***The following schedule is subject to change. Refer to the Weekly Agenda posts linked here for up-to-date content.***

Week 1

  • Topic: Introductions, What is Communication Design Theory?
  • Assignment: Submit Learning Plan and other Welcome Tasks

Week 2

  • Topic: Course Site Overview, Course Tools Set up
  • Assignment: Reading Response 1 – Why Theory?, Art of Noticing

Week 3

  • Topic: Signs and Meaning in Communication Design
  • Assignment: Reading Response 2 – Semiotics, Art of Noticing

Week 4

  • Topic: The Message Cycle, Roland Barthes
  • Assignment: Reading Response 3 – Visual Rhetoric, Art of Noticing

Week 5

  • Topic: Concept and Vocabulary Review, Representation and Context
  • Assignment: Reading Response 4 – Representation, Art of Noticing

Week 6

  • Topic: Concept and Vocabulary Review
  • Assignment: Research Essay – Decoding Stereotype in Advertising (First Draft), Art of Noticing

Week 7

  • Topic: Marshall McLuhan – The Medium is The Message, Persuasive Social Media
  • Assignment: Research Essay – Decoding Stereotype in Advertising (Final), Art of Noticing

Week 8

  • Topic: Research Project Presentation Overview
  • Assignment: Research Essay Peer Review, Research Project Presentation Outline, Art of Noticing

Week 9

  • Topic: Manifestos!
  • Assignment: Write your own Manifesto, Research Project Presentation Proposal, Art of Noticing

Week 10

  • Topic: Design Influences + Lineages, Review: Avant-Garde to Modernism to Post Modernism
  • Assignment: Designer’s Cookbook Week 10, Art of Noticing, Research Project work

Week 11

  • Topic: Design Influences + Lineages, Your Designer’s Cookbook posts
  • Assignment: Designer’s Cookbook Week 11, Art of Noticing, Research Project work

Week 12

  • Topic: Design Influences + Lineages, Your Designer’s Cookbook posts
  • Assignment: Designer’s Cookbook Week 12, Art of Noticing, Research Project work

Week 13

  • Topic: Design Influences + Lineages: The Digital Revolution / AI is The Message, Your Designer’s Cookbook posts
  • Assignment: Research Project Presentation due

Week 14

  • Topic: Research Project Presentations, Peer Feedback
  • Assignment: Research Project Peer Feedback, Research Project Presentations

Week 15

  • Topic: Wrap up, review Final Research Project Presentations
  • Assignment: Peer Feedback, Grade Survey, Course Evaluations
  • All late and revised work due by May 22nd
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