| Summer Institute: Sculpture: Materials and Methods |
Early College Program Summer Institute |
402 (001) |
Summer 2025 |
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Description
This course is a rigorous exploration of contemporary sculptural practices, emphasizing critical relationships between form, material, and content. Students use research, instructor feedback, and peer support to realize their unique visions in three dimensions. Discussions of materials, processes, and hands-on practice empower students to move from concept to completed work, generating a better understanding of how sculpture is situated within the context of culture and society at large. Projects allow for investigating traditional and contemporary materials and methods, including installation, carving, casting, fabrication, mold making, and construction. Demonstrations of SAIC's digital tools, field trips to the Art Institute of Chicago, and artist presentations supplement the studio experience. Artwork and/or performances that are temporary or cannot be easily transported will be documented through photography and/or video.
NOTE: Previous experience in sculpture is helpful, but not required. SAIC will provide basic equipment. Students are encouraged to bring a digital camera, tablet, and/or laptop for homework and after-studio hours projects.
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Class Number
1127
Credits
2
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| SI: Portfolio Prep Studio |
Early College Program Summer Institute |
406 (002) |
Summer 2025 |
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Description
In this hands-on studio course, students will develop new works of art to round out their portfolios for upcoming college applications and select, revise, and edit their existing works. Through dynamic workshops with SAIC faculty and admissions staff, students will discover the most effective way to document and organize their work and represent their unique points of view as artists to the colleges of their choice. This course also strongly emphasizes studio time and faculty support to create final projects to enhance students' overall portfolio presentation. Additional resources, such as artist presentations and visits to the Art Institute of Chicago, supplement the course curriculum.
NOTE: We recommend that students bring several works-in-progress to be completed in class, and at least one or two completed artworks to document.
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Class Number
1263
Credits
1
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| Introduction to Architecture |
Adult Continuing Education |
501 (001) |
Fall 2025 |
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Description
Learn how to think, plan, and draw like an architect in this engaging course focused on the design process and investigating the impact of built environments. Explore architectural design and historical and contemporary architecture as you develop the skills and knowledge to advance your studies in our noncredit certificate program or at another institution. Field trips, readings, and class projects provide an overview of both the science and art of designing buildings. All levels of experience are welcome.
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Class Number
2478
Credits
1
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| Introduction to Interior Design |
Adult Continuing Education |
501 (003) |
Fall 2025 |
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Description
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 an 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.
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Class Number
2455
Credits
1
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| Digital Design: Adobe Photoshop |
Adult Continuing Education |
503 (001) |
Fall 2025 |
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Description
Learn the skills you need to manipulate and enhance photographs and digital images. Explore the principal elements of design, including composition, color, and typography, as you develop strategies for solving design problems, a design vocabulary, and an understanding of the key role Photoshop can play in creating professional work. Students should have basic computer skills before signing up for this course.
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Class Number
2447
Credits
1
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| Introduction to Architecture/Interior Architecture |
Architecture, Interior Architecture, and Designed Objects |
1001 (001) |
Fall 2025 |
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Description
This course introduces students to the history, culture, and practice of architecture, interior architecture, and historic preservation through lectures, field trips, and hands-on exercises. Students learn fundamentals of spatial analysis and representation through orthographic drawing, understand the cultural context in which spatial practices operate, and explore architectural design. Class work may include field trips to historic buildings; visits to archives, exhibitions, or events; and design exercises introducing plan, section, elevation, and scale; translation between two- and three-dimensional representations of space; and architectural diagramming.
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Class Number
1023
Credits
3
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| Research Studio I: Transfers |
Contemporary Practices |
1021 (007) |
Fall 2025 |
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Description
In this course we will focus on the development of artistic research skills for students already engaged in a practice. Students take this required course in order to experience and develop a variety of research methodologies, both conventional and alternative, which include utilizing collections and archives in the School and the extended community.
Students will undertake various types of research activities: a) collecting and classification, b) mapping and diagramming, c) systems of measurement, d) social interaction, e) information search systems, f) recording and representation, and g) drawing and other notational systems.
Faculty directed, open-media, interdisciplinary, idea based assignments are designed to help students recognize work habits, biases, strengths, and weaknesses. Through this course work students will be able to identify the most productive research methods and making strategies to bolster their emerging studio practice. Critique as an evaluative process used in art and design schools, is a focus in this course. Various methods and models of critique are used in order to give students the tools to discuss their own work and the work of others.
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Class Number
1279
Credits
3
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| Eco Design |
Art Education |
4045 (001) |
Fall 2025 |
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Description
This course familiarizes students with the theory and practice of sustainability for architects, designers, and artists, with a focus on the economy, politics, and materiality of sustainable design. Students pursue directed research and develop studio projects in response to briefs introduced by the teacher. Class work includes student presentations and critiques; lectures, readings, and group discussions; as well as feild trips and other opportunities to learn from contemporary precedents.
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Class Number
1038
Credits
3
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| Interiority |
Architecture, Interior Architecture, and Designed Objects |
4050 (001) |
Spring 2026 |
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Description
This course familiarizes students with concepts and characteristics of interiority in architecture, with a focus on the physical, experiential, and cultural condition of interiority as a site for creative practice. Through design research projects undertaken in a studio context, students explore how interiority relates to contemporary issues such as health, privacy, and surveilance; and both the physiology and psychology of how we relate to interior spaces via our bodies and our senses. Class work includes lectures, readings, and group presentations and discussions.
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Class Number
1027
Credits
3
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| Eco Design |
Architecture, Interior Architecture, and Designed Objects |
4945 (001) |
Fall 2025 |
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Description
This course familiarizes students with the theory and practice of sustainability for architects, designers, and artists, with a focus on the economy, politics, and materiality of sustainable design. Students pursue directed research and develop studio projects in response to briefs introduced by the teacher. Class work includes student presentations and critiques; lectures, readings, and group discussions; as well as feild trips and other opportunities to learn from contemporary precedents.
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Class Number
1022
Credits
3
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