Assignments
This page provides an overview of the work that contributes to your final course grade, and connects you to descriptions for those projects and workshops through the links below. (Note that no descriptive detail appears on SVSU Canvas for any of these assignments.) I activate assignment pages as we need them, so do not worry if you cannot access all of the descriptions at the beginning of the semester.
Your course grade is computed from the points you earn on 5 projects and 13 workshops. Combined, these assignments total 1500 points.
You can read more about grading and what factors might influence your grade on the Policies page.
Projects
I use the term projects to categorize assignments that are significant undertakings, and that require development and refinement time that may span several weeks of the semester. You will complete 5 projects this semester that collectively contribute 900 possible points to your course grade.
Each project description details several elements of the work, including design requirements, hints and tips, and submission guidelines. Use the links below to access those descriptions.
- Professional Toolkit (PT). 100 points. The PT project results in a digital profile document that presents your knowledge and experience with information design and relevant tools. The PT is challenging because it requires you to reflect on and describe yourself in a professionally meaningful way.
- Team Statement (TS). 100 points. The TS project results in a digital team profile document that presents your collective knowledge and experience with information design and relevant tools, and identifies the kind of communication problems you feel most competent at addressing. The TS is challenging because it requires you to assess and present your team's collective knowledge, experience, and abilities in a coherent, meaningful way.
- Problem Statement (PS). 100 points. The PS project results in a clear, coherent statement of the defining elements of the design problem your team opts to engage with. The PS is challenging because it requires you to distill complex ideas and details into a brief, concrete description of a problem.
- Solution Prototype (SP1). 100 points. The SP1 project results in a digital description & mock up to be featured in the screencast video (for the Solution Proposal project) that presents your team's proposed solution to a design problem. The SP1 is challenging because it requires document design, content preparation (framing your solution for discussion), mock up design, and use of technology that is likely new to you.
- Solution Proposal (SP2). 400 points. The SP2 project results in a screencast video that proposes your team's strategies for addressing the issue(s) at the core of a problem scenario. The SP2 is challenging because it requires your team to develop and refine solutions, which involves cycles of research, design, & assessment.
Workshops
I use the term workshops to categorize assignments that are smaller scale than projects, work that can be completed in the space of a single in-person class session, or within the space of a single class week. The concepts, strategies, and practices examined through workshops build and reinforce your working knowledge for the course. You will complete 13 workshops this semester that collectively contribute 700 possible points to your course grade.
Each workshop description details several elements of the work, including design and discussion requirements, and submission guidelines. Use the links below to access those descriptions. Some workshops may require less explanation, and in that case their descriptions will appear in SVSU Canvas. I will direct you where you need to look in the weekly modules.
- Week 1 Checklist. 50 points. You complete a series of preparatory tasks that set you up to share documents, host video content, and stay up to date with course content in SVSU Canvas.
Details for this workshop appear in the Week 1, Part 1 module on Canvas.
- Profile Design. 50 points. You create a 1-page document that presents your experience with information design.
- Screencast Design. 50 points. Using Techsmith Capture and the Screencast.com streaming service, you create and share a screencast focused on the profile document you created during the Document Design workshop.
- Using Figma. 50 points. You explore the capabilities of Figma while organizing project assets.
Details for this workshop appear in the Canvas discussion forum dedicated to the assignment.
- Using FigJam. 50 points. You explore the capabilities of FigJam while engaging in real-time collaboration with peers.
Details for this workshop appear in the Canvas discussion forum dedicated to the assignment.
- Identifying Information Design Problems. 50 points. You engage in investigation of design problems to learn how to better identify core challenges from secondary ones.
Details for this workshop appear in the Canvas discussion forum dedicated to the assignment.
- K-J Technique. 50 points each. An examination of K-J Technique as a method for engaging in the study of a design problem.
Details for this workshop appear in the Canvas discussion forum dedicated to the assignment.
- Affinity Mapping. 50 points each. An examination of Affinity Mapping as a method for engaging in the study of a design problem.
Details for this workshop appear in the Canvas discussion forum dedicated to the assignment.
- Using ChatGPT. 50 points. You explore the capabilities of ChatGPT for information design.
Details for this workshop appear in the Canvas discussion forum dedicated to the assignment.
- Using Smart Tools. 50 points. You explore the capabilities of an artificially intelligent tool other than ChatGPT for information design.
Details for this workshop appear in the Canvas discussion forum dedicated to the assignment.
- Vision Cone. 50 points each. An examination of Vision Cone as a method for engaging in the study of a design problem.
Details for this workshop appear in the Canvas discussion forum dedicated to the assignment.
- Problem-solving Roundtable. 50 points. You participate in a discussion of Solution Prototypes posted by peers.
Details for this workshop appear in the Canvas discussion forum dedicated to the assignment.
- Reflection. 50 points. You reflect upon your work to date and its place in your current academic / professional development.
Details for this workshop appear in the Canvas discussion forum dedicated to the assignment.