OVERVIEW

In this minor, students learn to apply design in developing effective communication strategies. Ideas are conceived and implemented in various contexts through applied critical thinking, visualization methods, hierarchical systems, and storytelling. Students learn the fundamentals while also exploring one area in communication design, such as editorial, branding, motion design, and spatial design, among others.

The Communication Design minor is offered through Parsons' School of Art, Media, and Technology and requires successful completion of 18 credits across four subject areas, as outlined in the chart below.

Note: Course availability may vary from semester to semester. Some courses may be in development and offered at a later time. Students seeking to pursue alternative coursework to fulfill the minor should consult with their advisors.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

A student who has completed this minor should be able to demonstrate:

• Understanding of current and historical professional practices, processes, and methods of the graphic design industry
• Competence in the usage of typography and its variables to convey and augment the inherent message of textual content, express it meaningfully, and aid the viewer in processing information
• Competent knowledge of the design vocabulary used in communication design and related fields, including conceptual terms and software-related expressions
• Ability to follow a design brief and apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills to communicate
• A strong understanding of the iterative making process in graphic design, using incremental methods such as prototyping, user testing, and evaluation to build toward more advanced work
• Competence in presenting, evaluating, and critically analyzing communication design projects, including one’s own

Curriculum

ELIGIBILITY

Minors are available to all undergraduate students at The New School, though some minors are closed to students in certain majors (please see the list of preclusions for more details). Students may declare minors outside of their own colleges. To explore this option, contact your academic advisor.

The Communication Design minor requires an application for admission.

For questions regarding this minor’s curriculum, including requests for course substitutions, please contact Juliette Cezzar, assistant professor of communication design, at cezzarj@newschool.edu.