Course info

This three-credit elective course focuses on contemporary topics in Industrial Design. Students will undertake immersive educational experiences that expand their skills and understanding of the discipline. Previous projects have included cross-cultural design, iterative prototyping, patterning and hacking of textile products, the design of smart objects, and critical making.

This course will include several projects for students to explore expressions of identity and culture through small-scale metalwork adornment and storytelling. Initial project focus will be on personal expressions of each student’s positionality and self identity, with emphasis on responsibility to community and environment. Smaller projects might include items such as jewelry (necklace, earrings), or clothing fasteners (buttons, hooks, or buckles). Medium-sized projects may include items such as bracelets, chain (maille), or plates (e.g. a gorget). Objects may be transformed from the found or repurposed, or developed from fresh stock with considerations of the lifecycle of the material. Primary development of hands-on skills in this course could continue into jewelry and related fields, or be useful for one-off or custom production, prototyping, or developing recycling procedures.