PLANNING REPRESENTATION AND COMMUNICATION
UP 516 | WINTER 2013 TAUBMAN COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN PLANNING - THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
The World is complex, dynamic, multidimensional; the paper is static, flat. How are we to represent the rich visual world of experience and measurement on mere flatland? Envisioning Information. E. Tufte ____ 1
COURSE OVERVIEW
The purpose of this course is to sharpen the students’ visual communication skills through the introduction of basic representation tools, techniques and media. During the semester, students will create maps, diagrams, drawings, charts, physical models, videos and photographic essays to capture the multi-faceted and changing nature of the landscapes under study. The course positions visual representation as a mode of inquiry and spatial thinking, and a vehicle to purposefully disseminate planning and design ideas to disparate audiences. The course prioritizes the workflow among diverse types of software and develops a series of exercises aimed to the construction of compelling visual narratives. Observing, documenting and representing the dynamics of the landscapes under study is the first step in any research inquiry whose ambition is to articulate the rich and diverse cultural legacy of a place, and envision its possible futures. The classes are structured to ensure a dynamic learning structure, and include technical workshops, weekly lectures, applied lab exercises, desk critiques, group discussions, and public presentations and reviews with guest critics. The semester comprises both individual and teamwork, and it includes multiple venues for students to test the efficiency of their representation and communication skills. In addition to the different assignments through the semester, and the creation of a personal blog, students are required to submit their individual graphic portfolio including, at least, the coursework developed over the semester. This is a graduate level 4-credit course especially recommended for students interested in the Physical Planning and Design Concentration, and without any design background. The course serves as an instrumental basis for incoming physical planning studios, capstone and other design seminars.
INFORMATION
Tuesday, 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm & Thursday, 10.30 - 12.30 pm Duderstadt PC training room 3 (unless otherwise noted) Group email | UP516w13@umich.edu
INSTRUCTOR / CONTACT
María Arquero de Alarcón, Assistant Professor of Architecture and Urban and Regional Planning e. marquero@umich.edu c. 6178211719 Office hours, by appointment, and 1 hour before / after class