Communication designers give form to information in advertising, publishing and editorial design, corporate and exhibition design, websites, multimedia, environmental graphics, signs and maps, film and video. In all these fields, the need to clearly and succinctly inform, entertain and persuade remains a critical concern.
Studying communication design in Paris is a great opportunity to experience firsthand a new cultural perspective. For Communication Design majors, Paris also offers a world capital teeming with professional opportunities and a large community comprised of many of today’s best known graphic designers. At Parsons Paris, the comprehensive curriculum establishes a solid foundation in visual form and design principles, as well as addressing the methodologies and issues behind contemporary graphic design. Visits to Parisian art and design institutions like the Pompidou Center, the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, and the Palais de Tokyo provide a wealth of opportunities to view European graphic design history up to the latest trends.
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This core studio establishes the foundation of communication design by introducing students to the varieties of methods and materials used throughout the communication design field. Students learn basic design methodology from researching to conceptualizing to execution, as well as the importance of design thinking. In addition, the course offers an in-depth study of letterforms and their relationship to space and furnishes the foundations of mastering the relationship between concept, form, layout and communication. Students evaluate and prioritize information based on size, weight and positioning of letterforms. They learn the importance of eye travel and movement, and examine the past, present and future development in typography. Using the pencil, brush, camera and computer, emphasis is placed on the development of strong communication skills. While this is essentially a studio course, occasional theoretical readings are proposed in order to foster a critical assessment of the media and to stimulate an awareness of contemporary issues in both print and multimedia design. PREREQUISITE: FOUNDATION YEAR 2D INTEGRATED STUDIO 1 & 2 OR EQUIVALENT. 4 Credits (Fall only)
In this core studio, a variety of projects will introduce the student to the manipulation of two-dimensional space using a combination of hand skills and digital skills to complete assignments. In this course, traditional and contemporary tools and techniques are employed to produce high caliber documents (maquettes) for presentation purposes. Working within established sets of parameters, students learn to design simple editorial material with an emphasis on specific technical constraints. With this understanding of basic pre-press production information, students are encouraged to use various techniques and tools (photography, collage, montage, drawing, transfer processes, digital design, etc.) to produce strong, persuasive designs. PREREQUISITE: FOUNDATION YEAR 2D INTEGRATED STUDIO 1 & 2 OR EQUIVALENT. 2 Credits (Fall only)
This second semester sophomore class is a sequel to Type: Core Studio. It serves as an introduction to various tracks offered in the junior and senior years. Through a series of short projects, students are exposed to the concepts of Information Graphics, Typography, Marketing Graphics, Motion Graphics, Environmental Graphics, and Interactive Graphics. In addition, students will further their understanding of typography as a powerful communication tool by demonstrating how considered typography advances the meaning and strength of an idea, a message, or form. Assignments seek to build students’ conceptualizing skills. The lessons of Design for Communication are built upon through a series of practical applications, culminating in a final project. Critiques offer an opportunity for fine-tuning typographic skills. PREREQUISITE: TYPE: CORE STUDIO OR EQUIVALENT 4 Credits (Spring only)
In this course, students explore the finer points of production: how ideas and concepts are actualized. Building on the skills learned in the fall semester, students will learn how to execute a concept by working with production professionals. PREREQUISITE: TYPE: CORE LAB OR EQUIVALENT 2 Credits (Spring only)
This core studio course explores digital image making and editing for the world of print, web, photography, animation, fine arts and multimedia, each field having specific requirements that must be addressed in the creative process. Photoshop will be the emphasis in this course moving eventually into time-based media software. PREREQUISITE: FOUNDATION YEAR 2D INTEGRATED STUDIO 1 & 2 OR EQUIVALENT. 3 credits (Fall only)
This studio course requires a basic knowledge of computer graphics and is centered on multimedia authoring software. The focus is authorship, in that more so than a formgiver, the designer acts as a content creator familiar with advanced concepts in interactive multimedia. Students are encouraged to conceptualize, design, prepare and program a multimedia project for eventual publication on CD-ROM or the internet. PREREQUISITE: DIGITAL IMAGING AND MULTIMEDIA OR EQUIVALENT
3 credits (Spring only)
See Critical Studies
This mandatory design history class explores the context of design starting with the invention of writing, all the way to postmodernism. PREREQUISITE: NONE. 3 credits (Spring only)
This junior level studio course builds on sophomore year's curriculum by contextualizing general design theory and practice of their areas of interest. Social responsibility, sustainability, intellectual property, ethics and business practices are introduced into the design process. Research and ideation are integral components of this class, as it prepares students for their senior thesis project. Students apply this to projects for an industry sponsor, ngo/non-profit organization, or competition. PREREQUISITE: Sophomore Core studios. 4 credits per semester
This junior laboratory/technology studio course focuses on the design process and technical background required for designing effective interactive experiences, with an emphasis on design methodology for evolving systems. HTML, JavaScript, CSS, Flash, and Web 2.0 CMS will be introduced along with specialized web design, imaging and animation tools. Students will design and mock up websites. The second semester delves further into notions of interface design, information architecture and web infrastructure. PREREQUISITE: Foundation Year 2D Integrated Studio 1 & 2 or equivalent. First semester is not a prerequisite
for second semester. 3 credits per semester
(See Critical Studies) 3 credits (Fall only)
This year long senior studio continues the exploration of topics broached in Collab Studios. Students expand their design methodology through system-level assignments (such as environmental graphics, corporate identity, packaging, distribution tracking or information systems) that push their design thinking skills to new levels. The spring semester is devoted to an industry-sponsored project in the student's chosen field, hopefully leading to strong portfolio pieces and job opportunities. PREREQUISITE: Collab 1 & 2. 3 credits per semester
(See Design Management) 3 credits (Spring only)
Students must perform a design internship at an appropriate firm over the course of their studies. The internship's duration is equal to at least three weeks of full-time presence. 1 credit
Seniors work on a year long self-defined research and design project, culminating in a Senior Thesis Exhibition in the Spring. The senior thesis project demonstrates the student's intellectual, technical and critical maturity through both a visual component and a written component. Senior thesis advisers – outside experts in the students' chosen subjects – provide guidance and critical feedback. PREREQUISITE: Advanced Studio. 3 credits per semester
Using Autodesk's 3ds max, students will learn to create 3D models, characters and animations for pre-calculated 3D rendering and animations, as well as for real-time 3D interactivity. The course seeks to establish a solid understanding of the basic 3D concepts common to all DCC software. Students will learn how to harness these concepts to create quality images and assets using different modeling approaches, as well as shaders, lighting, and cameras. Students will also explore basic animation techniques and the integration of 3D assets and images with other production software. PREREQUISITE: Foundation Year or equivalent. 3 credits (Spring only)
Corporate design is the process of creating and disseminating the image or identity for a collective entity. A company's logo is one of many of critical symbols that define public perception. A designer must create a voice for a company, whether that company provides a service or manufactures a product. As information and ideas travel in increasingly compact formats, the corporate designer is challenged to express information quickly and with certainty. This course provides a basis for deciding the procedures and practice for professional communication goals. Corporate design should be considered a fundamental skill in the communication designer's arsenal. PREREQUISITE: Foundation Year or equivalent. 3 credits
Information design concerns itself with the direct and accurate communication of data and is a core communication design skill. This course is involved with both the theory and application of information design principles. PREREQUISITE: Foundation Year or equivalent. 3 credits (Fall only)
This introductory design studio for non-majors establishes the foundation of good typography, layout and composition. Students will learn to use Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign for effective workflow. PREREQUISITE: 2D Integrated Studio or equivalent. 3 credits
This course develops the design methodology and technical skills to produce time-based linear narratives, animations, television graphics, opening credits, music videos, etc. The integration of sound and image is central to the development of motion graphics projects. After Effects and Final Cut are the principle programs taught in this class, along with the language and tools of motion graphics. Students learn to develop concepts and storyboards before commencing their final drafts. PREREQUISITE: Foundation Year or equivalent. 3 credits per semester
This course provides a basic understanding of how to conceptualize and execute sound design across a variety of media including Web Sites, Installation Art, Games, Advertising, and Film. Students will be required to learn techniques in order to create original sound design elements at an intermediate level. This course addresses basic concepts pertaining to sound and digital audio; while also exploring how sound impacts human perception. Emphasis will be placed on learning practical techniques in creating original sound assets for integration with other media.
PREREQUISITE: NONE
2 credits – Fall Only
Street artists and computer hackers are two seemingly different communities of creative people that share a common interest in altering rigid systems to tell new stories. Urban Hacking is a course in which students will learn to view and interact with the city of Paris through the eyes of a hacker. Projects will be designed to directly engage with the urban environment and will be realized in the streets of Paris. All projects will be published online. No previous street art or web experience required.
PREREQUISITE: NONE
2 credits Fall Only
The Internet offers creative people an opportunity to directly influence culture in new ways. Viral Media is a class dedicated to the pursuit of spreading content to the widest possible audience via internet. Students will study current online trends and experiment with releasing projects which utilize techniques aimed at maximizing viewership. Final grades will be determined primarily through web based attention metrics in the form of unique page views, comments, twitter followers, youtube views, etc. No previous web design experience required.
PREREQUISITE: FOUNDATION YEAR OR EQUIVALENT. 2 credits Spring Only
