GRA4818 social design syllabus
Course Description
This interdisciplinary, student-centered course engages graphic design students in authentic design practice through collaboration with nonprofit organizations, community partners, international projects, and peers. Students investigate social and cultural issues, conduct research, and apply design methods to develop visual communication strategies that address real-world needs. Through project-based and collaborative learning, students move from research and conceptual development to iterative design, peer feedback, and implementation. The course emphasizes active participation, reflection, problem-solving, and the application of design knowledge to create meaningful visual solutions with positive social impact.
Upon completing this course, students will be able to:
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Connect research, ethnographic information, cultural perspectives, and diverse experiences to design decision-making.
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Analyze how personal experiences, values, and perspectives influence the interpretation of social and cultural issues.
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Apply research and ethnographic methods to investigate a project and communicate findings through written, visual, and multimedia formats.
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Develop design solutions that respond to the communication needs of nonprofit and community organizations.
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Collaborate effectively with community partners and peers to research, develop, communicate, and refine design concepts.
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Apply iterative design processes, incorporating feedback and reflection to strengthen conceptual and visual solutions.
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Implement a strategic design solution that addresses an identified need and communicates a clear message to a defined audience.
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Demonstrate professional practices related to communication, collaboration, project management, time management, and client relationships.
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Reflect on the design process and evaluate how research, collaboration, feedback, and decision-making contributed to the final outcomes.
Student Learning Outcomes -
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
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Analyze research, ethnographic information, cultural perspectives, and diverse experiences to inform design decision-making.
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Explain how personal, social, and cultural perspectives influence the interpretation and development of design concepts.
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Apply appropriate research and ethnographic methods to investigate design problems and communicate findings through written, visual, and multimedia formats.
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Develop design solutions that respond to the communication needs of nonprofit and community organizations.
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Collaborate effectively with community partners and peers throughout the design process.
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Revise and refine design solutions using research, critique, peer feedback, and reflection.
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Produce and present strategic design solutions that communicate intentional messages to defined audiences.
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Demonstrate professional practices in communication, collaboration, project management, time management, and client relationships.
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Evaluate the design process and reflect on how research, feedback, collaboration, and decision-making contribute to the final outcome.
Non-Profits
Collaborations with:
826LA, Abandoned Pet Rescue, Active Minds, ADAA (Anxiety and Depression Association of America), Aguacate Sanctuary and Rescue, Alzheimer's Association, Amigos For Kids, American Cancer Society, Animal Lovers Rescue, Animal Welfare Society, Anonymous For The Voiceless, Art Studio Miami, Arts For Learning Miami, Autism and Music, Biscayne Bay Foundation, Bloom Together Collective, Boca, Buddy System, Brides For A Cause, The Caring Place, Camillus House, Camp Sunshine, The Cat's Meow Rescue, The Cat Network, Inc., Child's Play Charity, Children's Resources, Claire's Place Foundation, Clean Miami Beach, Code/Art Miami, Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.), Cosmetics For A Cause, The Creative Club, Crisis Text Line, Dark Sky, Defense for Children, Disaster Philanthropy, The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International, The Donna Foundation, Dreams Hatchery, Dream in Green, Dream Catchers, Dudley Observatory, Ducks, End Overdose, Environmental Defense Fund, Existe, Fashion Revolution, Federation of Families Miami, Feeding America, Feeding South Florida, FIU Mammography Initiative, The Florida Network of Children's Advocacy Centers, Florida Exotic Bird Sanctuary, Florida Immigrant Coalition, Florida Oceanographic Society, Florida Wildlife Federation (FWF), Food At First, Friends for Global Change, Friends Horse Rescue and Sanctuary, Friends of The Everglades, Free the Block, Fundación Albergue S.O.S., Fundación Cuatrogatos, Fundación Pachamama, GAIN, Galactic Youth Foundation, Games for Change, Girl Power Miami, GLSEN, Gold Coast Railroad Museum, Greenpeace, Hands On Miami, Hands On South Florida, Health Foundation of South Florida, Heartbeat of Miami, His House Children's Home, HOPE, Hope for Miami, The Humane League, Humane Society of Greater Miami, Human Rights Campaign, International Rescue Committee, Jompéame, The Key Clubhouse of South Florida, Keep Florida Clean, Kisengo Foundation, Kyan's Kouse, La Llanada con Fe y Alegría, Lighthouse Preservation Foundation, Little Free Library, Locust Projects, Lotus House, Thrift Chic Boutique, MakeMIA, Marjory Stoneman Douglas Biscayne Nature Center, Marine Life Loggerhead Center, MBAA, Mission Mutt Dog Rescue, Miami Dade Animal Services, Miami Lighthouse for the Blind, The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, Miami Rescue Mission, Miami Waterkeeper, Miami Music Project, The Mindful Culture, Mindo Futures, Movement, MUVE, My Friend's Place, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), National Association of Early Young Children, National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC), The Nature Conservancy, Neighbors 4 Neighbors, Non-GMO Project, Nonhuman Rights Project, NVEEE, Oceana, One Sight Foundation, OUT Miami, Our Kids Of Miami-Dade/Monroe, PAXy, Paws 4 You, Pelican Harbor Seabird Station, Period Miami, PETA, PFlag, PIAG Museum, The Planetary Society, Planned Parenthood, Pooches in Pines, Pro Mujer, RAINN, Reef Relief, Reading Is Fundamental, Rebuild Foundation, Safari Edventure, Sant La, Saving Sage Animal Rescue Foundation, Save The Music, Seafood Watch, Seaspiracy, The Sloth Conservation Foundation, Society-First, Soles4Soles, South Florida National Parks Trust, South Florida Wildlife Center, Suited for Success, Students Demand Act, Take 3, Take Stock in Children, Temporada Social @ Campamento, This is the Dog!, Tiaras Girl, The Trevor Project, TransSocial, Tutifruit Skate, Unchained At Last, Urban Paradise Guild, Volunteer Florida, Water Changes Everything, We Are the Loop, Wildlife Conservation Network, Wildlife Conservation Society, Women's Breast & Heart Initiative, Women in Jazz South Florida, World Animal Protection, The World Literacy Foundation, Wounded Warrior Project, Ybor Misfits Microsanctuary, Young Arts, Yspaniola, Zoo Miami