Sara Prado

This course introduces students to the creative scope of the Designed Objects program, and the ideas, skills, and methods used in the process of designing objects. Students will learn about the design of objects by studying their form, function, assembly, materiality, use, value and significance (both subjective and objective). Emphasizing thinking through making; students students build their visual vocabulary and develop an understanding of the design process. The goal of this class is to help students imagine the possibilities of the object design field and identify their aptitude for becoming an object designer.

The course will explore the intentionality of object design, exploring the works of a ranging from James Dyson to Ron Arad to Zaha Hadid. Readings and screenings will vary but typically include Mu-Ming Tsai's Design Thinking and Gary Hustwit's Objectified.

Students should expect to produce a body of work consisting of several minor exploratory projects and two fully fleshed out finished Objects (mid-term and final).

This course requires students to have a laptop that meets SAIC's minimum hardware specs and runs the AIADO template.

Core Studio is a year-long course that introduces students to both disciplinary and interdisciplinary art practice. Students learn about the methods, materials, tools and concepts in the areas of Surface (2-dimensional), Space (3-dimensional), and Time (4-dimensional), both independently and in relationship to one another. Students develop their own ideas in relation to the materials and themes being presented by faculty. Core Studio integrates the formal with the conceptual, historical with the contemporary, and makes visible the possibilities and variety of approaches in contemporary cultural production.

The aim of the Summer intensive is for students to develop the skills essential to the practice of design and communicating design ideas. The goal is for students to establish a fluid working process that utilizes integrated digital and analog processes as a means to move through ideation, iteration, material testing, visualization and design communication. To this end, the class provides training in software including Adobe Suite, Rhino, Bunkspeed, computer aided fabrication (CNC milling, 3D scanning and printing, laser cutting), as well as manual techniques such as rapid sketching, various prototyping techniques, data visualization and visual communication strategies. Working both collaboratively and independently students will consider Chicago as a lab and explore its potential as a source and resource for design practice. Existing design skills will honed to new levels through the integration of studio work, demonstrations and hands-on workshops. You must be a Master of Design in Designed Objects student to enroll in this course.

In the final thesis studio, students confirm and materialize their position and voice as designers by completing their self-selected thesis project initiated in DES OB 6150 -- Thesis Studio 1.Through an intensive period of seminar and tutorial discussion, prototyping, presentation and critique, students produce highly developed designed objects, systems, and experiences that critically engage specific areas of design, technology, and culture. Emphasis is given to determining potent vehicles through which the instance of the thesis is tested, exhibited and engages public consciousness. The course culminates in a thesis defense and the presentation of a final thesis project at the SAIC Design Show.


You must be a Master of Design in Designed Objects Student to enroll in this course.