DSGN 4101 Home Page- Mon, Jan 10: Intro
- Mon, Jan 17: Class 2
- Mon, Jan 24: Class 3
- Mon, Jan 31: Class 4
- Mon, Feb 07: Class 5
- Mon, Feb 14: Class 6
- Feb 21:No class (Feb break)
- Mon, Feb 28: Class 7
- Mon, Mar 07: Class 8
- Mon, Mar 14: Class 9
- Mon, Mar 21: Class 10
- Mon, Mar 28: Class 11
- Mon, Apr 04: Class 12
- Mon, Apr 11: Class 13
- April 18: No class (holiday)
- Mon, Apr 25: Class 14
Mon, Jan 17
DSGN 4101: Themes
Today's objectives
- Review assignment 1
- Themes
- What is a theme?
- Creating great themes
- Using themes to generate ideas
- Interpretive planning
- Interpretive plan review
Presentations
Agenda
Interpretive plans
Visitors
Themes
Resources
Reading assignment
1: Read chapter 2 ("TORE") of Sam Ham's Interpretation: Making a difference on purpose. Interpretation: Making a Difference on Purpose at the NSCAD library
2: Read an interpretive plan - I've assigned a different one to everybody. Be prepared to give a quick summary of what you thought the theme or themes were, how helpful (or not) the plan was to you as a designer, and what you learned about interpretation from the plan, during next class. Some of these are long - skim for content, decide if you need to skip long appendices, etc, and make sure to focus on the big picture, not details.
Assignments
Assignment 2: Thematic ideation
Imagine you have been chosen as the lead designer and planner for an interpretive site.
Choose one topic.
This is speculative research, and these projects are not really going to happen, so don't contact any community members, experts, etc., for help. This is only a concept development exercise - you don't want people to think you are just going to come along and build something in their backyard.
Dartmouth whalers
The site for this interpretative installation would replace a current monument (this one). How do we see whaling today? What stories and perspectives might we include? How do we make the link from the whalers of the past to our present day? The experience you create would be located roughly here.
Leatherback sea turtle
The leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) is an endangered species that is found in the waters just off Nova Scotia. How can we make people care about it and want to protect it? The experience you create would be located roughly here.
Container traffic
At this container terminal, ships carrying containers come and go every day. What is it that visitors may wonder about? What might we want to talk about here? What's important and interesting? The experience you create would be located roughly here.
Method
With some basic online research, propose 3-5 possible themes for the site. Make sure the themes meet the requirements of a good theme, based on our work in class and the Sam Ham reading. Do the readings first. You may also include notes on any topics that you think are important to consider.
Submit a 1-page document, for on-screen presentation, that shows the themes.
Make sure your name, the date and the name of the course is present on your 1-page presentation. You do not have to use any images in the presentation.
Due: Sun, Jan 23. Upload the PDF file to Brightspace.
Name the file: YOURLASTNAME_DSGN4101_Assign2.PDF