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Hector Silva

Lecturer

Contact

Bio

I have over ten years of teaching experience at acclaimed industrial design programs, including the University of Illinois at Chicago, University of Notre Dame, Rochester Institute of Technology, Academy of Art University and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

My dedication to design education was recognized when I was named Young Educator of the Year by the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA). I also work as an industrial design consultant, running my own studio, H Design. My passion for promoting design education led me to establish Advanced Design, a nonprofit organization. This initiative earned me the Special Achievement Award from IDSA.

More recently, I have launched Offsite, an innovative online design school. Offsite is my experimental venture to bridge the gap between academia and industry, aiming to revamp the traditional methods of design education.If you're interested in disrupting design education, creating amazing objects, feel free to get in touch.

Courses

Title Department Catalog Term

Description

Course Description
Students will learn to craft design concept sketches that clearly communicate ideas to others. The course focuses on using freehand sketching and rendering to visualize design objects, clarify form and function, and explore ideas quickly. Through exercises in thumbnail sketching, shading, and form development, students build confidence in drawing as a tool for thinking and communication. The course also introduces orthographic projection for precise technical drawings and two-point perspective for understanding objects in space.

Who is this course for?
Effective sketching is a foundational skill that designers use throughout their careers. Alongside 3D Modeling and Designing Interaction, this course is part of the core skills group in Designed Objects and is intended to support students as they move through the three-course Core Studio sequence.
This course is an excellent first Designed Objects class and an accessible entry point into design at SAIC. There are no prerequisites, and students at all levels are welcome.

When should this class be taken?
This course is recommended in the freshman or sophomore year and works especially well as a student¿s first Designed Objects course.

Class Number

1274

Credits

3

Description

Course Description
Students will learn to craft design concept sketches that clearly communicate ideas to others. The course focuses on using freehand sketching and rendering to visualize design objects, clarify form and function, and explore ideas quickly. Through exercises in thumbnail sketching, shading, and form development, students build confidence in drawing as a tool for thinking and communication. The course also introduces orthographic projection for precise technical drawings and two-point perspective for understanding objects in space.

Who is this course for?
Effective sketching is a foundational skill that designers use throughout their careers. Alongside 3D Modeling and Designing Interaction, this course is part of the core skills group in Designed Objects and is intended to support students as they move through the three-course Core Studio sequence.
This course is an excellent first Designed Objects class and an accessible entry point into design at SAIC. There are no prerequisites, and students at all levels are welcome.

When should this class be taken?
This course is recommended in the freshman or sophomore year and works especially well as a student¿s first Designed Objects course.

Class Number

1462

Credits

3