1998-2011 / studio 1: visual literacy and design. freshperson studio. department of design & environmental analysis. cornell university. ithaca.

dea 1101 is the first design studio of the program. the primary course objective is to introduce principles of visual literacy as it pertains to 2-d and 3-d issues in interior design. concepts about representation, expression, composition, color, form, light, structure, and function are explored through project-based education. the emphasis is on learning explicit compositional concepts, visualization skills, and media techniques as well as developing implicit design sensitivities.

the first half of the course begins with two-dimensional issues of composition, followed by exercises focusing on form-giving and related three-dimensional issues of space and enclosure. a course sketchbook is used to document the various design processes through sketches, diagrams, collages, and notes. specific readings are assigned from interior design illustrated, francis ching and art fundamentals: theory and practice, o. ocvirk (ed.). exemplary works are exhibited in the virtual gallery located at the course website and in the department gallery.