Design: Think. Know. Do.
This interdisciplinary design camp will investigate how ideas of sustainability can be applied to a community's interactions, its economics and its physical environment. Student teams will use a variety of design methodologies and skills to find answers to how design can improve the experience of a recycling plan on campus. Workshops, projects and presentations also will help students to define design as an education and career path.
On Friday afternoon at the conclusion of the camp, students will present their research findings, process and thinking in a proposed plan. Their project goals should increase recycling participation by students, teachers and staff; heighten awareness of the community's recycling program; expand economic opportunities while addressing environmental issues in a positive way; and lower waste generated on-campus by reducing, reusing and recycling.
Facility
The department of art & design is housed in the Wilson Art Center for the Visual Arts, providing students with updated equipment, resources, wireless capabilities, and a stimulating environment in which to work. The design course meets in the drawing studio, which is well-equipped with drawing tables, group work stations, and storage space to meet the individual needs of students. The students also have access to the graphic design computer studio. This space contains the latest Macintosh computers, scanners, color and black and white laser printers, digital cameras, updated software and a small periodical library. A design studio, located next to the computer studio, is well equipped with drafting tables, light board tables, and group work stations. Most class presentations take place in the lecture room, located adjacent to the visual resource library. This department library contains thousands of slides to numerous videotapes, DVDs, and books for instruction.
The students' final capstone project will be on display in the Elzay Gallery of Art. The gallery is connected to the classroom-studio building by a loggia and is used to display work of artists of invited exhibitions throughout the year. Other studio/classrooms located in the Wilson Art Center include a painting studio and a printmaking studio. A variety of gas electric, soda, and raku kilns, and furnaces are adjoined to the ceramics and sculpture studios.
Faculty
Brit Rowe: Associate professor in art/graphic design; chair, department of art & design; BFA, Ohio Northern University, MFA, University of Michigan. the instructor has been teaching graphic design at Ohio Northern since 1999. The instructor's teaching philosophy encourages students to explore the process of design as a way to strategically solve visual communication problems. He has exhibited regionally and worked for such clients as Norwich University, the United Way, and many others. He is a member of AIGA: The Professional Association for Design, Order of Omega, Omicron Delta Kappa, and Kappa Pi art honorary. During last year's Design SHI Camp, the instructor taught an interdisciplinary design course which focused on the strategic brand identity for a non-profit art gallery.