Product Design: Mastery in Practice

The University of Oregon, School of Architecture and Allied Arts, introduces the Product Design program’s innovative Mastery in Practice, a sequence of furniture design and theory courses. Mastery in Practice is geared toward product design professionals and students seeking to both analyze the design process and improve and increase their skills in the specialized field of furniture design.

Through an intensive series of courses, participants will have an opportunity to explore interdisciplinary aspects of creative furniture design and fabrication, to enhance theoretical knowledge and gain practical skills. With leadership from, and curriculum designed by Sara Huston, the course sequence invites participation, with two courses offered each term: fall, winter and spring.

Contemporary Furniture
September 27 – December 8 | Tuesdays & Thursdays, 2:00-4:50 p.m. | 4 credit hours

This class will focus on thinking about furniture as a catalyst for creating meaningful experiences & interactions between the object and user. We will focus on conceptual thinking by analyzing and observing the relationships, behaviors, and expectations we encounter when interacting with objects. There will be an emphasis on achieving successful integration of conceptual ideas into the physical objects, while understanding how those ideas help to create value for the user.

The course will focus on the following topics for fall/winter/spring terms:

• Domestic Furniture
• Public Furniture
• Domestic Lighting

Design Discourse Today
September 30 – December 9 | Fridays, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. | 1 credit hour

This class will focus on contemporary and historical articles from a variety of media including books, magazines, and forums. Class will consist of a round table discussion that is student led and instructor moderated. A weekly writing assignment will be required of each student. The class will help students:

• Create and articulate their own points of view on design
• Broaden views and understanding of the world of design
• Think deeply about designing objects and their interactions
• Talk about how current & historical design can influence their studio practice
• Think critically about design process and intent
• Develop critique skills

We will cover the following topics within design: methodology/process, design criticism, consumption, identity, lifestyle, culture, social design, sustainability, technology, manufacturing, design vs. craft, universal design, storytelling, and meaningful interaction.

Instructor: Sara Huston
Sara Huston has a MFA in 3d design from Cranbrook Academy of Art and a BFA in sculpture from The Art Academy of Cincinnati. She has been teaching at the University of Oregon since fall of 2009 and led a design/build charette for OCAC and PNCA’s MFA in Applied Craft and Design. Sara moderated the design panel for Open Engagement: Conference for Art and Social Practice in 2011; established PDX3D, an online forum to connect designers in 2008; and shows her work throughout the United States and in Europe. Huston’s work seeks to challenge the user and compel them to question expectations of familiar objects. Her “constant denial of sensible utility” explores the many facets of furniture communication.

Sara shares a studio practice with her partner John Paananen, where they collaborate on “the last attempt at greatness”. Designating themselves desartists {designers:artists}, their work is notable for a strong point of view and mindfulness towards material usage and production, tempered by optimistic pessimism. They work in a variety of scales ranging from small tabletop objects to livable structures. They believe that good design can be saved by “the last attempt at greatness” enthusiastically challenging current design standards and expectations.

REGISTRATION OPEN NOW!
Current UO and Community Education Program (CEP) students, as well as faculty and staff members, can register through DuckWeb at duckweb.uoregon.edu. Community members who have not taken a UO course in the last year should contact UO Academic Extension for registration assistance. Call 1-800-824-2714 or email academicextension@uoregon.edu.