the BDes in Graphic Design. All other students complete 14 hours of electives for the BDes in Graphic Design.
UIC First Year Dialogue Seminar
| Courses | Hours |
| CC 120—UIC First Year Dialogue Seminar (Required of new freshmen only) |
1 |
Sample Course Schedule—Graphic Design
| Freshman Year | |
| Fall Semester | Hours |
| DES 110—Design Colloquium | 1 |
| DES 120—2D Form Studio (S or F) | 4 |
| DES 130—3D Form Studio (S or F) | 4 |
| DES 160—Design Photography (S or F) | 4 |
| ENG 160—Academic Writing I | 3 |
Total Hours |
16 |
| Spring Semester | Hours |
| DES 140—Design Drawing (S or F) | 4 |
| DES 150—Digital Media Design I (S or F) | 4 |
| DES 170—Color Theory (S or F) | 4 |
| ENG 161—Academic Writing II | 3 |
| CC 120—UIC First Year Dialogue Seminar (Required of new freshmen only) |
1 |
Total Hours |
15–16 |
| Sophomore Year | |
| Fall Semester | Hours |
| AH 110—Art History I | 4 |
| DES 208—Typography I: Form | 4 |
| DES 250—Digital Media Design II | 4 |
| DES 220—Form and Image Studio | 4 |
Total Hours |
16 |
| Spring Semester | Hours |
| AH 111—Art History II | 4 |
| DES 209—Typography II: Systems | 4 |
| DES 251—Digital Media Design III | 4 |
| Understanding the Individual and Society course | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 |
Total Hours |
18 |
| Junior Year | |
| Fall Semester | Hours |
| DES 235—History of Design I | 3 |
| DES 318—Typography III: Dimension | 4 |
| DES 350—Digital Media Design IV | 4 |
| General Elective | 4 |
| Understanding the Past course | 3 |
Total Hours |
18 |
| Spring Semester | Hours |
| DES 236—History of Design | 3 |
| DES 319—Typography IV: Expression | 4 |
| DES Elective | 4 |
| Analyzing the Natural World course | 4 |
| General Elective | 3 |
Total Hours |
18 |
| Senior Year | |
| Fall Semester | Hours |
| DES 410—Senior Design Colloquium I | 1 |
| DES 480—Graphic Design Thesis I | 4 |
| Professional Practice Track (select one) | 4 |
| DES 420—Professional Practice Project I | |
| DES 430—Interdisciplinary Product Development I | |
| DES 440—Design Thinking + Leadership I | |
| DES 452—Informational Aesthetics I | |
| General Elective | 4 |
| Exploring World Cultures course | 3 |
Total Hours |
16 |
| Spring Semester | Hours |
| DES 411—Senior Design Colloquium II | 1 |
| DES 481—Graphic Design Thesis II | 4 |
| Professional Practice Track (select one) | 4 |
| DES 421—Professional Practice Project II | |
| DES 431—Interdisciplinary Product Development II | |
| DES 441—Design Thinking + Leadership II | |
| DES 453—Informational Aesthetics II | |
| ART Elective | 4 |
| Understanding U.S. Society course | 3 |
Total Hours |
16 |
Bachelor of Design in Industrial Design
Industrial design makes ideas tangible. Instruction combines conceptual and material articulation and fabrication of usable objects and systems. The practice of industrial design serves human needs and interests, be they commercial, responsible, experimental, or discursive. UIC Design students are taught formal principles and acquire the skills necessary to engage these principles in practice. The program offers opportunity to work collaboratively in interdisciplinary teams. Students learn to think critically about their motivations to create an artifact, and are asked to understand and to account for its potential consequences toward a lasting and positive effect on the world at large.
Degree Requirements—Bachelor of Design in Industrial Design
To earn a Bachelor of Design in Industrial Design degree from UIC, students need to complete University, college, and school degree requirements. The Industrial Design degree requirements are outlined below. Students should consult the college of College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts section for additional degree requirements and college academic policies. A portfolio review is required prior to acceptance as an Industrial Design major.
| BDes in Industrial—Design Requirements | Hours |
| First Year Program | 25 |
| General Education and Foundation Courses | 30 |
| Industrial Design Major Requirements | 64 |
| Electives outside of the School of Design | 13–14 |
| CC 120—UIC First Year Dialogue Seminar (Required of new freshmen only) |
1* |
| Total Hours—BDes in Industrial Design | 133 |
*New freshmen are required to complete CC 120—First Year Dialogue Seminar for one hour. These students will complete 13 hours of electives for the BDes in Industrial Design. All other students complete 14 hours of electives for the BDes in Industrial Design.
First Year Program
See previous section on First Year Program for a list of courses that meet this requirement.
General Education and Foundation Courses for the Industrial Design Program
Coursesa |
Hours |
ENGL 160—Academic Writing I: Writing for Academic and Public Contexts |
3 |
ENGL 161—Academic Writing II: Writing for Inquiry and Research |
3 |
Understanding the Individual and Society coursea |
3 |
Analyzing the Natural World courseab |
4 |
Understanding the Past coursea |
3 |
Exploring World Cultures coursea |
3 |
Understanding U.S. Society coursea |
3 |
AH 110—Art History Ic |
4 |
AH 111—Art History IIc |
4 |
Total Hours—General Education and Foundation Courses |
30 |
a Students should consult the General Education section of the catalog for a list of approved courses in this category. Students may choose a General Education course that falls below the recommended semester hour value for a particular category as long as the student reaches a total of 24 hours of General Education distributed across the six categories.
b Students who select a course worth less than 4 hours from the Analyzing the Natural World list will need to take an additional General Education Core course as part of their electives.
c This course is approved for the Understanding the Creative Arts General Education category.
Industrial Design Major Requirements
| Industrial Design Major Requirements | |
| Courses | Hours |
| DES 222—Human Experience in Design | 4 |
| DES 230—Industrial Design II | 4 |
| DES 231—Industrial Design III | 4 |
| DES 240—Visualization I | 4 |
| DES 241—Visualization II | 4 |
| DES 322—Design Research Methods | 4 |
| DES 326—Materials and Methods | 4 |
| DES 330—Industrial Design IV | 4 |
| DES 331—Industrial Design V | 4 |
| DES 410—Senior Design Colloquium I | 1 |
| DES 411—Senior Design Colloquium II | 1 |
| DES 470—Industrial Design Thesis I | 4 |
| DES 471—Industrial Design Thesis II | 4 |
| Two courses selected from the following: | 8 |
| DES 420/421—Professional Practice Project I/II (8) | |
| DES 430/431—Interdisciplinary Product Development I/II (8) | |
| DES 440/441—Design Thinking and Leadership I/II (8) | |
| DES 452/453—Informational Aesthetics I/II (8) | |
| DES Elective selected from the following: | 4 |
| DES 351—Social Media Design (4) | |
| DES 432—Interaction Design (4) | |
| Art History Requirement for the Major: | |
| DES 235—History of Design I: 1760–1925 | 3 |
| DES 236—History of Design II: 1925 to the Present | 3 |
| Total Hours—Industrial Design Major Requirements | 64 |
| Electives outside the School of Design | 13–14a |
aNew freshmen are required to complete CC 120—First Year Dialogue Seminar for one hour. These students will complete 13 hours of electives for the BDes in Industrial Design. All other students complete 14 hours of electives for the BDes in Industrial Design.
UIC First Year Dialogue Seminar
| Courses | Hours |
| CC 120—UIC First Year Dialogue Seminar (Required of new freshmen only) |
1 |
Sample Course Schedule—Industrial Design
| Freshman Year | |
| Fall Semester | Hours |
| DES 110—Design Colloquium | 1 |
| DES 120—2D Form Studio (S or F) | 4 |
| DES 130—3D Form Studio (S or F) | 4 |
| DES 160—Design Photography (S or F) | 4 |
| ENG 160—Academic Writing I: Writing for Academic and Public Contexts | 3 |
Total Hours |
16 |
| Spring Semester | Hours |
| DES 140—Design Drawing (S or F) | 4 |
| DES 150—Digital Media Design I (S or F) | 4 |
| DES 170—Color Theory (S or F) | 4 |
| ENG 161—Academic Writing II: Writing for Inquiry and Research | 3 |
| CC 120—UIC First Year Dialogue Seminar (Required of new freshmen only) |
1 |
Total Hours |
15–16 |
| Sophomore Year | |
| Fall Semester | Hours |
| AH 110—Art History I | 4 |
| DES 230—Industrial Design II | 4 |
| DES 222—Human Experience in Design | 4 |
| DES 240—Visualization I | 4 |
Total Hours |
16 |
| Spring Semester | Hours |
| AH 111—Art History II | 4 |
| DES 231—Industrial Design III | 4 |
| DES 241—Visualization II | 4 |
| Understanding the Individual and Society course | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
Total Hours |
18 |
| Junior Year | |
| Fall Semester | Hours |
| DES 235—History of Design I | 3 |
| DES 330—Industrial Design IV | 4 |
| DES 326—Materials and Methods | 4 |
| General Elective | 3 |
| Analyzing the Natural World | 4 |
Total Hours |
18 |
| Spring Semester | Hours |
| DES 236—History of Design II | 3 |
| DES 331—Industrial Design V | 4 |
| DES 322—Design Research Methods | 4 |
| DES Elective | 4 |
| Understanding the Past course | 3 |
Total Hours |
18 |
| Senior Year | |
| Fall Semester | Hours |
| DES 410—Senior Design Colloquium I | 1 |
| DES 470—Industrial Design Thesis I | 4 |
| Professional Practice Track (select one) | 4 |
| DES 420—Professional Practice Project I | |
| DES 430—Interdisciplinary Product Development I | |
| DES 440—Design Think + Leadership I | |
| DES 452—Informational Aesthetics I | |
| Exploring World Cultures course | 3 |
| General Elective | 4 |
Total Hours |
16 |
| Spring Semester | Hours |
| DES 411—Senior Design Colloquium II | 1 |
| DES 471—Industrial Design Thesis II | 4 |
| Professional Practice Track (select one) | 4 |
| DES 421—Professional Practice Project II | |
| DES 431—Interdisciplinary Product Development II | |
| DES 441—Design Thinking + Leadership II | |
| DES 453— Informational Aesthetics II | |
| Understanding U.S. Society course | 3 |
| General Elective | 4 |
Total Hours |
16 |
