Gionata Gatto

This course introduces students to the creative scope of the Designed Objects program, and the ideas, skills, and methods used in the process of designing objects. Students will learn about the design of objects by studying their form, function, assembly, materiality, use, value and significance (both subjective and objective). Emphasizing thinking through making; students students build their visual vocabulary and develop an understanding of the design process. The goal of this class is to help students imagine the possibilities of the object design field and identify their aptitude for becoming an object designer.

The course will explore the intentionality of object design, exploring the works of a ranging from James Dyson to Ron Arad to Zaha Hadid. Readings and screenings will vary but typically include Mu-Ming Tsai's Design Thinking and Gary Hustwit's Objectified.

Students should expect to produce a body of work consisting of several minor exploratory projects and two fully fleshed out finished Objects (mid-term and final).

This course requires students to have a laptop that meets SAIC's minimum hardware specs and runs the AIADO template.

This class proposes to learn by looking at objects as ¿things¿, that is, entities provided with power and affordances capable of influencing human behaviors and practices. In this view of objects as dynamic rather than passive agents, students are asked to design a technological device that misbehaves, thus betraying common expectations linked to its deployment. In doing so, together with the object, each student will re-design the ecological and socio-cultural network in which the object lives and operates. Using methods spanning from speculative to participatory design, the objective of the course is to engage with critical narratives that move beyond traditional problem-solving lenses, and towards the uncanny, ambiguous, adversarial. The resulting projects will be presented as an exhibit of ¿thick scenarios¿, involving interactive objects, graphic representations and videos.

This studio challenges students to reconsider standard models of design practice and process, and explore new modes of object making. The studio is conceived from the standpoint that the methods of the past are not necessarily appropriate for the future and that designers have a role to play in redefining their tools, as well as the outcomes of their work. It considers designers as autonomous agents able to lead by example and position themselves within the realms of cultural production, entrepreneurship and corporate business.

Throughout the semester, students will be exposed to the ideas, methods, and work from a variety of the most relevant designers and design thinkers practicing today. Particular focus will be towards practices of agency, autonomy and authorship.

Students are introduced to a range of design approaches which are dissected, critiqued and retaught. A series of exercises and projects encourage them to embark upon a rapid process of action and reflection across multiple contexts, promoting risk-taking and discovery.

As the second studio in the MDDO graduate sequence, this course gives students the opportunity to develop their skills in individual project development and form-giving while practicing the use of research and design tools. The primary purpose of this studio is to help students identify their individual motivations as designers by working on a self-defined design project within a structured iterative design process.

As a complement to this inquiry, in-class presentations, readings, and discussions will familiarize students with the landscape of contemporary design practice. Readings will include theoretical, historical and critical texts. Design as a process will also be discussed.

Students can expect to complete a multi-stage semester long project. You must be a Master of Design in Designed Objects student to enroll in this course.

Taken every semester, the Graduate Projects courses allow students to focus in private sessions on the development of their work. Students register for 6 hours of Graduate Project credit in each semester of study.

In this two-day a week thesis studio students frame their position and voice as designers by defining, advancing, critically examining and verifying a self-selected thesis project. Students combine studio investigation with primary and secondary research techniques to uncover, test and solidify new design ideas, processes, materials, technologies and behavioral insights. Through seminars and in class workshops this body of investigation is formed into a highly directed thesis proposal. Students are tasked with building relationships with external research partners and mentors to define parameters for decision making and verify the efficacy of their projects. The semester concludes with a peer and faculty review at which students must defend the formulation, investigation and synthesis of their thesis proposals.

Readings and references will be shared individually with students as relevant to their individual thesis topics.

Students will primarily focus on the development of their thesis project. This will be augmented with shorter assignments aimed at fostering the skills needed to successfully complete a year-long, exhibition ready project.