Communication Design Studio: Theory and Practice

Last Update: 03/27/2026 04:56pm

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Updated: 03/27/2026 04:56pm

Created: 01/27/2018 01:52pm

2027 Spring

DES 51729-A

School of Design

15 credits

In-Person

Communication Design Studio: Theory and Practice

Stacie Rohrbach

Mon, Wed

02:00-04:50pm

Pittsburgh

Margaret Morrison

Room 215

Description

In this course students learn how the form of communication impacts the way people perceive and process messages by investigating communication theories and applying them to the design of messages. Students learn how to approach communication challenges through exercises and projects where they pose questions, observe and capture information through sketching and photographing, developing and iterating concepts, and evaluating their effectiveness. This course is intended for MDES & MPS students in Design; all other students by permission of the instructor.

Learning Objective

Workload

16 hrs

/ week total

5hrs in class

11 hrs studio work and research

Course Deliverables

Evaluation Metrics

Rubric

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  • Explain how audiences and contexts shape design decisions.
  • Apply communication theories to create effective messages.
  • Use a cohesive, iterative design process to develop and refine concepts.
  • Capture and develop ideas through sketching and notation.
  • Organize complex content into clear layers, sequences, and stories.
  • Translate abstract concepts into simple, concrete forms.
  • Design pieces that invite interaction and provide feedback.

Examples of Student Work

Degree Contributions

Required for MDes students in the School of Design.

Who is this class for?

This course is intended for MDES & MPS students in Design, all other students by permission of the instructor.

Testimonials

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FAQs