Course Description

Graphic material is often essential for clear communication in the planning profession. Visual communication skills are required by planners to document, investigate alternatives, and propose strategies as well as communicating with colleagues, the public, and clients.

The purpose of this introductory course is to build the basic skills needed for recording and analyzing the built or natural environment, and communicating that understanding to others. This class is not intended to turn planning students into artists or graphic designers. It is intended, however, to stimulate them to use graphics effectively in their work, and to help them learn and use various graphic techniques to quickly and effectively record the environment and communicate their ideas about it. Though the class will focus mainly on graphic information communication, verbal and written communication will be addressed as well.

Topics will include: observing and documenting the urban environment, carrying out urban field surveys, and techniques for recording, representing, and communicating what is observed. The skills covered in the class include drawing (sketching, plans, elevations, sections, paraline, and perspective); digital photography; scanning; charts, diagrams, and graphs; graphic design; page layout; web design; and presentation techniques.

In addition to drawing equipment, a number of software packages will be used including: Adobe Photoshop (image editing), Adobe Illustrator (drawing), Microsoft Excel (charts and graphs), Adobe InDesign (page layout), Microsoft PowerPoint (slide presentations), Adobe Acrobat Professional (creation of PDF documents), and SketchUp (3D modeling). Limited class time will be spent introducing or reviewing software basics. Students will be expected to work independently to develop expertise as they work on the assignments.

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites for this course.

This course is intended for students with:

• limited or no design background, visual communication skills, or software expertise, or
• some, but not extensive design, visual communication, software expertise. For example, it would be appropriate for students who have taken 980z and who would like to continue to develop their drawing and communication skills.

This course is recommended (but not required) as a prerequisite for CRP 980z Physical Planning Workshop.

The class is also open to all graduate and senior undergraduates at the University of Texas at Austin.

Note: Design for Planners I is not required for Design for Planners II. The two classes are complementary, but not sequential. Students are welcome to take either one, or in any order.

Course Structure

The course will involve a combination of lectures and demonstrations, discussions of assigned readings, and a series of practical exercises and assignments.

The semester will be divided into three main topics:
Weeks 1-5: Graphic Design
Weeks 6-11: Description and Analysis of Physical Form
Weeks 12-14 Description and Analysis of Behavior and Activities

Assignments

There will be a series of exercises and assignments during the semester, which all lead to a final project and presentation. Each of the three main topics also have an assignment associated with them.

Each student will select an exterior physical space that they will focus on for the semester. They will record and document the physical space, and then analyze the activities and behavior of the users in that space. Each person will combine this data and produce and present a professional package that documents the site and proposes design improvements.

Textbooks and Reader

The required text books have been ordered from the UT Co-op. List prices are included; lower prices may be found at the Co-op, online, or in used bookstores.

Wang, Thomas C. 1996. Plan and Section Drawing. New York: John Wiley and Sons. ISBN: 0471286087 ($45)

Reid, Grant W. 2002. Landscape Graphics: Plan Section, and Perspective Drawing of Landscape Spaces. Revised Edition. New York: Watson-Guptill Publications. ISBN: 0823073335 ($25)

Graham Lisa. 2002. Basics of Design: Layout and Typography for Beginners. Albany: Delmar - Thomson Learning. ISBN: 0766813622 ($37)

Tufte, Edward. 2003. The Cognitive Style of PowerPoint. Cheshire CT: Graphics Press. ISBN: 0961392150 ($7)

Reader:
Supplemental readings will be available from Jenn's Copy and Binding at 2200 Guadalupe St. (lower level) 473-8669.