ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN THEORY COURSE
Environmental Design Theory Course
Environmental Design Theory is a course about the relationships between people and their surroundings. We look at aspects of human behavior, meaning, personal and cultural values, perception, and cognition. We consider the reciprocal cause-and-effect relationships between people and their environment; how human behavior and values shape the environment and, conversely, how the environment affects us. The course is intended to develop an awareness of the psychological, social, and cultural aspects of spaces and places, both designed and not designed. The course explores a wide range of human connection to the material world, including contemporary issues such as accessibility, wellness, and sustainability. We discuss how design influences our notions of luxury, trends, and status, as well as the role designers can play in challenging social conventions or serving the public interest. One of the important questions we focus upon asks: What is good design? We address this question through readings, understanding our own experiences, looking at the work of significant designers, and by analyzing familiar sites in the city.
Projects and areas of inquiry introduced in the course include:
Environmental Autobiography & Mental Mapping - students are introduced to these tools and reflect on their own experiences to create mental maps and environmental autobiographies.
Place Analysis - students select a site to observe and document, looking closely at the activity of people to analyze the spatial, social, and psychological characteristics of the place.
Design for Accessibility - students navigate the environment while experiencing a physical impairment, documenting their experience, and reflecting on design issues for accessibility.
Design for Diversity - students learn how design can impact diversity, equity, and inclusion in places, and have an opportunity to design a space to foster these values.
Socially Responsible Design - students are introduced to design guidelines and practices that foreground social responsibility.
Design for Kids - students learn about design for children, which started in the late 19th century and swings like a pendulum from permissive to restrained, but most often leaves the voice of children out of the process.
Design for Wellbeing - students learn about design for health and wellness, including the NYC Active Design guidelines, and are asked to monitor their own wellbeing habits and activities.
Collaborators: Sara Girotto, Jen Jack Gieseking
Related Projects: Urban Walking Tours, People, Place, Space Reader
