Foundations of Design 07-08, Semester 1, Syllabus

Course Hours
Monday 9:00-13:00, Thursday 14:00-18:00 for a total of 8 weekly credit hours

Course Instructors
Mike Darnell
Email: Mike@oleh.com | Phone: 052-6365013

Adi Cohen Ziv
Email: addco@netvision.net.il | Phone: 052-4707828

Course Concept – The Creation of the World

בְּרֵאשִׁית, בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים, אֵת הַשָּׁמַיִם, וְאֵת הָאָרֶץ וְהָאָרֶץ, הָיְתָה תֹהוּ וָבֹהוּ, וְחֹשֶׁךְ, עַל-פְּנֵי תְהוֹם;
וְרוּחַ אֱלֹהִים, מְרַחֶפֶת עַל-פְּנֵי הַמָּיִם

This semester of our Foundations of Design course will revolve around the theme of Genesis, chapter 1 – the Creation of the World. Over the course of next coming months we shall embark on a journey that will examine the story of the creation of the world and draw parallels between Gods creativity and our own.

Together we shall see how God, in his infinite wisdom, defined the format for his creation, built its composition from the basic firmaments, populated it with shapes, shells, forms, and bodies, enriched it with colors, patterns and textures, and organized all his creations in space so as to form the epitome of perfection we know as the Garden of Eden.

The journey we are taking is not a simple one. Many have tried to find the Garden of Eden and failed. Of the select few that have succeeded in reaching its fantastic gates fewer still have succeeded in gaining access past the guardians placed to guard the entrance ever since Adam and Eve were expelled from that first haven of innocence.

But…

Have no fear. You will not be alone on this journey, and you will be well provided for with all the means necessary to make your trip a success.

“Who will be my companions on this difficult journey?” you ask.

“Look around you!” we say. Your classmates, your friends, your family, your lovers, your teachers, and ultimately you yourselves will be all the guides you ever need. They will provide you with the support, the counsel and the advice you need to find your Eden. All that is required of you is that you actively seek their help, honestly and often, and even if you don’t always agree with their opinions, have the patience and decency to hear them out. You are also required to give them counsel of your own. Give it freely, honestly & lovingly – remember that you are leading the blind into Eden…

“What provisions should we take with us?” you ask/

“Take nothing!” we say. The lighter the load the faster the journey. The only things you really need for your trip are:

• A sharp eye
• An open ear
• A curious mind
• A good heart

All the rest shall be provided for. It’s fate…

So….

Fill your lungs, stretch your limbs and put one foot before the other because the open road awaits you and you still have a long way to go until you reach Eden. At times you will face hardship and pain, and sometimes you may even cry but trust us when we tell you that for every tear of sorrow you shed you will shed to of joy.

Course Goals

1. Students will learn the foundations of the visual language of Design.
2. Students will learn and experience first-hand the following fundamental principals of Design: 2D and 3D Composition, Color, Texture, Pattern, Object, Space, Abstraction.
3. Students will experience first-hand the Design process as a creative and intellectual effort based on cultural and associative factors related to Place, and Time – Zeitgeist.
4. Students will learn Designers' work processes and practices and begin to develop and interpret them to suit their personal style.
5. Students will be introduced to artists and designers from Israel and the world.

Course Content
Presentations of 2D and 3D objects leading to discussions regarding expression, emotion, feeling, association, cultural icons, and the relationships between all the points above.

Course Instructional Methods
The course is composed studio lessons, presentations, lectures and field trips

• Studio lessons - Involve personal instruction given to students regarding the topical exercise currently being discussed in the class. Instruction will be given on a one-on-one basis or small groups while the class is engaged in work on the task at hand.
  
  
• Presentations - Involve constructive class discussions of the merits and weak points of assignments completed during studio lessons or at home.
  
  
• Lectures - Two types of lectures will be given during the course: Instructors' lectures will usually be given as an introduction to a new fundamental principle of design. Students lectures will be given at the beginning of most classes and will introduce an Israeli or international artist or designer.
  
  
• Field Trips - a field trip is planned for the semester.

Course Policies

• Blog – You are all required to run a Blog at http://www.blogger.com/ or on any other platform of your choice in English/Hebrew as well as in your native language (if you wish) discussing your experiences in class and displaying your projects and sketches. This Blog is a vital requirement for the course as it will allow you to communicate with us, yourselves and your friends and family.
  
  
• Attendance – Attendance is required at all lessons as each one of you is responsible not only for your own development but also for the development of your classmates. If you wish to miss out on a class for whatever reason you are required to notify us by phone/mail at the earliest possible time. Students missing out on a lesson without permission will have a demerit counted against themselves for grading purposes.
  
  
• Lateness – Students arriving over five minutes late to the lesson will not be allowed to enter the class until the next break. Students accumulating three instances of lateness will have a demerit counted against themselves for grading purposes.
  
  
• Participation – You are strongly encouraged to participate in class debates and voice your opinions. We will not judge you based on your opinions no matter how extreme they may seem to you. Good designers should have an opinion.
  
  
• Missed Presentations/Assignments – If you feel that you will not be able to complete an assignment on time you are required to notify us by phone/mail at the earliest possible time. Students missing out on an assignment without notifying us in advance will have a demerit counted against themselves for grading purposes.
  
  
• Grading – Grades will be given at the end of semester and will be based on your performance and participation during the semester and on the presentation of your projects as you choose to display them at the end of the semester “Panel”.
  
  
• The Panel is an event held at the end of the semester in which you will be required to display all of the work you have done during the semester in a well designed personal display backed up by a CD containing pictures of all your work and your Blog as well.

Facilities at your disposal
HIT has a number of facilities that you will find extremely useful in completing your course assignments and projects. We strongly suggest that you familiarize yourselves with these facilities ASAP.
● Library
● Workshops
● Computer Labs
● Garden and Lawn (great for sitting thinking and sketching)

Equipment
Follows a list of equipment you may find useful in the course. DO NOT BUY ANY EQUIPMENT UNTIL YOU ARE SURE YOU NEED IT

● Pencils
● Pens
● Brushes
● Paints
● Metal ruler
● Japanese knife (Box Cutter)
● Cutting surface
● Scissors
● Glues

We wish you a fruitful and fun semester!!!
Mike and Adi