Words & Images: Publication Design for Writers and Designers

Stephanie Gibson, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Director, M.A. in Publications Design program
School of Communications Design, University of Baltimore

Amy Pointer, M.F.A., Lecturer, School of Communications Design, University of Baltimore

Words & Images, the anchor course of the Publications Design program at the University of Baltimore, offers a unique opportunity to mesh professional writing and graphic design in the classroom. Students, usually far more competent in one or the other, are responsible for composing all content for every project and they learn to approach problems in a variety of media, using a variety of strategies, for a variety of audiences. They extrapolate composition skills from their area of expertise to another area – one they often find intimidating and alien. Writers compose in professional formats that demand breaking free of academic jargon. Designers develop a sophisticated relationship with typography as copy by uniting concept, content and design. Students cultivate a complex conceptual approach to design (and writing) because they aren’t rearranging someone else’s ideas; they must produce their own. Here we explore the construction and presentation of this unique course.

Watch the video of the presentation here: http://www.socialstudiesconference.org/node/232