ARTD3700/DMST3900, Spring 2007
eMAD Topics: Sustainable Design Strategies | Creative Survival
Timothy Weaver, tweaver2@du.edu, 303.871.3279
Shwayder Art Building, Rm 213,
office hrs: Tuesday 3PM to 5:30PM (please confirm appointments 24 hrs. in advance)
c o u r s e o v e r v i e w
This topics-based course will survey and investigate the overlay and interplay between sustainable design strategies and creative survival as a praxis as they intersect the domains of digital media design, dissemination, community organization and networking. The course will build upon the basic paradigms that have coalesceced in the organizational and critical platforms of the sustainable design movement including ecology/environment, economy/employment, equity/equality and education/pedagogy/dissemination.
The surveyed foundations of the class with review a wide spectrum of sustainable design strategies including: mapping of consumptive origin-thru-fate, green materials usage, creative commons, open source software/hardware movements, evolutionary design methods, collaborative design, predictive complexity modeling, biomimicry and greening infrastructure, among others.
A grounding of media-based collateral whose content mission is sustainable practice and environmental awareness will be reviewed, critiqued, re-designed and produced. Understanding and analysis of these issues will transition into ecological footprinting and design practices which take a cradle-to-cradle approach in the lifecycle, networking, recycle and reuse of intellectual properties and physical materials. Studio sessions will also build a shared library and experimental usage of networking, simulation, design, modeling, content management and tactical media tools for sustainable design, prediction and creative survival praxis. These foundations and platforms will then underwrite project-based explorations of emerging sustainable design strategies and the development of the critical narratives which accompany the appropriate pedagogy, adoption and dissemination of such processes, methods and language.
: : c o n t e x t : :
:: Build an insightful platform for the contextual understanding of local-to-regional-to-global sustainability in relation to the critical issues of ecology, economy, and equity;
: : t e c h n i q u e : :
:: Characterize the diversity of tools, techniques and methods that exemplify, expand, implement and disseminate the concepts, language and connectivity of sustainability;
:: Perpetuate/mentor the knowledge train/access to these tools and techniques to empower creative solution and intuition for collective communication, collaborative networking and creative survival.
: : c r i t i c a l d i a l o g u e : :
:: Expand the language of sustainable design for the enablement of critical dialogue, analysis of works, expansion of literacy and exchange of ideas and criticism;
:: Charge this environment with an atmosphere that challenges the binary assumptions of the sustainable and non-sustainable on shifting ground;
:: Foster a collective diversity of criticism that promotes experimentation, research, and affirmation of new creative thought, identity, collaboration and possibilities;
: : n e t w o r k : :
:: Develop an inclusive group environment for the questioning, discussion, and exploration of the potential and forward reaching directions of sustainable design for future investigation and engagement;
:: Cultivate a symbiotic pedagogical relationship among class participants which includes internal mentoring, bottom-up input, and collaborative materialization of work;
:: Initiate a collaborative and cooperative network among class participants for future creative/sustainable endeavors parallel to and beyond the academic institution; and
: : r e s o u r c e : :
:: Provide utilitarian resources as survival tools for the continuation of future collaborations from this group network.
c o u r s e p o l i c i e s
In order to meet course objectives the following requirements are critical to the attainment of an inclusive environment that is supportive to all participants:
attendance
Attendance is mandatory. 2 unexcused absences constitutes the drop of 1 letter grade for the course (2 lates=1 absence). An unexcused absence from any critique or critique segment will constitute the immediate drop of 1 letter grade for the course. Non-attendance at final critique/project presentation results in failing grade (F) for course.
participation
Active and supportive participation in all project critiques, discussions, and presentations will be expected from all group members.
quality of work
All creative work under consideration for critique or discussion under this course should be of a completed/finished quality that warrants the attention and respect of your cohorts. No excuses, or explanations.
grading
Work will be graded on the basis of fulfillment of course requirements combined with an assessment of assigned work. This assessment will be weighed in terms of degree of effort, creativity, and individual growth through the session. Grades will be assigned according to the University Policy as follows:
A superior/excellent
B good/better than average
C competent/average
D minimum passing
F failing