Adult Programs: Courses

Topics examine structures, materials, and technologies exemplified in historical and contemporary architecture. Field trips, on site lectures in downtown Chicago, and class projects will give students an overview of both the science and art of designing buildings. A basic drawing course, both freehand drawing and mechanical drafting are used to communicate the way objects and interior spaces look in orthographic projections (plan, section, elevation, and perspective), paraline drawings (isometric and axonometric), design working drawings, and presentation drawings.

Classes meet in the Art Institute of Chicago's galleries where students observe, discuss and learn how to analyze a work of art. On-site lectures and discussions give students insight into the context of specific periods and the lives of the artists. Taking advantage of the AIC's world-renowned collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works this course, part of a three course series, examines the work of Monet, Manet, Renoir, van Gogh, Gaugin, Seurat, Toulouse-Lautrec, and others. The class journeys into a fascinating period that brought new trends, new artists, and new styles.

Classes meet in the Art Institute of Chicago's Modern Wing galleries where students observe, discuss and learn how to analyze a work of art. On-site lectures and discussions give students insight into the context of specific periods and the lives of the artists. This course, part of a three course series, focuses on the dawn of Modernism, exploring the work of important artists such as Cezanne, Picasso, Braque, Matisse and others, and traces breakthrough developments in drawing, painting, collage and sculpture.

This course will introduce students to a variety of bookmaking methods and practices used in the making of artist's books. Students will learn to make their own Coptic-style books, beginning with fundamental bookbinding skills, and move to more advanced techniques in bookbinding including accordion fold and long stitch. Students will visit the Art Institute of Chicago museum collections and SAIC's Joan Flasch Artists Book Collection to study a wide range of book structures and formats, and examine how idea research can aid in the making of personalized book projects. Drawing exercises, technical demonstrations, and field trips are included. Students will develop two to three unique book projects that represent their personal interests and creative process. No prior bookmaking experience is required.

Is creativity a trait everyone shares? This class answers the question with a resounding Yes. Students explore creativity as an active process within individual, group, and organizational contexts. Class projects provide hands-on experience to help understand and develop creative approaches and build new strategies for problem solving and innovation. Active research of ?making? is supplemented by readings and conversations where students explore viewpoints from psychology, physics, visual arts, architecture, performance, literature, sociology, and other fields. Topics include impossible thinking, myths of creative genius, failure, creative catalysts, the everyday, analogy, metaphor, play, and curiosity.

This class introduces students to the dynamic world of product design. Class lectures present cultural views of design, introduce the field?s most prominent players, and explore multiple approaches and directions in contemporary product design. The studio component of this course guides students through the different stages of product development from idea formation through prototype creation.

Learn the best practices used by designers in a range of fields and how to make visual decisions with more confidence. Students in this course become conversant in the field of design by expanding their understanding of what surrounds them and learning how to look at and evaluate products, furniture, fashion, graphics, architecture, and more. Discussions address questions such as 'What is the function of design?', 'How do designers think?' and 'What makes 'good' design?'

In this course, students learn about the variety of ways that color is considered and used as a design element in fashion, graphic, and interior design. Working with current color theory principles and models, students develop color plans and concepts in relationship to individual and group projects. This research is compiled in sketchbook/notebook format and is used as reference for independent projects. Studies and hands-on studio work reveal the multiple ways that color can transform design concepts with cohesive and expressive results.

Students are introduced to the materials and methods used by architects and interior designers to create working sketches and detailed architectural drawings by hand. Looking at 3-d objects and locations, students will focus on developing representational drawing skills that reflect measurement, proportion, perspective, elevation, and surface. No previous drawing experience is required.

The ability to digitally model objects in 3D is fast becoming indispensable in many creative industries including architecture, product and industrial design, fashion design, animation, and video game development. In this course, students interested in learning the foundational skills of 3D modeling explore the Adobe Illustrator, Rhinoceros 3D, and Autodesk Maya software packages. Various methods for generating and manipulating 3D objects, spaces, and characters will be demonstrated including surface construction from curves, solid manipulation, procedural animation, and the Grasshopper algorithmic modeling environment. Students make use of rendering software like Maxwell and V-Ray alongside SAIC's laser cutters and 3D printers to bring their digital models into reality. Prerequisites: A working knowledge of Adobe Photoshop and/or Illustrator or another digital image editor is required for this course.

Working in any of the creative industries that make use of 3D modeling and visualization demands familiarity with a diverse range of digital modeling tools and techniques. During each class, students with foundational skills in 3D modeling will be exposed to a new and advanced software application, modeling or animation technique, or 3D fabrication technology. Amongst others, topics will include 3D scanning, 3D printing, 3D output for CNC machining and laser-cutting, rendering technologies, parametric modeling, texturing and bump mapping, 3D model publishing, and modeling for motion and ergonomics. Discussions about 3D modeling best practices, the current state of the 3D industries, intellectual property issues, and technological advancements will also be included. Prerequisites: Introduction to 3D Modeling: Rhino and Maya or a working knowledge of one 3D modeling application.

This course emphasizes the development of observational drawing skills and hand-eye coordination. The learning sequence progresses from simple forms and skill levels toward more complex constructions and compositions. Basic drawing elements such as line, proportion, perspective, composition, texture and the study of light and shade are investigated through various perceptual and conceptual approaches. Open to beginning students as well as those who want to refresh their skills before moving on to more advanced studio courses.

This course emphasizes the development of observational drawing skills and hand-eye coordination. The learning sequence progresses from simple forms and skill levels toward more complex constructions and compositions. Basic drawing elements such as line, proportion, perspective, composition, texture and the study of light and shade are investigated through various perceptual and conceptual approaches. Open to beginning students as well as those who want to refresh their skills before moving on to more advanced studio courses.

This class is for those who have completed a Beginning Drawing course and are interested in further exploring the art of drawing. Students will investigate new subjects and themes, and experiment with a variety of methods and materials while developing their technical and conceptual skills. Black and white as well as color approaches will be encouraged. Scale, mixed-media processes, and drawing formats and series will open up new areas of creative exploration. Critiques and discussions will support each student's personal direction.

Students will focus on the proportional relationships of the human head and face to achieve naturalistic resemblance in their drawings. Instruction in the use of line, shape, light and shadow will be explored to achieve believable volumetric form. Black and white as well as color materials will be investigated. A model will be present during each class session and a variety of drawing approaches will be demonstrated. Discussion and presentations on contemporary portraiture and group and individual reviews of work are also included.

Working from the nude model, students will learn how to draw the human figure from direct observation. The essential elements of life drawing, including anatomy, proportion, volume, composition, gesture, and the accurate and expressive use of line and tone will be addressed. Students will focus primarily on their representational drawing skills but will also investigate figurative abstraction and conceptual approaches. Prerequisite: Beginning Drawing

This course explores how the personal nature of an artist's sketchbook can assist in the development of new directions and reveal meaningful ideas to pursue. Students develop sketches, collages, paintings, and notes to be used to create works on larger sheets of paper. Students review the history of artist sketchbooks and visit the Art Institute of Chicago to sketch on-site. During one class session, handmade sketchbooks are made using an array of book construction methods. Experimentation with a wide variety of drawing materials is encouraged. No experience is necessary. For more detailed course information contact us at CS@SAIC.edu.

This course helps students develop illustration skills with an emphasis on the body, gesture, and proportion. Working from a live clothed model, students are taught how to express the mood and texture of a wide variety of clothing fabrics, and how to communicate fashion design concepts with style and expression. This class is suited for all illustration students and ideal for students specifically interested in fashion illustration.

In this course, students create, manipulate, and sew patterns that cover the upper half of the female form. Students learn to drape the basic bodice to develop a professional sloper, draft sleeves and collars, and manipulate darts to pattern a unique graphic bodice. (Prerequisite: Sewing Techniques: Above the Waist)

Joining fabrics to cover the body and create shelter has been a prized skill in the progress of civilization. Students will build on that tradition by learning fundamental seams and finishes used in modern day garment construction. Industry standards of sewing are emphasized and all techniques are taught and practiced on professional, industrial sewing machines. In addition to creating a personal library of seam samples, students will apply the techniques in two basic projects. The class will also discuss fabric characteristics and the proper copying and cutting of patterns. Once mastered, these techniques can be used to sew together garments from patterns, create original designs, or explore fabric as a medium for soft sculpture. No previous sewing experience is necessary.

Joining fabrics to cover the body and create shelter has been a prized skill in the progress of civilization. Students will build on that tradition by learning fundamental seams and finishes used in modern day garment construction. Industry standards of sewing are emphasized and all techniques are taught and practiced on professional, industrial sewing machines. In addition to creating a personal library of seam samples, students will apply the techniques in two basic projects. The class will also discuss fabric characteristics and the proper copying and cutting of patterns. Once mastered, these techniques can be used to sew together garments from patterns, create original designs, or explore fabric as a medium for soft sculpture. No previous sewing experience is necessary.

Fabric mills weave yards and yards of fabric that are identical. The true creativity of a designer comes through in how that raw materials is manipulated into a representation of the designers vision. A variety of traditional and experimental techniques for embellishing and changing the surface and texture of fabric will be explored. Students will build on these ideas to create a series of manipulated materials. Technical processes to be explored may include beading, embroidery, couching, trapunto, applique, pleating, smocking, screen printing, dying, and ribbon work.

In this course, students learn the necessary techniques to assemble garments that cover the lower half of the female form. Instruction will focus on developing skills to create flies, hems, and waistbands. While learning industry standard techniques and tips, students sew together a pattern for a pair of trousers and a lined pencil skirt. Students will leave this course with the ability to transfer the skills learned to commercial patterns or their own designs.

This course examines the fundamentals of two-dimensional design in the digital age. Students will explore principle elements of design including composition, color, and typography through a series of projects that introduce Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop as primary graphic design tools. The importance of effective visual communication in both commercial and experimental design is stressed as students gain an understanding of the professional design process from the client brief to the finished digital project. Students will leave this course with a solid foundation in strategies for solving design problems, a basic design vocabulary and an understanding of the specific role that Illustrator and Photoshop play in creating professional work. Basic computer experience including using a mouse, navigating the Internet, and saving files is recommended.

This course examines the fundamentals of two-dimensional design in the digital age. Students will explore principle elements of design including composition, color, and typography through a series of projects that introduce Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop as primary graphic design tools. The importance of effective visual communication in both commercial and experimental design is stressed as students gain an understanding of the professional design process from the client brief to the finished digital project. Students will leave this course with a solid foundation in strategies for solving design problems, a basic design vocabulary and an understanding of the specific role that Illustrator and Photoshop play in creating professional work. Basic computer experience including using a mouse, navigating the Internet, and saving files is recommended.

This course examines the fundamentals of two-dimensional design in the digital age. Students will explore principle elements of design including composition, color, and typography through a series of projects that introduce Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop as primary graphic design tools. The importance of effective visual communication in both commercial and experimental design is stressed as students gain an understanding of the professional design process from the client brief to the finished digital project. Students will leave this course with a solid foundation in strategies for solving design problems, a basic design vocabulary and an understanding of the specific role that Illustrator and Photoshop play in creating professional work. Basic computer experience including using a mouse, navigating the Internet, and saving files is recommended.

Students with basic graphic design skills and prior Illustator experience explore uses of the application to create sophisticated designs and illustrations. Beginning with a review of important functions and tools, demonstrations and in-class projects present more advanced topics including transparency, feathering, masking, compound paths, gradients, layering techniques, and the specifics of the pen tool. Attention will be given to exporting files to other applications and platforms including, Adobe Photoshop and InDesign and the Web.

Intended for students with basic graphic design skills and prior Photoshop experience this course explores techniques used to create imagery and designs of a more advanced nature. Students explore the far ranging use of this software including its uses for print, the web, and mobile devices. Topics include layers, masking, compositing multiple images, color correction, retouching, special effects in type and more. Attention will be given to exporting files to other applications and platforms including Adobe InDesign and the Web.

Building on fundamental design and layout skills, students gain proficiency and confidence using Adobe InDesign, the industry standard program used to design materials for output to press, printer and Portable Document Format (PDF). In-class exercises and individual design projects encourage problem solving with emphasis on typography, the effective combination of text and image, and matching design to client needs. Individual and group critiques give students insight into strategies for effective visual communication. Students should have basic experience using Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign.

This foundational introduction to typography is recommended for those who are pursuing a career in the visual arts and design fields and those interested in the history and development of analog and digital type. The course functions as a working lab with multiple projects guaranteed to build confidence and knowledge in typographic usage. Students learn about typographic history, type do?s and don?ts, type terminology, setting copy and display text, using style sheets, type styles, and handwriting and illustrative calligraphy. No former typography experience is required.

This course is designed to introduce students to the illustration process, from ideation to freehand sketching through to the final piece. Students are encouraged to experiment with a variety of materials and styles, from traditional to digital and their hybrid. Classes are supplemented with a series of presentations on contemporary illustrators and a discussion of their methods. Recommended prerequisites: Beginning Drawing

Students experiment with materials and techniques used in a variety of illustration practices including editorial, book jackets, posters, and children's books. Focusing on a wide range of art making issues and approaches, students explore black and white, color, drawing, painting, printmaking, and mixed media in an assignment driven and deadline oriented curriculum. Recommended prerequisite: Introduction to Illustration

This course emphasizes the artist's role in children's picture book illustration and focuses on the world of visual storytelling. Through demonstrations and in-class assignments, students working at a variety of skill levels explore materials and techniques used to create children's book illustrations; images that guide children into a whole new imaginative universe through a sequence of memorable visual images. Creating book dummies to organize their ideas, students learn to balance text and image on the page. Students should have basic drawing skills.

This course helps students develop illustration skills with an emphasis on the body, gesture, and proportion. Working from a live clothed model, students are taught how to express the mood and texture of a wide variety of clothing fabrics, and how to communicate fashion design concepts with style and expression. This class is suited for all illustration students and ideal for students specifically interested in fashion illustration.

Students examine the process of developing their individual illustration styles and techniques while evaluating the technical and aesthetic needs of their clients. Projects are designed around projects that explore the wide array of illustration markets including commercial, editorial, and conceptual formats. The importance of communication through image and originality of idea while be explored through class assignments, independent projects, discussions, and critiques. (Prerequisite: Illustration Studio: Materials and Methods)

This course introduces the skills and insights needed to be a successful interior designer and examines why some designs are more successful than others. More than a style-selection course, you will learn what is required to design and build interior space, gain a general knowledge of how interior designers work, and examine what it takes to move creative designs from idea to reality. Included is a survey of important and innovative designs happening today.

Students work on independent projects, designing interior spaces that demonstrate conceptual and technical skills while expressing a personal aesthetic viewpoint. Students will create their own concepts, plans, materials studies, project research and presentation techniques. This course has been designed for students nearing the completion of the Interior Design certificate program and for advanced students interested in developing portfolios for graduate school application or other professional opportunities.

How do you focus your interests and refine your skills in order to create a body of work? How do the materials and methods you use relate to the ideas in your work? How do you make your work more personally meaningful? This multi-level course is intended for students with previous painting experience who are ready to address these questions through various in-class exercises and individual painting problems. With instructor guidance, the organization of ideas and development of self-directed work is encouraged. Critiques and discussions deepen understanding, support personal direction, and aid in the execution of ideas. Students work with their choice of painting media.

Every painter learns his or her craft from the art of previous ages. In this course, students will interpret the concepts and techniques of artists and artwork on exhibition in the Art Institute of Chicago (AIC). Visits to the museum, demonstrations, individual guidance, and group critics will help guide personal directions and interpretations in each student's work. The Spring 2013 focus for this course is the legendary art of Picasso and the AIC's exhibition 'Picasso and Chicago'. Prerequisite: Beginning Oil Painting

Works on paper have taken on new importance for many contemporary artists. Today, traditional watercolor techniques have merged with new methods, ideas, subjects, abstract concepts and formats. Working primarily with watercolor, students will create paintings that focus on both expressive and conceptual qualities, developing individual processes that combine a variety of materials and methods. Students are encouraged to brainstorm, experiment, conceive, plan, sketch and produce artwork in keeping with contemporary trends. Studio work is supplemented by presentations of contemporary works on paper, technical demonstrations, class discussions, readings, and individual and group critiques. No previous experience in painting is required, but basic drawing skills are recommended.

This course is conducted in the galleries of the Art Institute of Chicago, where students have the opportunity to study and paint directly from a painting in the Museum's collection. Through intensive perceptual study, students strengthen their understanding of painting and its art historical context, while building technical skills. Materials and logistical information are discussed at the first class meeting. For more detailed course information contact us at CS@SAIC.edu.

Students are introduced to both traditional and contemporary water-based and oil based painting materials and methods through demonstrations and in class projects. Methods of transferring drawing ideas to painting; preparation of grounds and supports; traditional and non-traditional tools for painting, mediums for water-based and oil-based applications; application techniques; and the connection between concept or subject matter to material choice are covered. Lectures, individual instruction, and group critiques will be used to develop insight into the relation between form and content.

This course introduces the materials, methods, and tools of oil painting while students develop observational painting skills. Demonstrations on stretching a canvas, laying out a palette, working with various paint application techniques, and color mixing provide students with the fundamentals of the medium and a strong foundation for future coursework. No previous experience in painting isrequired, but basic drawing skills are recommended.

This course focuses on the foundations of photography and the various ways to use a digital camera. Students examine how to choose and shoot subjects that are both personally meaningful in content and contemporary in context. Instruction includes capturing and printing images in both black & white and color, and investigating digital photo editing. Discussions on the history of photography and individual and group critiques are included. Students must supply their own SLR (Single-Lens Reflex) digital camera with manual functionality (point-and-shoot cameras are not permitted).

Building on basic digital photography skills, students focus on the development of their images using digital media. Students gain a foundation in the tools and methods needed for application in contemporary photographic practice. Topics include various methods of image manipulation and output options. Critiques and presentations supplement the studio experience. Students should have prior photography experience before enrolling in this course. Recommended Prerequisite: Digital Photography 1

In this class, students leave Dreamweaver behind to learn how the Internet really works as we build a strong foundation of HTML and CSS code as it applies to layout design. Emphasis is placed on front-end design, teaching students to translate pre-made designs into code that functions as a webpage. Students learn how to troubleshoot common problems using web development tools and best practices in web design. At the end of the course, students are able to recreate a variety of simple web layouts through code. No previous web experience is necessary but familiarity with graphic design concepts and proficiency in Adobe Photoshop is required.

In this class, students leave Dreamweaver behind to learn how the Internet really works as we build a strong foundation of HTML and CSS code as it applies to layout design. Emphasis is placed on front-end design, teaching students to translate pre-made designs into code that functions as a webpage. Students learn how to troubleshoot common problems using web development tools and best practices in web design. At the end of the course, students are able to recreate a variety of simple web layouts through code. No previous web experience is necessary but familiarity with graphic design concepts and proficiency in Adobe Photoshop is required.

This course dives deeper into CSS by introducing complex selectors. Students create larger sites that involve multiple templates. Focus is be placed on individualized projects and critiques as students deepen their own understanding of HTML and CSS and begin to apply this knowledge to their personal projects. Class lectures are diverse, ranging from exposing students to some of the industry?s best websites to demonstrating how advanced CSS selectors can save time and create unified design strategies. Students gain a strong knowledge of CSS that enables them to design and code sites of their own creation. Additionally, students learn the troubleshooting skills to solve many common problems associated with layout design on the web. Prerequisite: Introduction to HTML and CSS.

A great website is more than just great code. Every great site starts as an idea that is formed into a design. This course focuses on the design process rather than the technical process to understand usability and the ways in which designing for the screen is different than designing for print. Through course lectures and critiques, students learn to design websites that engage viewers and deliver results for clients. Students learn how to build style guides, develop wireframes, work with grid structures, and design with usability and audience in mind. Prerequisite: Introduction to Web Concepts.

This course focuses on a single large-scale web project created by the instructor over the course of 10 weeks. Through this exercise, students learn how to adapt skills they have learned to real life web projects. Class lectures and demonstrations introduce students to HTML 5 and CSS3, which students are encouraged to incorporate into their projects. Peer feedback through critiques and discussions are central to this hybrid studio/lecture course. Prerequisite: Intermediate HTML and CSS.

jQuery has become one of the most popular ways for designers to add interactivity to a website. This javascript based library harnesses your existing knowledge of CSS and brings your webpage to life without needing to learn an entire programming language. Students will learn jQuery syntax and how to create some of the most popular javascript tricks from scratch including image galleries, simple animations, and complex transitions and rollovers. Students will also learn when and where to use existing plug-ins and how to alter plug-ins to suit their needs. Skills acquired in this course can be applied to a broad range of web projects and serve as a foundation for other interactivity functions. Prerequisite: Advanced HTML & CSS

This course is an introduction to the practice of creative writing regardless of what form the work takes. It is also a community workshop for the sharing of your literary efforts, both raw and polished. While we will explore different poetic, non-fictional, and fictional forms, the course focus is on finding, building, and developing your stories. Every class session aims to include writing exercises and experiments in creative activity, with alternating conversations on student work and assigned readings culled from outstanding writers who precede us. All levels of experience are welcome.

During this one-week intensive course, students will learn various approaches to designing products and create their own unique product design concepts through research, lessons in product illustration, prototyping, 3D computer modeling, and a variety of digital outputs. Students will consider materials, scale, functionality, sustainability, production methods, and design aesthetics. Field trips to the collections of the Art Institute of Chicago will provide inspiration and SAIC's resource centers offer access to a wide variety of digital output including 3D printing and laser cutting. Students are required to have experience with a 3D modeling software package such as Rhino and familiarity with the Adobe Suites including Photoshop and/or Illustrator. Please note: limited campus housing is available for this one-week intensive. Email cs@saic.edu or call 312.629.6170 for an application.

During this one-week Painting and Drawing Intensive, students will be fully immersed in their creative work while discovering the joy and excitement of engaging with their materials, ideas, peers, and instructors in new and inspiring ways. Students will focus on the intimate relationship between drawing and painting and experiment with a wide range of multi-disciplinary approaches that will help build a bridge between the two. Working with wet and dry media, students will develop technical and conceptual skills to expand their personal visual language and broaden their relationship with their work. Students will experiment with traditional and non-traditional drawing and painting materials along with digital drawing tablets, cameras, scanners and printers to deepen their connection to contemporary studio practices. Discussions, critiques, museum visits, field trips and faculty presentations will be included. Please note: limited campus housing is available for this one-week intensive. Email cs@saic.edu or call 312.629.6170 for an application.

This course examines a selection of seminal works in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. Classes meet in the galleries of the Museum and observe, discuss and find connections between works in different points of history. Students learn how to analyze a work of art, as well as gain insights into the context of specific periods, the lives of the artists, and range of expression as a basis for further inquiry. This course, part of a three course series, begins with Ancient Greece and Rome and continues through the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and 17th and 18th century Romantic periods, ending with the late 19th century and the dawn of Impressionism. Such renowned artists as El Greco, Rembrandt, Rubens and Turner are included as well as less-examined artists.

Students take advantage of the Art Institute of Chicago's (AIC) world-class art collection while also learning about, and listening to the popular musical styles of each period examined. Beginning in the AIC where art objects are viewed and discussed, students will move to the classroom where they will examine films and sample music while learning how these art forms compliment one another. The lives of the artists and composers are also illuminated in this especially enjoyable and unique course.

In this course, students explore the materials and construction methods used in the making of a wide range of artists? books. While working with conventional and non-traditional materials, a variety of bookbinding techniques and book assembly methods are introduced. The history of artists? book will be discussed and student research projects are developed into unique, one-of-a-kind books. Students will examine how artists? books can be created as depositories for images and words, but can also be conceived as 3D conceptual and sculptural forms.

In this course, students learn about the variety of ways that color is considered and used as a design element in fashion, graphic, and interior design. Working with current color theory principles and models, students develop color plans and concepts in relationship to individual and group projects. This research is compiled in sketchbook/notebook format and is used as reference for independent projects. Studies and hands-on studio work reveal the multiple ways that color can transform design concepts with cohesive and expressive results.

This course examines the fundamentals of two-dimensional design in the digital age. Students will explore principle elements of design including composition, color, and typography through a series of projects that introduce Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop as primary graphic design tools. The importance of effective visual communication in both commercial and experimental design is stressed as students gain an understanding of the professional design process from the client brief to the finished digital project. Students will leave this course with a solid foundation in strategies for solving design problems, a basic design vocabulary and an understanding of the specific role that Illustrator and Photoshop play in creating professional work. Basic computer experience including using a mouse, navigating the Internet, and saving files is recommended.

This foundational introduction to typography is recommended for those who are pursuing a career in the visual arts and design fields and those interested in the history and development of analog and digital type. The course functions as a working lab with multiple projects guaranteed to build confidence and knowledge in typographic usage. Students learn about typographic history, type do?s and don?ts, type terminology, setting copy and display text, using style sheets, type styles, and handwriting and illustrative calligraphy. No former typography experience is required.

This outdoor painting class is designed to help students develop their unique style as they learn to observe color and capture the changing light and subjects along Chicago?s lakefront and Grant and Millennium Parks. Geared to the beginning Plein Air painter with minimal or no outdoor experience painting, this class will cover the basics of equipment, paint, supplies, subject selection, procedures and techniques to facilitate painting outdoors in oils or acrylics. Students will learn how to observe and apply color to render forms in natural light settings. Subjects include the landscape, the cityscape, the figure in the landscape, portraiture and still life. Historical and contemporary Plein Air painting techniques and processes will be covered through individual guidance and support. Should the weather become inclement, the class will retire to the museum and/or school for lecture and slide presentation. Students must provide their own materials and supplies including a collapsible easel. Materials will be discussed in the first class. Please bring a sketchbook and charcoal pencils and/or pastels to the first class. Some painting/drawing experience recommended.

Is creativity a trait everyone shares? This class answers the question with a resounding Yes. Students explore creativity as an active process within individual, group, and organizational contexts. Class projects provide hands-on experience to help understand and develop creative approaches and build new strategies for problem solving and innovation. Active research of ?making? is supplemented by readings and conversations where students explore viewpoints from psychology, physics, visual arts, architecture, performance, literature, sociology, and other fields. Topics include impossible thinking, myths of creative genius, failure, creative catalysts, the everyday, analogy, metaphor, play, and curiosity.

This class introduces students to the dynamic world of product design. Class lectures present cultural views of design, introduce the field?s most prominent players, and explore multiple approaches and directions in contemporary product design. The studio component of this course guides students through the different stages of product development from idea formation through prototype creation.

The skills used by designers are vital to all of areas of visual production and fast becoming a necessity in all forms of individual and collective problem solving. Today's designers use their critical and creative thinking and making skills for a wide variety of strategic applications. This case-study lecture course examines problem solving through the principles of design for a variety of project types.

This course will provide an overview of the principals, strategies and methods of sustainable design that are necessary for a career in interior design and architecture. Students will learn materials and processes intrinsic to sustainable design through site visits, analysis, and material and project research within the framework of the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Rating System. Successful completion of this course will qualify students to sit for the LEED Green Associates [GA] exam, which is the first step to become a LEED AP. For more information on the LEED Green Associates and LEED AP exams, please visit http://www.gbci.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=182

The ability to digitally model objects in 3D is fast becoming indispensable in many creative industries including architecture, product and industrial design, fashion design, animation, and video game development. In this course, students interested in learning the foundational skills of 3D modeling explore the Adobe Illustrator, Rhinoceros 3D, and Autodesk Maya software packages. Various methods for generating and manipulating 3D objects, spaces, and characters will be demonstrated including surface construction from curves, solid manipulation, procedural animation, and the Grasshopper algorithmic modeling environment. Students make use of rendering software like Maxwell and V-Ray alongside SAIC's laser cutters and 3D printers to bring their digital models into reality. Prerequisites: A working knowledge of Adobe Photoshop and/or Illustrator or another digital image editor is required for this course.

This course emphasizes the development of observational drawing skills and hand-eye coordination. The learning sequence progresses from simple forms and skill levels toward more complex constructions and compositions. Basic drawing elements such as line, proportion, perspective, composition, texture and the study of light and shade are investigated through various perceptual and conceptual approaches. Open to beginning students as well as those who want to refresh their skills before moving on to more advanced studio courses.

Working from the nude model, students will learn how to draw the human figure from direct observation. The essential elements of life drawing, including anatomy, proportion, volume, composition, gesture, and the accurate and expressive use of line and tone will be addressed. Students will focus primarily on their representational drawing skills but will also investigate figurative abstraction and conceptual approaches. Prerequisite: Beginning Drawing

This course explores nature as a primary source for artistic research and interpretation. Students examine natural phenomenon and the objects of nature through a variety of problems and materials including charcoal, graphite, ink, watercolor, and collage. While exploring nature through both representational and abstract modes, students develop their unique viewpoint on the visual world of natural resources and express their ideas in both small and large scale formats. Field trips to outdoor locations and natural objects brought into the studio (shells, flowers, fruits, vegetable, etc.) provide opportunities for both close up and large view approaches. Students are required to bring a sketchbook to the first class session.

The artist?s sketchbook has been used by artists throughout history as a research tool for documentation and experimentation. From travel journal to technical exercise book, journals provide an open-ended structure for personal, conceptual, and creative exploration. In this course, students make their own sketchbooks and use the outdoor environment as subject for material and idea investigation. Field trips to the Chicago lakefront, gardens, and parks provide opportunities to approach the natural world within a larger urban setting. Students should bring a sketchbook and drawing materials to the first class. Paper choices for handmade books will be discussed and group critiques, demonstrations, and lectures are included.

Students in this course create, manipulate, and sew patterns that cover the lower half of the female form. Students learn to draft a basic skirt and pant to develop professional slopers, build waistbands, and pattern pockets and fly fronts. Prerequisite: Sewing Techniques: Fundamentals.

Joining fabrics to cover the body and create shelter has been a prized skill in the progress of civilization. Students will build on that tradition by learning fundamental seams and finishes used in modern day garment construction. Industry standards of sewing are emphasized and all techniques are taught and practiced on professional, industrial sewing machines. In addition to creating a personal library of seam samples, students will apply the techniques in two basic projects. The class will also discuss fabric characteristics and the proper copying and cutting of patterns. Once mastered, these techniques can be used to sew together garments from patterns, create original designs, or explore fabric as a medium for soft sculpture. No previous sewing experience is necessary.

In this course, students learn to assemble garments that cover the upper half of the female form. Industry standard techniques and tips are presented for sewing together a pattern for a button-down shirt with sleeves and a lined, zippered shell. Students leave with the ability to transfer their skills to commercial patterns or their own designs. Prerequisite: Sewing Techniques: Fundamentals.

In this course, students develop the necessary support for their designs through intensive research, color development, storyboarding, and a comprehensive introduction to fabrics and weaves. The work in this class focuses on the creative groundwork and inspiration gathering necessary in the creation of a cohesive collection. Prerequisite: Figure Drawing for Illustration

This course examines the fundamentals of two-dimensional design in the digital age. Students will explore principle elements of design including composition, color, and typography through a series of projects that introduce Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop as primary graphic design tools. The importance of effective visual communication in both commercial and experimental design is stressed as students gain an understanding of the professional design process from the client brief to the finished digital project. Students will leave this course with a solid foundation in strategies for solving design problems, a basic design vocabulary and an understanding of the specific role that Illustrator and Photoshop play in creating professional work. Basic computer experience including using a mouse, navigating the Internet, and saving files is recommended.

This course examines the fundamentals of two-dimensional design in the digital age. Students will explore principle elements of design including composition, color, and typography through a series of projects that introduce Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop as primary graphic design tools. The importance of effective visual communication in both commercial and experimental design is stressed as students gain an understanding of the professional design process from the client brief to the finished digital project. Students will leave this course with a solid foundation in strategies for solving design problems, a basic design vocabulary and an understanding of the specific role that Illustrator and Photoshop play in creating professional work. Basic computer experience including using a mouse, navigating the Internet, and saving files is recommended.

Students with basic graphic design skills and prior Illustator experience explore uses of the application to create sophisticated designs and illustrations. Beginning with a review of important functions and tools, demonstrations and in-class projects present more advanced topics including transparency, feathering, masking, compound paths, gradients, layering techniques, and the specifics of the pen tool. Attention will be given to exporting files to other applications and platforms including, Adobe Photoshop and InDesign and the Web.

This graphic design studio course is intended for advanced level students and certificate students nearing the completion of the program. It is a self-driven portfolio development course in which students can choose to either rework projects from other classes or complete new projects to be used in their graphic design portfolios. Students will engage in group critiques as a means of evaluating the quality and progress of projects. Students will have studio time to work on projects and ask technical questions but should feel confident with the Adobe Suite of tools before taking this class. Lectures will focus on design history, creating a web presence, and documenting your work as a designer.

This course is designed to introduce students to the illustration process, from ideation to freehand sketching through to the final piece. Students are encouraged to experiment with a variety of materials and styles, from traditional to digital and their hybrid. Classes are supplemented with a series of presentations on contemporary illustrators and a discussion of their methods. Recommended prerequisites: Beginning Drawing

Students experiment with materials and techniques used in a variety of illustration practices including editorial, book jackets, posters, and children's books. Focusing on a wide range of art making issues and approaches, students explore black and white, color, drawing, painting, printmaking, and mixed media in an assignment driven and deadline oriented curriculum. Recommended prerequisite: Introduction to Illustration

This course emphasizes the artist's role in children's picture book illustration and focuses on the world of visual storytelling. Through demonstrations and in-class assignments, students working at a variety of skill levels explore materials and techniques used to create children's book illustrations; images that guide children into a whole new imaginative universe through a sequence of memorable visual images. Creating book dummies to organize their ideas, students learn to balance text and image on the page. Students should have basic drawing skills.

This course introduces the skills and insights needed to be a successful interior designer and examines why some designs are more successful than others. More than a style-selection course, you will learn what is required to design and build interior space, gain a general knowledge of how interior designers work, and examine what it takes to move creative designs from idea to reality. Included is a survey of important and innovative designs happening today.

How do you focus your interests and refine your skills in order to create a body of work? How do the materials and methods you use relate to the ideas in your work? How do you make your work more personally meaningful? This multi-level course is intended for students with previous painting experience who are ready to address these questions through various in-class exercises and individual painting problems. With instructor guidance, the organization of ideas and development of self-directed work is encouraged. Critiques and discussions deepen understanding, support personal direction, and aid in the execution of ideas. Students work with their choice of painting media.

Today?s visual artists work with an ever-widening range of materials, processes, subjects, and technologies. In this course students examine painting from a variety of perspectives, incorporating traditional, non-traditional, conceptual, and digital approaches in new and exciting ways. Independent projects are developed through research and experimentation that allow new directions to unfold and new discoveries to be made. Painting ideas are explored through multiple methods and outputs, including mixed-media and digital production, and innovative formats and styles are encouraged. Students can work in oil, acrylic, water-based, and/or digital painting mediums.

Students explore traditional and contemporary approaches to the watercolor medium, including gouache. A variety of techniques, papers and alternative painting surfaces, and mixed media processes are introduced. Intended for students with basic drawing skills as well as those with previous painting experience, the course is structured to encourage experimentation with scale, subject matter and formats. Critiques and discussions will support and encourage each student's personal direction.

This course introduces the materials, methods, and tools of oil painting while students develop observational painting skills. Demonstrations on stretching a canvas, laying out a palette, working with various paint application techniques, and color mixing provide students with the fundamentals of the medium and a strong foundation for future coursework. No previous experience in painting isrequired, but basic drawing skills are recommended.

This course focuses on the foundations of photography and the various ways to use a digital camera. Students examine how to choose and shoot subjects that are both personally meaningful in content and contemporary in context. Instruction includes capturing and printing images in both black & white and color, and investigating digital photo editing. Discussions on the history of photography and individual and group critiques are included. Students must supply their own SLR (Single-Lens Reflex) digital camera with manual functionality (point-and-shoot cameras are not permitted).

This course is designed for students specifically interested in contemporary portrait photography. Students investigate various formal and conceptual approaches to help refine and advance their skills with the goal of creating a small body of work. Presentations and discussions of the work of contemporary photographers and group critiques supplement the course. Students must supply their own digital SLR (Single-Lens Reflex) camera. Prerequisites: Digital Photography 2 or equivalent experience.

Designed to accommodate students working at the intermediate and advanced levels, this course will benefit those who have yet to reach a self-directed practice as well as those with a defined focus who want to strengthen their portfolio. Students explore contemporary artistic strategies and processes, such as gathering and utilizing source material, the use of personal and historical narrative, and the use of non-traditional materials and formats. The class will provide a stimulus for generating new ideas and developing a sense of context for one's work. Experimentation and risk taking are encouraged to broaden formal skills and connect students to the wide range of approaches found in contemporary drawing and painting. Students should come to the first class with sufficient supplies to begin work.

In this class, students leave Dreamweaver behind to learn how the Internet really works as we build a strong foundation of HTML and CSS code as it applies to layout design. Emphasis is placed on front-end design, teaching students to translate pre-made designs into code that functions as a webpage. Students learn how to troubleshoot common problems using web development tools and best practices in web design. At the end of the course, students are able to recreate a variety of simple web layouts through code. No previous web experience is necessary but familiarity with graphic design concepts and proficiency in Adobe Photoshop is required.

This course dives deeper into CSS by introducing complex selectors. Students create larger sites that involve multiple templates. Focus is be placed on individualized projects and critiques as students deepen their own understanding of HTML and CSS and begin to apply this knowledge to their personal projects. Class lectures are diverse, ranging from exposing students to some of the industry?s best websites to demonstrating how advanced CSS selectors can save time and create unified design strategies. Students gain a strong knowledge of CSS that enables them to design and code sites of their own creation. Additionally, students learn the troubleshooting skills to solve many common problems associated with layout design on the web. Prerequisite: Introduction to HTML and CSS.

This course focuses on a single large-scale web project created by the instructor over the course of 10 weeks. Through this exercise, students learn how to adapt skills they have learned to real life web projects. Class lectures and demonstrations introduce students to HTML 5 and CSS3, which students are encouraged to incorporate into their projects. Peer feedback through critiques and discussions are central to this hybrid studio/lecture course. Prerequisite: Intermediate HTML and CSS.

This course is an introduction to the practice of creative writing regardless of what form the work takes. It is also a community workshop for the sharing of your literary efforts, both raw and polished. While we will explore different poetic, non-fictional, and fictional forms, the course focus is on finding, building, and developing your stories. Every class session aims to include writing exercises and experiments in creative activity, with alternating conversations on student work and assigned readings culled from outstanding writers who precede us. All levels of experience are welcome.

Topics examine structures, materials, and technologies exemplified in historical and contemporary architecture. Field trips, on site lectures in downtown Chicago, and class projects will give students an overview of both the science and art of designing buildings. A basic drawing course, both freehand drawing and mechanical drafting are used to communicate the way objects and interior spaces look in orthographic projections (plan, section, elevation, and perspective), paraline drawings (isometric and axonometric), design working drawings, and presentation drawings.

This course emphasizes the development of observational drawing skills and hand-eye coordination. The learning sequence progresses from simple forms and skill levels toward more complex constructions and compositions. Basic drawing elements such as line, proportion, perspective, composition, texture and the study of light and shade are investigated through various perceptual and conceptual approaches. Open to beginning students as well as those who want to refresh their skills before moving on to more advanced studio courses.

This course focuses on the creation of visionary spaces, environments, and worlds through experimentation with a wide variety of drawing materials and approaches. Students explore traditional and non-traditional materials, including digital technologies, to formalize their exploratory personal concepts. Discussions on futuristic worlds, concepts of the expanding universe, the undiscovered as well as the rapidly changing nature of the planet, and visions of the future serve as a starting point for the development of small and large scale drawing projects. Recommended prerequisite: Beginning Drawing.

This class is for those who have completed a Beginning Drawing course and are interested in further exploring the art of drawing. Students will investigate new subjects and themes, and experiment with a variety of methods and materials while developing their technical and conceptual skills. Black and white as well as color approaches will be encouraged. Scale, mixed-media processes, and drawing formats and series will open up new areas of creative exploration. Critiques and discussions will support each student's personal direction.

Intended for students with prior figure drawing experience, this course is ideal for those who want to draw from the nude model in a faculty-guided group environment. The emphasis of the course is on developing expressive, interpretive drawings from life, while continuing to refine one's skills. Critiques and discussions including historical and contemporary approaches to figurative art deepen understanding, support personal direction, and aid in the execution of ideas.

This course helps students develop illustration skills with an emphasis on the body, gesture, and proportion. Working from a live clothed model, students are taught how to express the mood and texture of a wide variety of clothing fabrics, and how to communicate fashion design concepts with style and expression. This class is suited for all illustration students and ideal for students specifically interested in fashion illustration.

In this course, students create, manipulate, and sew patterns that cover the upper half of the female form. Students learn to drape the basic bodice to develop a professional sloper, draft sleeves and collars, and manipulate darts to pattern a unique graphic bodice. (Prerequisite: Sewing Techniques: Above the Waist)

Fabric mills weave yards and yards of fabric that are identical. The true creativity of a designer comes through in how that raw materials is manipulated into a representation of the designers vision. A variety of traditional and experimental techniques for embellishing and changing the surface and texture of fabric will be explored. Students will build on these ideas to create a series of manipulated materials. Technical processes to be explored may include beading, embroidery, couching, trapunto, applique, pleating, smocking, screen printing, dying, and ribbon work.

In this course, students learn the necessary techniques to assemble garments that cover the lower half of the female form. Instruction will focus on developing skills to create flies, hems, and waistbands. While learning industry standard techniques and tips, students sew together a pattern for a pair of trousers and a lined pencil skirt. Students will leave this course with the ability to transfer the skills learned to commercial patterns or their own designs.

This course examines the fundamentals of two-dimensional design in the digital age. Students will explore principle elements of design including composition, color, and typography through a series of projects that introduce Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop as primary graphic design tools. The importance of effective visual communication in both commercial and experimental design is stressed as students gain an understanding of the professional design process from the client brief to the finished digital project. Students will leave this course with a solid foundation in strategies for solving design problems, a basic design vocabulary and an understanding of the specific role that Illustrator and Photoshop play in creating professional work. Basic computer experience including using a mouse, navigating the Internet, and saving files is recommended.

Building on fundamental design and layout skills, students gain proficiency and confidence using Adobe InDesign, the industry standard program used to design materials for output to press, printer and Portable Document Format (PDF). In-class exercises and individual design projects encourage problem solving with emphasis on typography, the effective combination of text and image, and matching design to client needs. Individual and group critiques give students insight into strategies for effective visual communication. Students should have basic experience using Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign.

The focus of this course is on the completion of independent projects for personal graphic design portfolios. Under the guidance of the instructor, students undertake and finalize new design concepts or complete work started in other graphic design courses. Created for students completing the Graphic Design certificate program as well as for designers looking to update their professional presentation skills, this course will include weekly critiques of work and discussions on the current trends in the graphic design field.

In this course, students will organize and develop a body of work for their professional illustration portfolio. Under the guidance of the instructor, individual projects unique to each student will be conceived and created with an emphasis on defining a personal illustration style and point of view. While this class serves as a requirement for students in the Illustration Certificate program, it is also suitable for students with previous illustration experience who are interested in the course content.

This course helps students develop illustration skills with an emphasis on the body, gesture, and proportion. Working from a live clothed model, students are taught how to express the mood and texture of a wide variety of clothing fabrics, and how to communicate fashion design concepts with style and expression. This class is suited for all illustration students and ideal for students specifically interested in fashion illustration.

In this course, students interested in commercial art and concepts apply illustrative solutions to design formats and page layouts specific to the editorial, advertising and institutional illustration markets. Students use a five-part process, along with an exploration of appropriate media, imagery, and style, to support the interpretation of client-directed projects. Prerequisite: Introduction to Illustration or equivalent experience.

This course will provide an overview of the principals, strategies and methods of computer aided drafting [CAD] software that are necessary for a career in interior design and architecture. Design and management issues are explored with the extensive use of PC CAD systems, including AutoCAD. Contemporary practice applications are discussed.

Students work on independent projects, designing interior spaces that demonstrate conceptual and technical skills while expressing a personal aesthetic viewpoint. Students will create their own concepts, plans, materials studies, project research and presentation techniques. This course has been designed for students nearing the completion of the Interior Design certificate program and for advanced students interested in developing portfolios for graduate school application or other professional opportunities.

Traditional Chinese Sumi-e painting methods have been studied, practiced, and interpreted by artists around the world for hundreds of years. This course will examine these traditions and explore the materials, methods, processes, and subjects from both historical and contemporary perspectives. Students will work with the ink painting theme of the ?four gentlemen? (bamboo, orchids, chrysanthemum, and plum flower), explore Chinese figure painting, and experiment with multiple styles of Chinese calligraphy to develop awareness of the brushstroke and enhance their gesture and fluidity. These skills will then be used to create contemporary painting projects inspired by both old and new masters of Chinese ink painting. No painting experience is required.

Every painter learns his/her craft from the art of previous ages. In this course, students will interpret the concepts and techniques of artists and artwork on exhibition in the Art Institute of Chicago (AIC). Visits to the museum, demonstrations, individual guidance, and group critiques will help guide personal directions and interpretations in each student's work. This summer, the course will explore the figurative works of Manet and Monet in connection with the AIC exhibition Impressionism, Fashion, and Modernity. Prerequisite: Beginning Oil Painting

This course is ideal for those who want to paint from the nude model in a faculty-guided group environment. The emphasis of the course is on developing expressive paintings from life, while continuing to refine one's skills. Critiques and discussions including historical and contemporary approaches to figurative art deepen understanding, support personal direction, and aid in the execution of ideas. Students should have basic painting skills and prior figure drawing or painting experience. Students may work with acrylic or oil paint.

Students are introduced to both traditional and contemporary water-based and oil based painting materials and methods through demonstrations and in class projects. Methods of transferring drawing ideas to painting; preparation of grounds and supports; traditional and non-traditional tools for painting, mediums for water-based and oil-based applications; application techniques; and the connection between concept or subject matter to material choice are covered. Lectures, individual instruction, and group critiques will be used to develop insight into the relation between form and content.

Building on basic digital photography skills, students focus on the development of their images using digital media. Students gain a foundation in the tools and methods needed for application in contemporary photographic practice. Topics include various methods of image manipulation and output options. Critiques and presentations supplement the studio experience. Students should have prior photography experience before enrolling in this course. Recommended Prerequisite: Digital Photography 1

In this course, students learn how to use lighting to gain expressive results in their photographs. By studying a variety of lighting scenarios, students learn to make specific choices with regard to existing or ambient light conditions as well as light augmented by other sources of illumination. Students learn the rudiments of metering, mixing light sources, using electronic flash within existing lighting conditions, and continuous light. Fantastical lighting schemes, with strobe systems and hot lights, will also be explored. Class time will be spent on demonstrations, individual projects, digital image manipulation, printing, critiques and lectures. Students must supply their own digital SLR camera. Prior digital photography experience, including digital image manipulation, is required.

This course dives deeper into CSS by introducing complex selectors. Students create larger sites that involve multiple templates. Focus is be placed on individualized projects and critiques as students deepen their own understanding of HTML and CSS and begin to apply this knowledge to their personal projects. Class lectures are diverse, ranging from exposing students to some of the industry?s best websites to demonstrating how advanced CSS selectors can save time and create unified design strategies. Students gain a strong knowledge of CSS that enables them to design and code sites of their own creation. Additionally, students learn the troubleshooting skills to solve many common problems associated with layout design on the web. Prerequisite: Introduction to HTML and CSS.

jQuery has become one of the most popular ways for designers to add interactivity to a website. This javascript based library harnesses your existing knowledge of CSS and brings your webpage to life without needing to learn an entire programming language. Students will learn jQuery syntax and how to create some of the most popular javascript tricks from scratch including image galleries, simple animations, and complex transitions and rollovers. Students will also learn when and where to use existing plug-ins and how to alter plug-ins to suit their needs. Skills acquired in this course can be applied to a broad range of web projects and serve as a foundation for other interactivity functions. Prerequisite: Advanced HTML & CSS

Businesses and people change everyday so why shouldn?t your website? Today?s clients want websites that they can update themselves. They want the ability to connect to social media platforms and blogs, and respond to the day-to-day needs of their businesses. Welcome to the world of content management. With so many systems on the market today, how do you know what will suit your client?s needs? In this course, students survey contentment management systems, learn how to create a plan for content development that matches a client?s business and lifestyle requirements, and explore ties to social media platforms. Students create multiple small projects including a simple blog that is integrated with social media. Prerequisite: Advanced HTML and CSS.

Fairy Tales offer enchantment, magic, and possibility, but the seeming lightness of these fabulous narratives also carries the weight of cruelty and consequence. In this class we will read fairy and folk tales from different parts of the world, examine the themes, structures, and opportunities of the genre, then, using what we have learned, write our own fairy tales. This class integrates reading, writing, and workshop components to create a generative environment for students new to creative writing as well as more advanced students who are looking for narrative strategies to strengthen portfolios.

Topics examine structures, materials, and technologies exemplified in historical and contemporary architecture. Field trips, on site lectures in downtown Chicago, and class projects will give students an overview of both the science and art of designing buildings. A basic drawing course, both freehand drawing and mechanical drafting are used to communicate the way objects and interior spaces look in orthographic projections (plan, section, elevation, and perspective), paraline drawings (isometric and axonometric), design working drawings, and presentation drawings.

Classes meet in the Art Institute of Chicago's galleries where students observe, discuss and learn how to analyze a work of art. On-site lectures and discussions give students insight into the context of specific periods and the lives of the artists. Taking advantage of the AIC's world-renowned collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works this course, part of a three course series, examines the work of Monet, Manet, Renoir, van Gogh, Gaugin, Seurat, Toulouse-Lautrec, and others. The class journeys into a fascinating period that brought new trends, new artists, and new styles.

Classes meet in the Art Institute of Chicago's Modern Wing galleries where students observe, discuss and learn how to analyze a work of art. On-site lectures and discussions give students insight into the context of specific periods and the lives of the artists. This course, part of a three course series, focuses on the dawn of Modernism, exploring the work of important artists such as Cezanne, Picasso, Braque, Matisse and others, and traces breakthrough developments in drawing, painting, collage and sculpture.

Learn the best practices used by designers in a range of fields and how to make visual decisions with more confidence. Students in this course become conversant in the field of design by expanding their understanding of what surrounds them and learning how to look at and evaluate products, furniture, fashion, graphics, architecture, and more. Discussions address questions such as 'What is the function of design?', 'How do designers think?' and 'What makes 'good' design?'

The skills used by designers are vital to all of areas of visual production and fast becoming a necessity in all forms of individual and collective problem solving. Today's designers use their critical and creative thinking and making skills for a wide variety of strategic applications. This case-study lecture course examines problem solving through the principles of design for a variety of project types.

In this course, students learn about the variety of ways that color is considered and used as a design element in fashion, graphic, and interior design. Working with current color theory principles and models, students develop color plans and concepts in relationship to individual and group projects. This research is compiled in sketchbook/notebook format and is used as reference for independent projects. Studies and hands-on studio work reveal the multiple ways that color can transform design concepts with cohesive and expressive results.

This course will provide an overview of the principals, strategies and methods of sustainable design that are necessary for a career in interior design and architecture. Students will learn materials and processes intrinsic to sustainable design through site visits, analysis, and material and project research within the framework of the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Rating System. Successful completion of this course will qualify students to sit for the LEED Green Associates [GA] exam, which is the first step to become a LEED AP. For more information on the LEED Green Associates and LEED AP exams, please visit http://www.gbci.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=182

Students are introduced to the materials and methods used by architects and interior designers to create working sketches and detailed architectural drawings by hand. Looking at 3-d objects and locations, students will focus on developing representational drawing skills that reflect measurement, proportion, perspective, elevation, and surface. No previous drawing experience is required.

DThe tools of artists working today are markedly different than those that existed only a few years ago. In this course, students explore a variety of digital programs available to the visual artist that may include Adobe Creative Suite 6, Corel Painter X, Final Cut Pro or Adobe Premier, Rhino 4.0, Maya, and others. Each week a different technology is introduced alongside an exploratory project. All classes are designed to provide students the opportunity to integrate these new technologies into their own creative work. After completing an introduction to the fundamentals, students are exposed to more advanced and versatile techniques that these software packages offer. Students will explore digital painting, laser etching and printing, large format printing, digital drawing tablets, rapid prototype machines(3D printing), and others. Basic computer skills are required.

This course emphasizes the development of observational drawing skills and hand-eye coordination. The learning sequence progresses from simple forms and skill levels toward more complex constructions and compositions. Basic drawing elements such as line, proportion, perspective, composition, texture and the study of light and shade are investigated through various perceptual and conceptual approaches. Open to beginning students as well as those who want to refresh their skills before moving on to more advanced studio courses.

This course emphasizes the development of observational drawing skills and hand-eye coordination. The learning sequence progresses from simple forms and skill levels toward more complex constructions and compositions. Basic drawing elements such as line, proportion, perspective, composition, texture and the study of light and shade are investigated through various perceptual and conceptual approaches. Open to beginning students as well as those who want to refresh their skills before moving on to more advanced studio courses.

This class is for those who have completed a Beginning Drawing course and are interested in further exploring the art of drawing. Students will investigate new subjects and themes, and experiment with a variety of methods and materials while developing their technical and conceptual skills. Black and white as well as color approaches will be encouraged. Scale, mixed-media processes, and drawing formats and series will open up new areas of creative exploration. Critiques and discussions will support each student's personal direction.

Students will focus on the proportional relationships of the human head and face to achieve naturalistic resemblance in their drawings. Instruction in the use of line, shape, light and shadow will be explored to achieve believable volumetric form. Black and white as well as color materials will be investigated. A model will be present during each class session and a variety of drawing approaches will be demonstrated. Discussion and presentations on contemporary portraiture and group and individual reviews of work are also included.

This course explores nature as a primary source for artistic research and interpretation. Students examine natural phenomenon and the objects of nature through a variety of problems and materials including charcoal, graphite, ink, watercolor, and collage. While exploring nature through both representational and abstract modes, students develop their unique viewpoint on the visual world of natural resources and express their ideas in both small and large scale formats. Field trips to outdoor locations and natural objects brought into the studio (shells, flowers, fruits, vegetable, etc.) provide opportunities for both close up and large view approaches. Students are required to bring a sketchbook to the first class session.

Intended for students with prior figure drawing experience, this course is ideal for those who want to draw from the nude model in a faculty-guided group environment. The emphasis of the course is on developing expressive, interpretive drawings from life, while continuing to refine one's skills. Critiques and discussions including historical and contemporary approaches to figurative art deepen understanding, support personal direction, and aid in the execution of ideas.

This course explores how the personal nature of an artist's sketchbook can assist in the development of new directions and reveal meaningful ideas to pursue. Students develop sketches, collages, paintings, and notes to be used to create works on larger sheets of paper. Students review the history of artist sketchbooks and visit the Art Institute of Chicago to sketch on-site. During one class session, handmade sketchbooks are made using an array of book construction methods. Experimentation with a wide variety of drawing materials is encouraged. No experience is necessary. For more detailed course information contact us at CS@SAIC.edu.

This course helps students develop illustration skills with an emphasis on the body, gesture, and proportion. Working from a live clothed model, students are taught how to express the mood and texture of a wide variety of clothing fabrics, and how to communicate fashion design concepts with style and expression. This class is suited for all illustration students and ideal for students specifically interested in fashion illustration.

Students in this course create, manipulate, and sew patterns that cover the lower half of the female form. Students learn to draft a basic skirt and pant to develop professional slopers, build waistbands, and pattern pockets and fly fronts. Prerequisite: Sewing Techniques: Fundamentals.

Joining fabrics to cover the body and create shelter has been a prized skill in the progress of civilization. Students will build on that tradition by learning fundamental seams and finishes used in modern day garment construction. Industry standards of sewing are emphasized and all techniques are taught and practiced on professional, industrial sewing machines. In addition to creating a personal library of seam samples, students will apply the techniques in two basic projects. The class will also discuss fabric characteristics and the proper copying and cutting of patterns. Once mastered, these techniques can be used to sew together garments from patterns, create original designs, or explore fabric as a medium for soft sculpture. No previous sewing experience is necessary.

In this course, students learn to assemble garments that cover the upper half of the female form. Industry standard techniques and tips are presented for sewing together a pattern for a button-down shirt with sleeves and a lined, zippered shell. Students leave with the ability to transfer their skills to commercial patterns or their own designs. Prerequisite: Sewing Techniques: Fundamentals.

This is an introductory look into fashion and the fashion industry Students will explore basic design skills and work with various materials used in constructing garments. Both traditional and non-traditional materials will be explored through techniques and exercises related to the body. Students will learn how the equipment functions and its role in constructing garments. For more detailed course information contact us at CS@SAIC.edu.

This course examines the fundamentals of two-dimensional design in the digital age. Students will explore principle elements of design including composition, color, and typography through a series of projects that introduce Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop as primary graphic design tools. The importance of effective visual communication in both commercial and experimental design is stressed as students gain an understanding of the professional design process from the client brief to the finished digital project. Students will leave this course with a solid foundation in strategies for solving design problems, a basic design vocabulary and an understanding of the specific role that Illustrator and Photoshop play in creating professional work. Basic computer experience including using a mouse, navigating the Internet, and saving files is recommended.

This course examines the fundamentals of two-dimensional design in the digital age. Students will explore principle elements of design including composition, color, and typography through a series of projects that introduce Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop as primary graphic design tools. The importance of effective visual communication in both commercial and experimental design is stressed as students gain an understanding of the professional design process from the client brief to the finished digital project. Students will leave this course with a solid foundation in strategies for solving design problems, a basic design vocabulary and an understanding of the specific role that Illustrator and Photoshop play in creating professional work. Basic computer experience including using a mouse, navigating the Internet, and saving files is recommended.

This course examines the fundamentals of two-dimensional design in the digital age. Students will explore principle elements of design including composition, color, and typography through a series of projects that introduce Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop as primary graphic design tools. The importance of effective visual communication in both commercial and experimental design is stressed as students gain an understanding of the professional design process from the client brief to the finished digital project. Students will leave this course with a solid foundation in strategies for solving design problems, a basic design vocabulary and an understanding of the specific role that Illustrator and Photoshop play in creating professional work. Basic computer experience including using a mouse, navigating the Internet, and saving files is recommended.

Students with basic graphic design skills and prior Illustator experience explore uses of the application to create sophisticated designs and illustrations. Beginning with a review of important functions and tools, demonstrations and in-class projects present more advanced topics including transparency, feathering, masking, compound paths, gradients, layering techniques, and the specifics of the pen tool. Attention will be given to exporting files to other applications and platforms including, Adobe Photoshop and InDesign and the Web.

Intended for students with basic graphic design skills and prior Photoshop experience this course explores techniques used to create imagery and designs of a more advanced nature. Students explore the far ranging use of this software including its uses for print, the web, and mobile devices. Topics include layers, masking, compositing multiple images, color correction, retouching, special effects in type and more. Attention will be given to exporting files to other applications and platforms including Adobe InDesign and the Web.

Building on fundamental design and layout skills, students gain proficiency and confidence using Adobe InDesign, the industry standard program used to design materials for output to press, printer and Portable Document Format (PDF). In-class exercises and individual design projects encourage problem solving with emphasis on typography, the effective combination of text and image, and matching design to client needs. Individual and group critiques give students insight into strategies for effective visual communication. Students should have basic experience using Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign.

This graphic design studio course is intended for advanced level students and certificate students nearing the completion of the program. It is a self-driven portfolio development course in which students can choose to either rework projects from other classes or complete new projects to be used in their graphic design portfolios. Students will engage in group critiques as a means of evaluating the quality and progress of projects. Students will have studio time to work on projects and ask technical questions but should feel confident with the Adobe Suite of tools before taking this class. Lectures will focus on design history, creating a web presence, and documenting your work as a designer.

This course is intended for students with fundamental graphic design skills and an introduction to Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator. Building on these basic skills, students will further explore digital graphic design with an emphasis on developing critical design layout skills using Adobe InDesign. Included are methods of acquiring, modifying and exporting images for use with other software.

This foundational introduction to typography is recommended for those who are pursuing a career in the visual arts and design fields and those interested in the history and development of analog and digital type. The course functions as a working lab with multiple projects guaranteed to build confidence and knowledge in typographic usage. Students learn about typographic history, type do?s and don?ts, type terminology, setting copy and display text, using style sheets, type styles, and handwriting and illustrative calligraphy. No former typography experience is required.

This course is designed to introduce students to the illustration process, from ideation to freehand sketching through to the final piece. Students are encouraged to experiment with a variety of materials and styles, from traditional to digital and their hybrid. Classes are supplemented with a series of presentations on contemporary illustrators and a discussion of their methods. Recommended prerequisites: Beginning Drawing

Students experiment with materials and techniques used in a variety of illustration practices including editorial, book jackets, posters, and children's books. Focusing on a wide range of art making issues and approaches, students explore black and white, color, drawing, painting, printmaking, and mixed media in an assignment driven and deadline oriented curriculum. Recommended prerequisite: Introduction to Illustration

This course emphasizes the artist's role in children's picture book illustration and focuses on the world of visual storytelling. Through demonstrations and in-class assignments, students working at a variety of skill levels explore materials and techniques used to create children's book illustrations; images that guide children into a whole new imaginative universe through a sequence of memorable visual images. Creating book dummies to organize their ideas, students learn to balance text and image on the page. Students should have basic drawing skills.

This course helps students develop illustration skills with an emphasis on the body, gesture, and proportion. Working from a live clothed model, students are taught how to express the mood and texture of a wide variety of clothing fabrics, and how to communicate fashion design concepts with style and expression. This class is suited for all illustration students and ideal for students specifically interested in fashion illustration.

In this course, students interested in commercial art and concepts apply illustrative solutions to design formats and page layouts specific to the editorial, advertising and institutional illustration markets. Students use a five-part process, along with an exploration of appropriate media, imagery, and style, to support the interpretation of client-directed projects. Prerequisite: Introduction to Illustration or equivalent experience.

Students examine the process of developing their individual illustration styles and techniques while evaluating the technical and aesthetic needs of their clients. Projects are designed around projects that explore the wide array of illustration markets including commercial, editorial, and conceptual formats. The importance of communication through image and originality of idea while be explored through class assignments, independent projects, discussions, and critiques. (Prerequisite: Illustration Studio: Materials and Methods)

This course introduces the skills and insights needed to be a successful interior designer and examines why some designs are more successful than others. More than a style-selection course, you will learn what is required to design and build interior space, gain a general knowledge of how interior designers work, and examine what it takes to move creative designs from idea to reality. Included is a survey of important and innovative designs happening today.

This course will provide an overview of the principals, strategies and methods of computer aided drafting [CAD] software that are necessary for a career in interior design and architecture. Design and management issues are explored with the extensive use of PC CAD systems, including AutoCAD. Contemporary practice applications are discussed.

This studio course introduces students to the process of designing space through projects that relate to typical interior design work. Students learn required skills such as: drafting a plan, creating a material board, understanding proportion, and presentation techniques. It is recommended, but not necessary, that students complete Introduction to Interior Design or Introduction to Architecture prior to enrolling in this class. For more information contact CS@SAIC.edu.

Today?s visual artists work with an ever-widening range of materials, processes, subjects, and technologies. In this course students examine painting from a variety of perspectives, incorporating traditional, non-traditional, conceptual, and digital approaches in new and exciting ways. Independent projects are developed through research and experimentation that allow new directions to unfold and new discoveries to be made. Painting ideas are explored through multiple methods and outputs, including mixed-media and digital production, and innovative formats and styles are encouraged. Students can work in oil, acrylic, water-based, and/or digital painting mediums.

How do you focus your interests and refine your skills in order to create a body of work? How do the materials and methods you use relate to the ideas in your work? How do you make your work more personally meaningful? This multi-level course is intended for students with previous painting experience who are ready to address these questions through various in-class exercises and individual painting problems. With instructor guidance, the organization of ideas and development of self-directed work is encouraged. Critiques and discussions deepen understanding, support personal direction, and aid in the execution of ideas. Students work with their choice of painting media.

Every painter learns his or her craft from the art of previous ages. In this course, students will interpret the concepts and techniques of artists and artwork on exhibition in the Art Institute of Chicago (AIC). Visits to the museum, demonstrations, individual guidance, and group critics will help guide personal directions and interpretations in each student?s work. Prerequisite: Beginning Oil Painting.

Students explore traditional and contemporary approaches to the watercolor medium, including gouache. A variety of techniques, papers and alternative painting surfaces, and mixed media processes are introduced. Intended for students with basic drawing skills as well as those with previous painting experience, the course is structured to encourage experimentation with scale, subject matter and formats. Critiques and discussions will support and encourage each student's personal direction.

This course is ideal for those who want to paint from the nude model in a faculty-guided group environment. The emphasis of the course is on developing expressive paintings from life, while continuing to refine one's skills. Critiques and discussions including historical and contemporary approaches to figurative art deepen understanding, support personal direction, and aid in the execution of ideas. Students should have basic painting skills and prior figure drawing or painting experience. Students may work with acrylic or oil paint.

This course is conducted in the galleries of the Art Institute of Chicago, where students have the opportunity to study and paint directly from a painting in the Museum's collection. Through intensive perceptual study, students strengthen their understanding of painting and its art historical context, while building technical skills. Materials and logistical information are discussed at the first class meeting. For more detailed course information contact us at CS@SAIC.edu.

Learn to paint form, space and atmospheric effects by focusing on depicting light with color. This course provides instruction in color theory as it pertains to painting practices with an emphasis on using color expressively. Paint application techniques are demonstrated and considerations for color effects, schemes and properties are investigated in their practical application to each student's work. Students should have some prior painting experience.

Students are introduced to both traditional and contemporary water-based and oil based painting materials and methods through demonstrations and in class projects. Methods of transferring drawing ideas to painting; preparation of grounds and supports; traditional and non-traditional tools for painting, mediums for water-based and oil-based applications; application techniques; and the connection between concept or subject matter to material choice are covered. Lectures, individual instruction, and group critiques will be used to develop insight into the relation between form and content.

This course introduces the materials, methods, and tools of oil painting while students develop observational painting skills. Demonstrations on stretching a canvas, laying out a palette, working with various paint application techniques, and color mixing provide students with the fundamentals of the medium and a strong foundation for future coursework. No previous experience in painting isrequired, but basic drawing skills are recommended.

This course focuses on the foundations of photography and the various ways to use a digital camera. Students examine how to choose and shoot subjects that are both personally meaningful in content and contemporary in context. Instruction includes capturing and printing images in both black & white and color, and investigating digital photo editing. Discussions on the history of photography and individual and group critiques are included. Students must supply their own SLR (Single-Lens Reflex) digital camera with manual functionality (point-and-shoot cameras are not permitted).

This seminar aims to help students define their unique creative and critical viewpoint, incorporate their own visual aesthetic and establish their own image making vocabulary. This course is especially helpful for those interested in preparing a body of work for presentation for a variety of educational and professional purposes. This is not a studio course and students are expected to make work outside of class time.

Building on basic digital photography skills, students focus on the development of their images using digital media. Students gain a foundation in the tools and methods needed for application in contemporary photographic practice. Topics include various methods of image manipulation and output options. Critiques and presentations supplement the studio experience. Students should have prior photography experience before enrolling in this course. Recommended Prerequisite: Digital Photography 1

In this course, students learn how to use lighting to gain expressive results in their photographs. By studying a variety of lighting scenarios, students learn to make specific choices with regard to existing or ambient light conditions as well as light augmented by other sources of illumination. Students learn the rudiments of metering, mixing light sources, using electronic flash within existing lighting conditions, and continuous light. Fantastical lighting schemes, with strobe systems and hot lights, will also be explored. Class time will be spent on demonstrations, individual projects, digital image manipulation, printing, critiques and lectures. Students must supply their own digital SLR camera. Prior digital photography experience, including digital image manipulation, is required.

This course aids artists in the development and refinement of their studio practice through the format of weekly group discussions. Students learn to articulate their formal and conceptual goals and evaluate their success in meeting these objectives. The work to be discussed is created outside of class and presented in any format. Writing exercises, readings, presentations, and field trips may be used to stimulate work and help define personal goals. This course is appropriate for all students working at an intermediate/advanced level who seek critical feedback. For more detailed course information contact us at CS@SAIC.edu.

In this class, students leave Dreamweaver behind to learn how the Internet really works as we build a strong foundation of HTML and CSS code as it applies to layout design. Emphasis is placed on front-end design, teaching students to translate pre-made designs into code that functions as a webpage. Students learn how to troubleshoot common problems using web development tools and best practices in web design. At the end of the course, students are able to recreate a variety of simple web layouts through code. No previous web experience is necessary but familiarity with graphic design concepts and proficiency in Adobe Photoshop is required.

In this class, students leave Dreamweaver behind to learn how the Internet really works as we build a strong foundation of HTML and CSS code as it applies to layout design. Emphasis is placed on front-end design, teaching students to translate pre-made designs into code that functions as a webpage. Students learn how to troubleshoot common problems using web development tools and best practices in web design. At the end of the course, students are able to recreate a variety of simple web layouts through code. No previous web experience is necessary but familiarity with graphic design concepts and proficiency in Adobe Photoshop is required.

This course dives deeper into CSS by introducing complex selectors. Students create larger sites that involve multiple templates. Focus is be placed on individualized projects and critiques as students deepen their own understanding of HTML and CSS and begin to apply this knowledge to their personal projects. Class lectures are diverse, ranging from exposing students to some of the industry?s best websites to demonstrating how advanced CSS selectors can save time and create unified design strategies. Students gain a strong knowledge of CSS that enables them to design and code sites of their own creation. Additionally, students learn the troubleshooting skills to solve many common problems associated with layout design on the web. Prerequisite: Introduction to HTML and CSS.

A great website is more than just great code. Every great site starts as an idea that is formed into a design. This course focuses on the design process rather than the technical process to understand usability and the ways in which designing for the screen is different than designing for print. Through course lectures and critiques, students learn to design websites that engage viewers and deliver results for clients. Students learn how to build style guides, develop wireframes, work with grid structures, and design with usability and audience in mind. Prerequisite: Introduction to Web Concepts.

This course is an introduction to the practice of creative writing regardless of what form the work takes. It is also a community workshop for the sharing of your literary efforts, both raw and polished. While we will explore different poetic, non-fictional, and fictional forms, the course focus is on finding, building, and developing your stories. Every class session aims to include writing exercises and experiments in creative activity, with alternating conversations on student work and assigned readings culled from outstanding writers who precede us. All levels of experience are welcome.