"How To" Section

Instructions regarding the three major assignments in this class, a constantly updated process record, your reflections on reading and lectures, and the mnemonics project.

Process Record

You are required to keep a process record for this course and always have it available for me to review at desk crits and at the end of the quarter. A process record contains all of your ideas and design development from notebook research and sketches to flimsy over-lays. Get out your gluestick and put those puppies together in chronological order! The process record for this quarter should be a 3-hole 8 12" X 11" notebook. Use decent sketch paper for your drawings and bond paper for those things pasted in.There should be a section covering each project/assignment.

A process record consists of drawings and written comments. Drawings have a tendency to get "cold" after a while if you do not accompany them with comments about the direction of the ideas you were investigating and how well the idea measured up to your criteria and what improvements are necessary. A lot of words without drawings is flat and lifeless. Use both. Comments and evaluations as you go along are infinitely valuable when you either get stuck and/or have to change course late in the project.

Purpose
The purpose of all of the Reflections Papers is for you to come to some conclusions about what you have read or heard and to think/reflect about what the lessons are to be learned in these presentations.

A second purpose is for you to have some practice in expressing your thoughts so that others might understand them.

I am interested in what YOU think, not in what you think I want to hear.

Format
All reflections papers will be typed or word processed. You are encouraged to add any graphics or diagrams that will illustrate your thoughts and understandings. Since everything makes a difference, be sure that your page format/layout is congruent with the ideas you are expressing.

Reflections on the Monday lectures are to be two to three pages in length and contain the following information:
The two or three most important ideas
How those ideas could have an impact upon your academic or professional career
How you might use these ideas in your work this quarter
Any other thoughts that strike you as important

The readings are specifically aimed at increasing your understanding of and ability to deal with the problems given for the quarter. These reflections may be longer than 3 pages because they will most likely have a number of diagrams in them. Thus, your reflections on the readings will be concerned with:
What you have learned form the readings
What insight you have gained from them about the design problems you have been given
How you might use these insights to solve the problem given.

Evalution Criteria
Since the purpose of the reflection papers is for you to express what you have learned and what you think about what you have read or heard, the primary grading criteria will rest upon your expression of your own thoughts.
Are the reflection papers turned in on time?
Are the ideas your thoughts instead of mere paraphrasing?
Are the ideas presented clear and do they illustrate an understanding of the lectures or readings?
Are the layouts of the papers consistent with the ideas illustrated?

The word mnemonic comes from the Greek mneme, "to remember;" a mnemonic is essentially any technique that helps you remember something better. To help us learn each other's names you are to develop a mnemonic for your name. For example, an auto jack holding up a 'Wilson' brand soccer ball reminds us of Jack Wilson, a tea kettle with "K" shaped steam sitting on a bed of nickels gives us Teak Nichols, a soup can with feathers sticking out of it produces "feather soup" for Heather Campbell, an "R" leaning on a tombstone gives us Arlene Graves and a set of cymbals crashing on a piece of brie cheese plus a pot with a big R in it give us Cymbre Potter.

Process
Divide into groups of two or three people.
Work together to develop an image for each of the group members.
Upon completion each person is to draw their image on a piece of paper. The image must be in black and white. A verbal parallel to the drawing and your NAME must also be put on the card. The image must be CLEAR and strongly graphic so that it can be read from ten feet and the printing from two feet.
We will assemble and each person will present and explain their image to the class.
How many names can you remember?

Assignment
Develop your mnemonic for the next class. It may be an improved version of the one you did in class today or a completely new one. Draw it up according to the following requirements and bring it to the next class meeting. It will be used to create a visual class roster that will be reproduced and distributed to all class members.

The presentation must be done on a 2 7/8" square of white index card inside a square that measures 2 5/8" on a side [2 7/8" includes an1/8 inch border on all 4 sides that is left white]. Do not use I-board.
The presentation must be done in black and white in ink.

The card must include the drawing, a parallel verbal image (toe stew) and your (Joe Steuer) as indicated in the diagram.

SUGGESTIONS
Try to make maximum use of the following factors that naturally enhance human memory. They come from The Brain Book by Peter Russell, page 124.
Uniqueness. The association should be unique so that there will be no possibility of interference with other associations.
Exaggeration. The more exaggerated the image, the better. The more bizarre and outstanding an image, the more arousing it is and the clearer is the memory that results.
Sensory. For most people the image will be predominantly visual, since visual memory is usually the strongest, but smells, sounds, movements, etc., should be included wherever possible. The association can also be improved by making the image three-dimensional, in COLOR and as vivid as possible.
Interactive. The connection between the objects should be the prime feature of the image. They must be closely connected.[This is a particularly important point. Note in the examples that the individual pieces (feathers and a can of soup) are not strung together as a sequence of independent items but interact with each other to form a single more memorable image (feather soup).]
Simpl icit y. The simpler the connection, the better. Keep it childlike, unencumbered, and unique.
Creativity. Being creative involves you much more in the association and increases the depth of processing. The more original the image, the better will it be remembered. Indeed, the act of creation is essentially the same as that of memorizing - the forging of a link between two previously unassociated ideas.
Sexual and Vulgar. Don't be afraid to make sexual or vulgar connections if they occur to you. Most people find such associations are remembered much better. [Normally associations are done for yourself and the sexual or vulgar CONTENT is not made public. Therefore, because our associations will be shared, I ask that any sexual or vulgar associations be tasteful and not be cause for embarrassment.]
Involvement. Memory is intimately linked with conscious experience. The more strongly you experience something, the better you will remember it. So savor your mental image fully.
Can you use this assignment to develop your personal logo? If you have done this before, can you improve your image?