*I designed this course as the visual thinking requirement for the First Year in the BFA Dramatic Arts program. From 2014 to 2018, William Cusick has been the Department Head for Creative Technologies. William has adapted this syllabus since 2012 when it was first developed. 

Faculty who have taught this course include:

William Cusick, Nicholas Hussong, Tonilyn Sideco and Olivia Sebesky.

- Develop a vocabulary of design elements and compositional principles.

- Develop basic hardware and software knowledge using relevant design applications.

- Develop a foundational understanding of creative processwork.

- Understand the importance of documentation and presentation in the articulation of a creative project.

- Develop a responsible, engaged and informed critique.

- Develop forma craft and presentation skills in a manner that appropriately and successfully reflects and communicates intent.

*The following course description has been developed by faculty at the First Year Program at Parsons School of Design. The language below is theirs. The downloadable syllabi are my adaptations of the skeleton syllabi provided by the program. They were created in collaboration with the seminar faculty.

Seminar faculty partner teachers:

Xavi Acarin, Małgorzata Bakalarz Duverger, Anna Fridilis, Sebastian Grant, Macushla Catherine Robinson, and Samantha Zighelboim

In Integrative Studio I students explore a range of visual, analytical, and making skills while working on projects that draw upon collaboration and cross-disciplinary investigation. The focus of this course is not only on the “how” of making things, but also the “why.” How is it that we make sense of our ideas, the information we collect, and our hunches and theories? And what can this inquiry tell us about why we make decisions as creative thinkers? Students work in teams on projects that encourage exploration through research and prototyping, and are expected to integrate learning from other first year courses and experiences into their work. 

This course shares a common theme with Integrative Seminar I and at various times in the semester, the two classes share ideas, concepts and assignments through bridge topics, in this way bringing together reading, writing and making in a manner that is essential to the creative work of artists and designers in every discipline. The Parsons Learning Portfolio is introduced and developed in this course. 

How many ways are there to explore an idea? In Integrative Studio 2, students fact-find individually and in groups to explore all types of discovery and documentation. Research often requires moving out into the world through field work, experimentation, failure, and creative problem solving. 

Over fifteen weeks, you will engage with a wide variety of studio-based research methods – both digital and analog – through pursuing one overarching research question / problem through a project that you are also pursuing in the Integrative Seminar 2 through seminar-based research methods. Idea research and development is presented through the lens of one of four themes that align with the different schools at Parsons: Systems and Strategies, Constructed Environments, Fashion, and Visual Culture. The course emphasizes beginning to think about and do research through, for, and of design and art. Working in studio, students will use digital tools, online platforms, studio-based research (such as materials investigations, prototype testing, peer critique, etc.), and fieldwork to create a research question, investigate it through multiple means, and make a project that addresses your findings over the course of the semester. 

The studio integrates learning from other first year courses, especially in thematic links to Integrative Seminar 2. At various times in the semester, the two classes share concepts and assignments, bringing together reading, writing and making in a manner that is essential to the creative research of professional artists and designers. 

*The following course description has been developed by faculty at the First Year Program at Parsons School of Design. The language below is theirs. The downloadable syllabi are my adaptations of the skeleton syllabi provided by the program. They were created in collaboration with the studio faculty.

Studio faculty partner teacher:

How many ways are there to explore an idea? In Integrative Studio 2, students fact-find individually and in groups to explore all types of discovery and documentation. Research often requires moving out into the world through field work, experimentation, failure, and creative problem solving. 

Over fifteen weeks, you will engage with a wide variety of studio-based research methods – both digital and analog – through pursuing one overarching research question / problem through a project that you are also pursuing in the Integrative Seminar 2 through seminar- based research methods. Idea research and development is presented through the lens of one of four themes that align with the different schools at Parsons: Systems and Strategies, Constructed Environments, Fashion, and Visual Culture. The course emphasizes beginning to think about and do research through, for, and of design and art. Working in studio, students will use digital tools, online platforms, studio-based research (such as materials investigations, prototype testing, peer critique, etc.), and fieldwork to create a research question, investigate it through multiple means, and make a project that addresses your findings over the course of the semester. 

The studio integrates learning from other first year courses, especially in thematic links to Integrative Seminar 2. At various times in the semester, the two classes share concepts and assignments, bringing together reading, writing and making in a manner that is essential to the creative research of professional artists and designers.