A wide shot of a ceramics studio, featuring students working with pottery wheels and other tools.

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John Bowers

Professor

Contact

Bio

Professor, Visual Communication Design (2006). Education: BFA, MA, and MFA in Design, University of Iowa; Post-Graduate Study in Graphic Design, Basle (Switzerland) School of Design. Profession: Senior Identity Designer, Landor (San Francisco); Freelance Designer, Studio A (Alexandria, VA). Writing: Introduction to Two-Dimensional Design: Understanding Form and Function, Second Edition (Wiley); "A Lesson from Spirograph" (Design Observer); "Lagom: Finding Balance in Lapland" (AIGA Educators Dialogue); Visual Communication Design Teaching Strategies (AIGA Design Teaching Resource). Publications / Exhibitions: AIGA 365 Annual; AIGA Inequality Matters; AIGA World Day of Design; Annual of the Art Directors of Metropolitan Washington D.C.; CMYK; Communication Arts; Graphis Posters; Graphis Products by Design; Harvest: AIGA Portland; ID (New and Noted); AIGA Pacific NW Design Awards: Seattle Biennial; Portland (Oregon) Design Festival. Collections: AIGA Archive; Printed Matter at Dia, NYC; Project for the Arts, Washington, D.C.; UCDA Archive. Presentations: “Collaboration and Participation in Design Practice and Education” Design Studies Forum / CAA National Conference; “Customizing User Experiences” New Media Consortium International Design Conference; “Mapping Cross Cultural Rituals” AIGA Design Educators National Conference; “Privatizing Public Experiences” Glide / Global Interaction in Design Education International Conference. Workshops: Umeå (Sweden) Institute of Design MFA Interaction Design Programme. Grants: AIGA Faculty Development Grant; Fulbright Award / Fulbright Council for International Faculty Exchange; Oregon Council for the Humanities. Juror / Reviewer: AIGA National Educator Conferences; Design and Culture Journal; Design Incubation Awards; Thames and Hudson; Wiley.

Courses

Title Department Catalog Term

Description

This research, discussion, and critique course develops a visual and verbal vocabulary by examining relationships between form and content, word and image. Study includes symbolic association and the problem of effective communication in a highly complex culture.

Class Number

1134

Credits

3

Description

This research, discussion, and critique course develops a visual and verbal vocabulary by examining relationships between form and content, word and image. Study includes symbolic association and the problem of effective communication in a highly complex culture.

Class Number

1386

Credits

3

Description

This research, discussion, and critique course develops a visual and verbal vocabulary by examining relationships between form and content, word and image. Study includes symbolic association and the problem of effective communication in a highly complex culture.

Class Number

2094

Credits

3

Description

This research, discussion, and critique course develops a visual and verbal vocabulary by examining relationships between form and content, word and image. Study includes symbolic association and the problem of effective communication in a highly complex culture.

Class Number

2103

Credits

3

Description

This research, discussion, and critique course develops a visual and verbal vocabulary by examining relationships between form and content, word and image. Study includes symbolic association and the problem of effective communication in a highly complex culture.

Class Number

2106

Credits

3

Description

2041 - Type + Image in Motion is a studio based introduction to the design of motion graphics. We will examine the methodologies, theories, visual and auditory principles, technical issues of motion design with an emphasis on the interplay of movement, time, imagery, typography and sound within the digital environment. The course focuses on the role motion plays in creating expressive and communicative experiences. Students will critically analyze and create a range of motion studies, and investigate the visual grammar and creative strategies of the time-based communication and motion graphics utilizing storyboarding and two-dimensional animation, Readings, screenings and discussions will provide students with a historical overview of motion design and time-based media. We will examine the work of various influential motion designers both past and present. Readings and lectures cover the theoretical foundations of the field, and assignments provide hands-on, project-based experience with production. Weekly in-class tutorials will be provided by the instructor and the student will be required to develop a working knowledge of software appropriate to concepts of time-based media. Students should expect to develop comprehensive storyboards and produce three short digital videos. The completed motion design studies and visual investigations will be presented in group and individual critiques during the course of the semester.

Class Number

1400

Credits

3

Description

This course provides an introduction to the UI / UX principles, issues, methods of user-centered responsive web design (mobile, tablet, and laptop). Students hand-code HTML / CSS; and various software to generate Javascript and post fully functioning responsive websites. This course is for students from all departments who may have no previous coding or web design experience. All necessary coding and software skills will be taught in class. Readings focus on Non-Linear User Interaction, and the Relationship between Print and Digital Experiences, with others as necessary. Students should anticipate exercises focusing on the following: usability principles, content organization, strategy, user diagramming, audience analysis. Students will be asked to review and identify both strengths and weaknesses of these concepts across retail, experimental, promotional, and educational websites. There will be one technical study (1 week intensive in hand-coding and XD), and one user-centered project (2 weeks - hand-coding or Figma). There are no prerequisites for this course.

Class Number

1048

Credits

3

Description

This course provides an introduction to the UI / UX principles, issues, methods of user-centered responsive web design (mobile, tablet, and laptop). Students hand-code HTML / CSS; and various software to generate Javascript and post fully functioning responsive websites. This course is for students from all departments who may have no previous coding or web design experience. All necessary coding and software skills will be taught in class. Readings focus on Non-Linear User Interaction, and the Relationship between Print and Digital Experiences, with others as necessary. Students should anticipate exercises focusing on the following: usability principles, content organization, strategy, user diagramming, audience analysis. Students will be asked to review and identify both strengths and weaknesses of these concepts across retail, experimental, promotional, and educational websites. There will be one technical study (1 week intensive in hand-coding and XD), and one user-centered project (2 weeks - hand-coding or Figma). There are no prerequisites for this course.

Class Number

1140

Credits

3

Description

This course provides an introduction to the UI / UX principles, issues, methods of user-centered responsive web design (mobile, tablet, and laptop). Students hand-code HTML / CSS; and various software to generate Javascript and post fully functioning responsive websites. This course is for students from all departments who may have no previous coding or web design experience. All necessary coding and software skills will be taught in class. Readings focus on Non-Linear User Interaction, and the Relationship between Print and Digital Experiences, with others as necessary. Students should anticipate exercises focusing on the following: usability principles, content organization, strategy, user diagramming, audience analysis. Students will be asked to review and identify both strengths and weaknesses of these concepts across retail, experimental, promotional, and educational websites. There will be one technical study (1 week intensive in hand-coding and XD), and one user-centered project (2 weeks - hand-coding or Figma). There are no prerequisites for this course.

Class Number

1141

Credits

3