Syllabus

IXG-5800-A Thesis 1: Thinking
Section 3: Strategic Writing
SVA MFA Interaction Design
Spring 2017

last edited March 25, 2017

Instructor

Nicole Fenton
nfenton1@sva.edu
nicolefenton.com

Office hours by appointment

Course description

Writing is part of every design project—from jotting down notes and questions to summarizing research, instructing users, and presenting work in proposals and marketing pages. In this course, we’ll examine the writing process, collaborate on long and short-form pieces, practice editing, and use language as a strategic tool in the design process.

This course focuses on clarity of ideas, structure, and style over grammar and mechanics.

Course objectives

• Investigate how writing shapes and contributes to the design process
• Practice writing and editing collaboratively
• Develop and structure various kinds of text
• Use writing exercises to prepare for your thesis and process book

Course requirements

We will practice thinking and writing—together and individually—through conversation, writing exercises, and peer editing. Be prepared to:

• Ask questions, take risks, and express yourself
• Share rough ideas and unpolished drafts with the class
• Give candid, considered, and supportive feedback
• Grapple with the subjectivity of language

Required text

Several Short Sentences About Writing, Verlyn Klinkenborg

Grading and policies

Grading is pass/fail and will be based on your attendance and participation in class. Please be on time and be prepared to discuss the reading assignments. As this course is only five sessions, it’s important for you to be present and open to contributing to the conversation each week.

More than two unexcused absences constitute a failing grade. If you will be late or need to miss a class, reach out to me in advance so you can keep up with the assignments. No late work will be accepted.

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Schedule

In-class activities and guest speakers are subject to change.

Week 1: Principles (March 28)

Activities

• Introductions and warm-up exercise
• Discuss writing’s purpose, various forms, and strengths.
• Articulate our goals for the next five weeks.
• Come up with principles and examples of good writing together.
• Core values exercise
• Style guide exercise

Assignment

Bring a blog post or essay you wrote in the past for discussion next week.

Readings for next week

• Writing Basics, Chapter 4 from Nicely Said, Nicole Fenton and Kate Kiefer Lee
• The Problem with White Liberal Designers, Jennifer Daniel
• What Writers Really Do When They Write, George Saunders
• Copywriting is Interface Design, Jason Fried

Week 2: Voice and tone (April 4)

Activities

• Reading discussion and warm-up exercise
• Discuss various writing styles and the differences between voice and tone.
• Peer editing exercise
• Guest speaker: Robyn Kanner, Cofounder and Designer of MyTransHealth; UX Designer at Amazon

Readings for next week

• Corn Maze, Pam Houston
• Guidelines for an Adaptive Technology Working Group, Sara Hendren
• Resistance, Paul Soulellis

Assignments

1. Spend an hour thinking and writing about your goals.
   • What do you want to do (and not do)?
   • What are you good at?
   • What are your favorite parts of the process?
   • What do you need to do your best work?
   • What do you want to work on in this class to help you get there?
2. Choose a final project in line with your goals:
   • Presentation or essay
   • Mission, process, or internship statement
   • Thesis outline or project brief
   • About page and professional bio

Week 3: Structure (April 11)

Activities

• Reading discussion and warm-up exercise
• Thesis planning exploration
  • Inventory the facts and ideas
  • Structure the elements
  • Make an outline
  • Group summary

Readings for next week

Several Short Sentences About Writing, Verlyn Klinkenborg

Assignments

• Continue developing your final project.
• Look through past work and writing you enjoyed for themes.
• Gather 3–5 quotations or snippets of text for your final project.
• Talk to a classmate or friend about your piece to move your outline along.
• Finish a rough first draft and bring it to class for discussion and peer editing.

Week 4: Synthesis (April 18)

Activities

• Reading discussion and warm-up exercise
• Workshop your final project
• Guest speaker: Karyn Campbell, Product Design Lead for Etsy Studio

Readings for next week

• Designing Case Studies: Showcasing a Human Centered Design Process, Senongo Akpem
• Tiny Beautiful Things, Cheryl Strayed (audio)

Assignment

Wrap up your final project.

Week 5: Presentation (April 25)

Activities

• Reading discussion and warm-up exercise
• Presentations and group critique
• Guest speaker: Tina Lee, Editor for A Book Apart