Design

The faculty in the School of Design, College of Architecture and Environmental Design, offer a postprofessional research degree program leading to the Master of Science in Design degree with concentrations in graphic design, industrial design, and interior design. Course offerings focus on such areas as facilities planning and management in design; human factors in design; methodology, theory, and criticism in design; and visual communication design.

The faculty in the school also participate in offering the PhD in Environmental Design and Planning program. See Environmental Design and Planning, for information on this interdisciplinary, collegewide PhD degree program.

The Master of Science in Design (MSD) degree prepares students for leadership positions in industry, research, and teaching. The program has four goals:

Research is an integral component of the MSD program. Research interests of the School of Design faculty include design history, theory, and criticism; ambient environment; human factors and ergonomics; human behavior in the work environment; gender issues in design; leadership; cultural analysis; design methodologies and pedagogies; decision making and creativity; user-centered business and design innovation; ethnography in design; interactive learning experiences; and technology in education. For more information about School of Design faculty research, access the school’s Web site at www.asu.edu/caed/sod.

The Master of Science in Design (MSD) degree has three concentrations: graphic design, industrial design, and interior design.

The graphic design concentration is for individuals interested in advanced studies in visual language, history, theory, criticism, methodology, design processes, and technology. This program develops an understanding of contemporary graphic design issues through specialized research and design skills.

The industrial design concentration is for individuals interested in advanced studies in human factors, history, theory, criticism and methodology, design processes, and technology. This program develops an understanding of contemporary industrial design issues through specialized research and design skills. It also prepares the graduate student for a career in industrial design education.

The interior design concentration is for individuals interested in advanced studies in facilities planning and management, or history, theory, criticism and methodology. This program develops an understanding of contemporary interior design issues through specialized research and design skills. It also prepares the graduate student for a career in interior design education.

The Master of Science in Design degree program offers four areas of study.

Methodology, Theory, and Criticism in Design. Courses in this area of study address: selected design methodologies that stimulate creativity; methodologies for critical analysis; methodologies that lead to development of or application of theories and philosophies; the historical origins of theories and philosophies that form the basis of contemporary design; the implication of theory in design knowledge and its discourse; strategies for recognizing and interpreting emerging design issues and trends; the evolution of the literature of design criticism; definition of design criticism; the qualifications of design critics’ application of theories or philosophies in making judgments; and qualities constituting effective critical writing. Applications include design research, design education, design marketing and production decision, and design criticism.

Facilities Planning and Management in Design. This area of study focuses on the coordination of the work place, equipment, and visual (graphic) environment with the people and organizational structure of the institution. The intent is to combine programming and management practices with current professional and technical expertise to provide humane and effective work environments. Facility-related responsibilities to support this concentration cluster into eight functional units: programming; facilities analysis; space management; interior planning and design; human factors; interior codes; public welfare and safety; and interior installation.

Human Factors in Design. This area of study identifies the problems, establishes the strategies, and develops the design solutions needed for issues surrounding the human/product interface. The human/product interface focus applies systems (such as interactive design) and environments (such as museum and exhibition design). Special emphasis is placed on the relationship between human and test performance factors. Emphases include qualities of function; methods of forming organizational relationships; factors of environmental control systems (acoustics and illumination, wayfinding, etc.); and human factors in graphic, product, and interior design. Subject matter also includes the design of equipment, machines, and spaces; ergonometrics and forms of ergonomic documentation; and analysis of relationships between spaces, objects, and people as simulated through computer animation, imaging, and traditional modeling techniques.

Visual Communication Design. This area of study emphasizes the production and analysis of visual language systems in context. Students study the effects of visual media in society and investigate ways of employing that media to communicate information with increasing sophistication. Critical to this process is the development of ideas and approaches independent of commercial and technological trends. Research and applied projects require innovative thinking, writing, and form giving that consciously integrate knowledge of aesthetics, perception, human factors, and technology. Other areas of study, particularly those within the arts and social sciences, often inform research and applied projects. The teaching content of this area is tailored to the needs of the individual applicant; however, students may be invited to work with faculty on current research projects.

Admission Requirements . Applicants must hold a baccalaureate degree in Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Interior Design, or a related design discipline to participate in this degree program. In addition to completing the general requirements for admission to the Division of Graduate Studies, applicants must also submit the following materials to

The portfolio is returned after final admission procedures, provided sufficient prepaid postage is enclosed, or if the materials are claimed in person within one year of submission. Unclaimed portfolios are retained for only one year. The School of Design assumes no liability for lost or damaged materials.

Admission to the MSD program is selective. The School of Design does not defer admission.

Application Deadlines. All application materials must be received on or before January 15 for fall semester consideration. The School of Design does not admit students in the spring.

Applications for assistantships and scholarships are considered at the same time.

Selection Procedures. The School of Design faculty evaluate the applications and supporting materials and recommend to the Division of Graduate Studies whether the applicant should be granted admission or if admission should be denied. The School of Design informs successful applicants of the procedures for enrollment.

Program of Study. The MSD program of study consists of 36 semester hours of course work at the 500-level or above with the following distribution:

Foreign Language Requirements. None.

Practicum. All students in the program must enroll in a three-hour teaching practicum (DSC 580) that focuses on the problems and issues surrounding studio, lecture, and seminar instruction. Emphasis is on the techniques of criticism and individual and group studio teaching.

Thesis or Applied Project. For students choosing the thesis option, six semester hours of DSC 599 Thesis apply toward the thesis. Guidelines in the Format Manual must be followed. For students choosing the applied project option, six hours of DSC 593 Applied Project apply.

Final Examination. A final examination in defense of the thesis or applied project is required for all students in the MSD program.

Information about the program in Design, and the College of Architecture and Environmental Design in general, may be found on the Web site at asu.edu/caed. E-mail inquiries or requests should be sent to designmsd@asu.edu.

The College of Architecture and Environmental Design maintains a high-bay research facility, a transdisciplinary product development laboratory (InnovationSpace), an extensive shop facility, a human factors laboratory, as well as a state-of-the-art material resource center. The college’s Research and Service Foundation provides facilities for basic research and community service activities in energy technology, design, and planning.