DESIGN 478: Information Design is an advanced visual design course in information visualization. The course is restricted to undergraduate and graduate students in the UW Division of Design, School of Art + Art History + Design and selected students in the UW MHCI+D program. The course is full. Enrolled students, please note the UW Design Division First Day Policy.
If you are not a UW Design or UW MHCI+D student and you wish to request a seat in the class, please email me at kcheng@uw.edu. In your email, please include a link to your online visual design portfolio, or attach a PDF (10MB maximum) of your design work. Please also explain your prior experience and qualifications in visual design.
COURSE CALENDAR:
Available here as a Google spreadsheet.
This calendar is subject to change by faculty as needed.
DOORCODE: (Do not share!!)
Room 247—7493 (for printing and workroom use)
The 247 complex has been cleared out during the Summer for your use as a dedicated VCD senior studio. You are welcome to work here when the room is not in use for other classes. PLEASE KEEP IT CLEAN. Towards this end, I have assigned each of you an after-class tidying time in the last 10 minutes of class. See the "AfterClass_Cleanup" tab on our spreadsheet.
SYLLABUS TOC
Faculty Contact Info
Course Goals
Participation
Access/Accommodations
In the Event of Illness
First Day Policy
Final Exam Policy
Room Use Policies
Laptop Policy
General UW + SOAAHD Policies
Grading
Design Progress Requirements
FACULTY:
Professor Karen Cheng | kcheng@uw.edu
Office Hours before class on Thursday, or by appointment via Zoom.
COURSE GOALS:
The purpose of this class is to help students develop the skills necessary to research, analyze, and present information in a compelling visual narrative. Specifically, students will:
—Research and assemble a comprehensive set of information and data
—Transform this research into clear and persuasive information/data graphics
—Organize information/data graphics (and text) into an engaging story
—Discuss, analyze and evaluate effective and ineffective information design
Previous examples of student projects from this course may be viewed at:
https://issuu.com/kcheng99/stacks/d683e750ddcd496291ef88ea348cd367
https://issuu.com/kcheng99/stacks/0bfd9c7d72384756a0a8afe38e21a03d
https://www.flickr.com/photos/85594841@N00/albums/72157647457696413
PARTICIPATION:
This course is being taught in-person. Students have the best learning experience when all class members are on time and prepared with their work at every course meeting. Participation is essential to learning and success in all design classes, and is included in the course grading rubric. All students are are expected to be actively engaged during class periods. For example, you should be prepared to: 1) contribute suggestions during critiques, 2) work collaboratively during group working sessions; 3) ask and answer questions during/after lectures. If you have a personal or medical issue that causes intermittent or chronic lateness and/or insufficient preparation, please see the next section.
ACCESS / ACCOMMODATIONS
It is the policy and practice of the University of Washington to create inclusive and accessible learning environments consistent with federal and state law. If you have already established accommodations with Disability Resources for Students (DRS), please activate your accommodations via myDRS so we can discuss how they will be implemented in this course. It is a good idea to discuss these accommodations directly with me to ensure that I can help you with your needs.
If you have not yet established services through DRS, but have a temporary health condition or permanent disability that requires accommodations (conditions include but not limited to; mental health, attention-related, learning, vision, hearing, physical or health impacts), contact DRS directly to set up an Access Plan. DRS facilitates the interactive process that establishes reasonable accommodations. Contact DRS at disability.uw.edu
IN THE EVENT OF ILLNESS
If you miss class due to illness or emergency, please email me (include any documentation you have) and set up a timeline to complete missed work. Please be sure to have at least two other student colleagues in the class who you can contact (via email and/or text) to review any missed discussions or assignments. If your absence is caused by an unexpected illness or personal emergency that will have ongoing impacts, I am happy to discuss providing appropriate accommodations for your situation.
Note that if you become infected with COVID-19 or any other illness, please do not come to class; follow the guidelines on this COVID-19 flowchart. Current UW policy is that masks are recommended, particularly in the first two weeks of the quarter. If you are feeling ill, please stay home. UW hosts an on-campus Annual Flu Shot and COVID-19 Booster Clinic each year. Washington state also supports the recommended COVID booster and annual flu shot.
FIRST DAY POLICY
Instructors assume that if you are not present for roll call on the first day of a Design course you have decided not to remain enrolled. Therefore, you will be required to drop the class. This policy applies to all students: in-state, out-of-state and international. Note that U.S. Visas for international students may be revoked if students are not on time for the beginning of the academic quarter: https://ois.usc.edu/new-students/arrivingintheus/
Also note that a delayed return from Summer, Winter or Spring Break is not considered a valid excuse. The starting times and dates of UW instruction are published well in advance each year, enabling all UW students to plan their schedules accordingly. For more information on why this policy exists please see: this page.
FINAL EXAM POLICY
Final exams are scheduled by the University and cannot be changed. Students are required to turn in assignments and take exams based on the timeline provided in the class syllabus. If I have scheduled an in-person final critique/project turn-in, all students in the class are required to be present. An individual student will not be permitted to submit work early and skip the in-person final unless there are exceptional personal circumstances. Note that the desire to leave early for holiday travel or personal reasons does not qualify as an exceptional circumstance. More information here.
ROOM USE POLICY
Please note when it is your ONE ASSIGNED DAY to tidy the classroom (wipe desks) after class. You are welcome to work in Room 247 (the VCD senior studio) when it is not in use by other classes. Note that custodial hours have been substantially cut, so staff only have time to empty the recycle/landfill/compost bins in the room. If you want to use 247 after 6pm, please fill out this form for after-hours swipe card access to the Art Building via the loading zone doors.
LAPTOP POLICY
All UW Design majors must have a laptop computer, as described here. However, during lecture and critique, do not use laptops or your phone to take notes. Multiple studies have shown that devices in the classroom inhibit learning because they are a distraction to both primary users and secondary observers. Therefore, unless you need a device for assistive technology to accommodate a documented learning disability, please take notes by hand in a paper notebook. Note: if you are consistent with your notebooks, they can be an excellent record of your creative process, as documented by Michael Bierut of Pentagram.
UW / SOAAHD / DESIGN POLICIES
UW SOAHHD Policies
UW Design Program Policies
Washington state law requires that UW develop a policy for accommodation of student absences or significant hardship due to reasons of faith or conscience, or for organized religious activities. The UW’s policy, including more information about how to request an accommodation, is available at Religious Accommodations Policy. Accommodations must be requested within the first two weeks of this course using the Religious Accommodations Request Form.
GRADING
Grading is based on: 1)The quality of the final project—both visual and conceptual; 2) The design process—i.e., the extent of exploration and variation completed over the quarter; 3) Class participation, as assessed by peer evaluations and during critiques.
3.9–4.0 is given to a student who has exhibited the highest possible performance in all aspects of the course — the final project, the design process and class participation are excellent. Work is prepared with care/attention to detail and presented on time for all critiques/work sessions. This student independently seeks out additional information on design topics related to the course and is highly committed/passionate about their work.
3.5–3.8 is given to a student who exhibits superior performance in all aspects of the course—the final projects, design process and class participation are of high quality. Work is well-prepared and presented on time for all critiques/work sessions. This student has a thorough understanding of concepts being presented and is strongly self-motivated to improve and succeed.
3.2–3.4 is given to a student who has good performance in most aspects of the course. This student follows a thorough design process, produces solid design work and consistently participates in class. Work is prepared properly and presented on time for almost all critiques/work sessions. This student clearly understands most design concepts being presented.
2.8–3.1 is given to a student who has fair performance in most aspects of the course. This student follows a design process that could be expanded/improved. Work is not always prepared properly and/or presented in a timely manner. The resulting design work is fair, with inconsistent participation in critiques/work sessions. This student demonstrates an incomplete understanding of the course concepts being presented.
2.5–2.8 is given to a student who has low performance in the course. The final work is weak in quality, with a design process that reflects inadequate exploration and development. Class participation is minimal, and reflects an incomplete understanding of concepts being presented. The student has been unprepared for critique/work sessions on several occasions (late or improper presentation).
2.0–2.4 is given to a student with poor performance in the course. Projects are of an inferior quality, and reflect a sub-standard and incomplete design process. Preparation for critique/work sessions is inadequate (late or improper presentation). This student seldom participates in class, and fails to demonstrate adequate understanding of concepts being presented. This student is not prepared for subsequent courses in design.
0.0–2.0 is given to a student with very low performance in the course. Projects are deficient and/or defective in quality. The design process is negligible and/or very weak. Preparation for critique and/or work sessions is inadequate (late or improper presentation). This student rarely participates in class and demonstrates little understanding of the concepts being presented. This student is not prepared for subsequent courses in design.
DESIGN PROGRESS REQUIREMENT
Classes in the design curriculum are sequenced in a series of prerequisites. Student progress is reviewed at the end of each quarter. If a student fails to pass a design course (i.e., receives a 0.0) they will unable to progress toward the next design studio. Design students who earn a 2.0 grade or below in a studio course are required to meet with their program faculty to develop a plan for academic improvement. If a student's overall UW GPA falls below 2.0, they will be automatically placed on Academic Alert for Low Scholarship.