Download Design - Western Washington University

Program Assessment
Department of Design
“Design” is both noun and verb, product
and process. The products of design form
the interface between humans and the
environment.
Design as a professional field of study is
based on the foundations of visual communication. The study of design encompasses
cultural, aesthetic, ergonomic, technical,
ethical, and economic fields. Designers
create communications that serve many
needs–everything from warning labels to
multimedia interfaces. They solve communication problems of all types and sizes.
The solutions require creativity, lateral
thinking, research, and excellent verbal
and written communication skills.
Design BA/BFA
Mission:
In support of the mission of Western Washington University and the College of Fine and
Performing Arts, the Design Program utilizes a curriculum that emphasizes the process
of problem solving to direct students to make connections between culture and design
and their role as responsible visual communicators. Students learn to combine personal
expression and critical thinking as they create solutions that connect industry, individuals,
and institutions to specific audiences and themselves to the world. Students develop
adaptive learning strategies to sustain successful communication careers in a constantly
changing world.
II. Learning Outcomes for Design Majors
1. Demonstrate functional competence with principles of visual organization, visual
language and theory as applied to visual communication problems.
2. Understand and apply creative and abstract thinking skills to visual communication
problems.
3. Understand, embrace and use current tools, software and technology as a vehicle of
effective communication (conceive, design, produce, and create visual forms to successfully
communicate ideas, opinions, concepts).
4. Demonstrate facility in visual communication practice, including written and verbal
communication skills
The Learning Outcomes identified for the Design Program reflect the expectations of
National Association of Schools of Art & Design [NASAD] for accredited professional design
programs as well as recommendations by AIGA and an external advisory board.
Formal assessment occurs in concert with strategic planning and catalog revisions. Access
to an advisory board provides additional layers of informal review to stimulate positive
change. The nature of lab pedagogy results in the constant observation and evaluation of
student work (outcomes) by faculty and students. Students are consistently involved in
assessment of their learning through reflection, class and self-critique of their work and the
work of their peers.
III. Strategies to Achieve Learning Outcomes
What instructional opportunities will students experience to achieve learning
competencies?
The formal instructional opportunities reflect a standard design curriculum.
Our students also experience many informal educational opportunities through access to
faculty and facilities outside of scheduled classes and office hours.
Our students also have design opportunities both on and off campus to achieve learning
outcomes by applying knowledge learned in classroom to real problems:
On Campus:
Health and Wellness Center, Klipsun, Western Front, The Planet, VU Publicity Center,
Jeopardy, AS Review, Extended Education
Off Campus:
Bellingham Alive, internships and employment with local design firms, local businesses,
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Design is submitting significant curriculum
revisions for both the BA/BFA. Assessment
techniques may be modified following
review of proposed changes by the CFPA
Curriculum Committee and ACC.
IV. Assessment Techniques
Direct measures for evaluation of student learning:
1. Selective admissions portfolio reviews to major (3x per year)
2. Sophomore portfolio review of progress in Dsgn 220, 240, 250, 260 [revised program]
3a. Junior portfolio review to determine senior sequence [current program]
3b. Junior portfolio review for admission to BFA degree option [revised program]
4. Senior graduation portfolio review [revised program]
5. BFA graudation portfolio review [revised program]
6. Embedded assignments in all courses offered in program
7. Critiques of assignments (three stage process)
a. Work in progress [small groups]
b. Finished work [class]
c. Individual assessment with written feedback resulting in an assigned grade
8. Multiple choice and/or short essay exams
9. Classroom discussions
10. Professional practices review [resumes, freelance collateral (contracts & billing sheets)
are evaluated via numerical ratings & written comments against the following criteria:
quality of presentation, creative problem solving, critical judgment, meeting of deadline
Indirect measures:
1. Periodic review of student evaluations, peer observations, syllabi, textbooks, exams
2. Faculty notes/logs from in-studio reviews of student work, which occur in the daily and
weekly contact between students and faculty in a critical teaching feedback pedagogy
3. External reviewers notes and comments from exhibitions, competitions, and grants,
which occur irregularly
4. Completion of program requirements, registration, course enrollment, and graduation
rates
5. Transcript analyses
6. Placement and salary data from Career Placement Survey, which occurs annually
7. Exhibition, publication, awards in local, regional, national, international competitions
8. Participation in student organizations
9. Minutes from faculty assessment, program, and curriculum committees
10. Minutes/comments from departmental professional advisory boards,
Future measures:
1. Surveys of alumni
2. Senior exit interviews/questionnaires
3. Digital archive of senior portfolios
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V. Assessment Plan
Learning Outcome 1:
Demonstrate functional competence with
principles of visual organization, visual
language and theory as applied to visual
communication problems.
Learning Outcome 2:
Understand and apply creative, abstract
and critical thinking skills to visual
communication problems.
Current measures:
Admissions Portfolio review by faculty [entry into program]
Junior Portfolio review by faculty [data from 2007 to present]
New measures:
Admissions Portfolio review by faculty [track progress of students admitted 2009 on]
Senior Portfolio review by faculty [has been informal; will develop rubric for 2012]
Sophomore Portfolio review by faculty [begin in 2013 with revised BA/BFA]
Rubric will be expanded to include ratings for formal, conceptual and theoretical skill
sets defined as:
Formal: Elements and principles, 2D composition, 3D composition, motion graphics
composition, typography, color theory
Conceptual: Typography, symbology, design/interactive/information systems, visual
hierarchies, branding
Theoretical: Design history, design methodology
Current measures:
Junior Portfolio process book containing brief, brainstorming/mindmaps, research
(visual and textual), thumbnail sketches, roughs, and finished comps.
New measures:
Admissions Portfolio review by faculty [track progress of students admitted 2009 on]
Junior Portfolio review by faculty
Senior Portfolio review by faculty [has been informal; will develop rubric for 2012]
Sophomore Portfolio review by faculty [begin in 2013 with revised BA/BFA]
Current rubric will be expanded to include a rating the process book. Rubric will assess
originality of ideas, innovative solutions, lateral association, conceptual and visual
metaphor, design research, and design process communication. acceptance of work in
student
Learning Outcome 3:
Understand, embrace and use current
tools, software and technology as a vehicle
of effective communication (conceive,
design, produce, and create visual forms to
successfully communicate ideas, opinions,
concepts).
Current measures [external]:
Submission and acceptance of student work for exhibition/publication in juried visual
communication design competitions/publications.
Current measures:
Junior Portfolio review by faculty
Current rubric will be expanded to include rating for this outcome based upon faculty
discussions of classroom observations as well as evidence of software/technology
employment in portfolio projects.
Design 372/350 exam scores as measure of understanding of communication design
production methods.
Overall performance in Design 373/351 as measure of understanding and application of
communication design production methods.
New measures:
Senior Portfolio review by faculty [has been informal; will develop rubric for 2012]
Sophomore Portfolio review by faculty [begin in 2013 with revised BA/BFA]
outcomes_assessment-stage_one.indd • 5 December 2011
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Learning Outcome 4:
Demonstrate facility in visual
communication practice (visual
presentations, portfolios, ethical practice,
business practice), including written and
verbal communication skills.
Current measures:
Junior Portfolio process book containing brief, brainstorming/mindmaps, research
(visual and textual), thumbnail sketches, roughs, and finished comps.
Create rubric to move from informal to formal notation of skill set.
Presentations made in classes as part of critiques [on all levels]
Create rubric to move from informal to formal notation of skill set.
Writing proficiency grades [AHi 4xx or Eng 302]
Rubric to assess resume and business plans in Design 479/485
Ethical practice measured as part of exam in Design 479/485
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