Design is increasingly about developing processes and methods for tackling complex problems, diagnosing and improving systems (or hacking them), bringing user-friendliness or a sense of humanity to an otherwise alienating (user) experience. Through his teachings, Deaa takes into account this picture of expanded practice, through a course culture that encourages thinking-through-making, research and reflection on processes and outcomes. Collaboration is always at the center of the educational process, which leads to tackle a creative challenge initiated by the student.
Courses
Design Methods and Creative Thinking
The course reviews traditional and modern design methodologies especially those appeared in Ulm Institute of Design and the British and American conferences. It focuses on developing creative problem-solving methods for design. Students explore the relationship between theories of creativity and the pragmatics of client-identified parameters. The course develops student’s research skills and personal visual communication style in both 2D and 3D presentations through rapid visualization techniques.
Media and Interactivity
This course is an introduction to the concept of interactivity and computer as media for artistic exploration in relation to print, animation, and interactivity. Emphasis is on the ideas and aspects interrelated to interactivity, as well as the essential skills for creating interactive work. Through the learned concepts and programming skills (form, motion, interactivity programming, and interface) students are expected to form a better understanding of internet, animation, and interactive media design
Management of Design Projects
This course teaches the key aspects of project management, its tools and techniques required to facilitate the successful completion of the project production cycle. The aim is to develop students’ skills and tools of project management while offering a design solution of a real-life problem. Students are encouraged to work towards strengthening interpersonal communications and team approaches and developing effective client relations – alternating role in the design team through different design problems
Typographic
The course introduces students to critical aspects of typographic design. The course focuses on the history of type and the technical execution of lettering for reproduction, problem-solving and aesthetic use of display and text type, creative thinking, along with prescribed techniques and media. Students develop an understanding of composition and its role in the creation of typographic hierarchy. Developing an ability to recognize typefaces by distinguishing visual characteristics through studying specific typefaces and developing knowledge of type classification.
Advertising Design
This course strengthens students understanding of the critical aspects and principles of design and typography in relation to advertising design and the production of different advertising media. The course also explores design concepts, typographic communication and how they influence consumers' behaviors and buying decisions, mind mapping, brain storming, layout, advertising copywriting, production processes and photography. Students are expected to use effective design solutions in all facets of advertising design projects.
Branding and Corporate Identity
The course explores the relationship among the critical principles of corporate identity including corporate design, corporate communication, corporate Behavior and corporate image. It emphasizes teamwork, strategic creative solutions and marketing formulas for building a brand within a design product or service category for specific market segment. All studio assignments in area of audio visual identity including logos, typos, color themes and other printed and soft media are based on actual clients and real-world demands.
Computer Graphics and Illustration
Develops students’ skills and understanding of graphics software programmers such as digital photo editing and illustration programs and allows them to explore their tools, features, various uses and application aspects; enhancing the look, feel and utility of the interactive multimedia through graphics projects and assignments.
2D Animation
This course introduces traditional animation principles and techniques and exposes students to animation workflow from start to finish using traditional animation media as well as digital media using current software. Students are responsible for weekly assignments, a final project and class participation.
Graduation Project I
This course prepares students to write a complete proposal of the final project. Emphasis is on setting out the rationale, study cases, analysis, concepts, conclusions and critical appraisal of the graduation project. The report will encourage students to collate and analyze factors that have influenced the success of design in the market place and enhance communication skills through written and visual materials.
Graduation project II
The course is a station of student’s acquired skills and knowledge. An initiated design project developed by the student and approved by project supervisor. The end project must be realized with a meaningful contribution to the field of Visual Design and a feasible design solution to real design situation. All proposals must be approved by the final Project Committee. The student with the assigned project supervisor schedule regular reports and pre-arranged meetings to allow progress and to monitor performance according to a feasible action plan throughout the course.