Art Studio

This course explores key concepts and principles of the techniques used to give textiles various colors. Dyeing is the process of imparting color to textiles using dyes or pigments, and it is the most efficient method for enhancing the marketability and aesthetic appeal of clothing products. Students will study the fundamentals of fiber science to understand the structure and characteristics of textiles and learn about the theory of dye chemistry to comprehend the properties and interactions of diverse chemical substances used in dyeing. Additionally, the course examines color theory to explore how textile dyeing can enhance product quality. 

This course examines the fundamentals of black and white analogue photography and the legacy of experimental image-making processes. Students will engage in experimental image-making processes using 35mm film cameras and darkroom processes, alongside camera-less photography techniques.

This course explores the concept and process of design thinking. Students will gain awareness of their own process, develop research skills and methods necessary for any design project, both in academia and in the commercial world, and examine methods for projecting plausible futures based on current trends. 

The course introduces the history and development of thoughts on design as a discipline and important concepts that have significantly contributed to design research and studies. Students will encounter curated design thoughts and assignments to help develop their own perspectives on design and produce useful/usable work pieces for their career.  

The extensive independent study field research paper produced by the student is both the centerpiece of the intern's professional engagement and the culmination of the academic achievements of the semester. During the preparatory session, IFE teaches the methodological guidelines and principles to which students are expected to adhere in the development of their written research. Students work individually with a research advisor from their field. The first task is to identify a topic, following guidelines established by IFE for research topic choice. The subject must be tied in a useful and complementary way to the student-intern's responsibilities, as well as to the core concerns of the host organization. The research question should be designed to draw as much as possible on resources available to the intern via the internship (data, documents, interviews, observations, seminars and the like). Students begin to focus on this project after the first 2-3 weeks on the internship. Each internship agreement signed with an organization makes explicit mention of this program requirement, and this is the culminating element of their semester. Once the topic is identified, students meet individually, as regularly as they wish, with their IFE research advisor to generate a research question from the topic, develop an outline, identify sources and research methods, and discuss drafts submitted by the student. The research advisor also helps students prepare for the oral defense of their work which takes place a month before the end of the program and the due date of the paper. The purpose of this exercise is to help students evaluate their progress and diagnose the weak points in their outline and arguments. Rather than an extraneous burden added to the intern's other duties, the field research project grows out of the internship through a useful and rewarding synergy of internship and research. The Field Study and Internship model results in well-trained student-interns fully engaged in mission-driven internships in their field, while exploring a critical problem guided by an experienced research advisor.

This course covers the techniques and theories of motion graphics. Motion graphics in a broad sense refers to the entire visual media that encompasses both live-action films and animations. However, in a general context, motion graphics can be defined as a video that has a short running time, conveys a message effectively, and emphasizes visual style rather than narrative. 

Students will learn various theories and skills needed to create a motion graphic; critique various motion graphic videos; and create animation using movie clips, images, text and special effects then learn how to add sound and master it for the final media project. 

In this introductory course students will experiment with the efficiency and creativity of the design process based on an understanding of data and artificial intelligence. Students will explore methodologies for utilizing AI in the design process, including generative design based on AI. 

This course provides an introduction to and examples of AI applied design, overviews of various AI topics in design, opportunities to talk with designers in AI and data science/tech professionals, an examination of how design and AI with emerging data technologies affect each other, future directions and impacts of the field, and more. Open to any undergraduate student interested in design. First-year students and non-design majors are also particularly welcomed. No prerequisites required. 

This course covers computer programming for designers. Viewing media in the perspective of physical computing and going beyond the limited functionality of the related applications, students will study the necessary tools and scripting interface to be able to actively use media interaction and control. The course utilizes a scripting language open software program called Processing and its related software like Arduino, iCube and python. Students will complete a project, mid-project workshop, and final project presentation.  Topics include basic geometry, Loop 1, Loop 2, generative drawing, random and noise, generative typography, algorithm drawing, and more.

This is an independent research course with research arranged between the student and faculty member. The specific research topics vary each term and are described on a special project form for each student. A substantial paper is required. The number of units varies with the student’s project, contact hours, and method of assessment, as defined on the student’s special study project form.

This studio course introduces the principles of painting and develops skills in composition, observation, and the use of color. The course includes sessions on technique, brushwork, color theory, and the use of different media.  During the first half of the course assignments concentrate on developing different skills and building techniques, using traditional and experimental approaches to painting. During the second half of the course, students use these skills to develop their own work. Students explore the history of art in Florence in the many galleries and museums and use this knowledge to inform their own work. The course covers the technical developments of the Renaissance, including the study of perspective, line, and form. Through guided instructional sessions, students cultivate their unique artistic styles and engage in individual research, which may involve integrating themes and techniques from both modern and contemporary art. This study is the basis for developing painting skills through engaging with, and responding to, the works and artists they study. The course also has a focus on developing skills for self and peer criticism to discuss the development of the work. Students create a final piece supported by an Artist's Statement, a research breakdown outlining the evolution of the project's concept, and technical development. 

This is an interdisciplinary course that explores the principles of communication in Design and Engineering. Students learn how they can draw on visual and verbal resources to clearly articulate the valued knowledge in their disciplines to both specialist and non-specialist audiences. Students study a range of narratives around multimodal artifacts such as posters, renderings, drawings, models and exhibits from these disciplines and become familiar with the ways to engage, inform, critique and persuade different audiences and communicate their designs effectively.