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Design
The faculty in the College of Design offer a postprofessional research degree program leading to the Master of Science in Design degree with concentrations in graphic design, industrial design, interior design, and arts, media, and engineering (AME). Course offerings focus on such areas as facilities planning and management in design; human factors in design; methodology, theory, and criticism in design; and visual communication design.
The faculty also participate in offering the PhD in Environmental Design and Planning program. See Environmental Design and Planning, for information on this interdisciplinary, collegewide PhD degree program.
The Master of Science in Design (MSD) degree prepares students for leadership positions in industry, research, and teaching. The program has four goals:
1. to provide graduate education for students who have a baccalaureate degree in Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Interior Design, or a related design discipline;
2. to provide the opportunity for the development of specialized research and design skills to support the graphic design, industrial design, and interior design professions;
3. to provide the opportunity for professionals to gain the necessary research and design skills for academic careers; and
4. to develop critical skills that enable the graduates to contribute to the literature of design through articles, essays, books, and participation in conferences.
Research is an integral component of the MSD program. Research interests of faculty in the Department of Industrial Design, Department of Interior Design, and Department of Visual Communication Design include design history, theory, and criticism; ambient environment; human factors and ergonomics; human behavior in the work environment; gender issues in design; leadership; cultural analysis; design methodologies and pedagogies; decision making and creativity; user-centered business and design innovation; ethnography in design; interactive learning experiences; and technology in education. For more information about faculty research, access the program’s Web site at design.asu.edu.
The Master of Science in Design (MSD) degree has four concentrations: arts, media, and engineering; graphic design; industrial design; and interior design.
Arts, Media, and Engineering Concentration
The arts, media, and engineering concentration is intended for individuals who wish to explore the potential of media and associated technology as they relate to the application to design.
The graphic design concentration is for individuals interested in advanced studies in visual language; history, theory, criticism, and methodology; design processes; and technology. This program develops an understanding of contemporary graphic design issues through specialized research and design skills.
Industrial Design Concentration
The industrial design concentration is for individuals interested in advanced studies in human factors, history, theory, criticism and methodology; design processes; and technology. This program develops an understanding of contemporary industrial design issues through specialized research and design skills. It also prepares the graduate student for a career in industrial design education.
The interior design concentration is for individuals interested in advanced studies in facilities planning and management or history, theory, criticism, and methodology. This program develops an understanding of contemporary interior design issues through specialized research and design skills. It also prepares the graduate student for a career in interior design education.
The Master of Science in Design (MSD) degree program offers five areas of study.
This area of study is open to all students in the MSD program but is especially suited to students with a background in industrial or visual communication design. AME is a joint initiative between the Katherine K. Herberger College of the Arts and the Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering which focuses on the development of experiential media. The program combines expertise from 10 disciplines (art, bioengineering, computer science and engineering, dance, design, educational technology, electrical engineering, music, psychology, and theatre) that come together to advance hybrid physical-digital knowledge and research in media. Students in this area of study undertake the research core required of all MSD students, the MSD design and experimental core, and the Arts, Media, and Engineering design and experimental core.
Methodology, Theory, and Criticism in Design
Courses in this area of study address selected design methodologies that stimulate creativity, methodologies for critical analysis, methodologies that lead to development of or application of theories and philosophies, the historical origins of theories and philosophies that form the basis of contemporary design, the implication of theory in design knowledge and its discourse, strategies for recognizing and interpreting emerging design issues and trends, the evolution of the literature of design criticism, definition of design criticism, the qualifications of design critics’ application of theories or philosophies in making judgments, and qualities constituting effective critical writing. Applications include design research, design education, design marketing and production decision, and design criticism.
Facilities Planning and Management in Design
This area of study focuses on the coordination of the work place, equipment, and visual (graphic) environment with the people and organizational structure of the institution. The intent is to combine programming and management practices with current professional and technical expertise to provide humane and effective work environments. Facility-related responsibilities to support this concentration cluster into eight functional units: programming; facilities analysis; space management; interior planning and design; human factors; interior codes; public welfare and safety; and interior installation.
This area of study identifies the problems, establishes the strategies, and develops the design solutions needed for issues surrounding the human/product interface. The human/product interface focus applies systems (such as interactive design) and environments (such as museum and exhibition design). Special emphasis is placed on the relationship between human and test performance factors. Emphases include qualities of function; methods of forming organizational relationships; factors of environmental control systems (acoustics and illumination, wayfinding, etc.); and human factors in graphic, product, and interior design. Subject matter also includes the design of equipment, machines, and spaces; ergonometrics and forms of ergonomic documentation; and analysis of relationships between spaces, objects, and people as simulated through computer animation, imaging, and traditional modeling techniques.
This area of study emphasizes the production and analysis of visual language systems in context. Students study the effects of visual media in society and investigate ways of employing that media to communicate information with increasing sophistication. Critical to this process is the development of ideas and approaches independent of commercial and technological trends. Research and applied projects require innovative thinking, writing, and form giving that consciously integrate knowledge of aesthetics, perception, human factors, and technology. Other areas of study, particularly those within the arts and social sciences, often inform research and applied projects. The teaching content of this area is tailored to the needs of the individual applicant; however, students may be invited to work with faculty on current research projects.
Applicants must hold a baccalaureate degree in Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Interior Design, or a related design discipline to participate in this degree program. In addition to completing the general requirements for admission to the Graduate College, applicants must also submit the following materials to
Master of Science in Design Program
1. An unofficial copy of all transcripts (a 3.00 or higher baccalaureate GPA is required for application).
2. An unofficial copy of TOEFL score (a minimum TOEFL score of 550 on paper-based test or 213 on computer-based test is required of international students whose native language is not English).
3. The mandatory statement of intent requirements can be found on the Web site at design.asu.edu/msd.
4. Three letters of recommendation from persons qualified to comment on the applicant’s potential in the selected concentration.
5. An 8.5" x 11" portfolio documenting research and imaginative projects that support the intended concentration.
6. An application for Graduate Research/Teaching Assistantship from applicants wishing to be considered for teaching or research assistantships (international students who wish to be considered for a teaching assistantship are required to pass the Test of Spoken English [TSE] or the SPEAK test administered by the American English and Culture Program at ASU).
7. A current résumé or curriculum vitae.
The portfolio is returned after final admission procedures, provided sufficient prepaid postage is enclosed, or if the materials are claimed in person within one year of submission. Unclaimed portfolios are retained for only one year. The program assumes no liability for lost or damaged materials.
Admission to the MSD program is selective. The program does not defer admission.
All application materials must be received on or before January 15 for fall semester consideration. The program does not admit students in the spring.
Applications for assistantships and scholarships are considered at the same time.
The College of Design collects a nonrefundable $200 fee from applicants to its graduate degree programs upon admission to the program. Collection of this fee assures that space in the program is held until a College of Design-published deadline. Those enrolling and paying tuition and fees before the college-published deadline have their program fees reduced by $200. Those who do not enroll and pay tuition and fees before the college-published deadline forfeit the $200.
The faculty evaluate the applications and supporting materials and recommend to the Graduate College whether the applicant should be granted admission or if admission should be denied. The program informs successful applicants of the procedures for enrollment.
The MSD program of study consists of 36 semester hours of course work at the 500-level or above with the following distribution:
Approved courses in the concentration/area of study (12–18)
Approved electives outside the school (6–12)
Approved research methods courses (6–9)
Total minimum semester hours required 36
All students wishing to accept a teaching assistantship offered by the College of Design must have either successfully completed DSC 580 or be concurrently enrolled in DSC 580 at the time of the teaching assistantship.
For students choosing the thesis option, six semester hours of DSC 599 Thesis count toward the thesis. Guidelines in the Format Manual must be followed. For students choosing the applied project option, six hours of DSC 593 Applied Project count.
A final examination in defense of the thesis or applied project is required for all students in the MSD program.
Information about the program in Design, and the College of Design in general, may be found on the Web site at design.asu.edu E-mail inquiries or requests should be sent to designmsd@asu.edu.
The College of Design maintains a high-bay research facility, a transdisciplinary product development laboratory (InnovationSpace), an extensive modeling laboratory, a human factors laboratory, as well as a state-of-the-art material resource center. The college’s Research and Service Foundation provides facilities for basic research and community service activities in energy technology, design, and planning.
COURSES
Information about all courses is available on the Web at ASU Interactive. For more information, see Classification of Courses.
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