TEACHING
OUTSIDE OF THE BOX
Tor
Hovind
Associate
Professor, Design Department, Graphic Design
Tanya Cummings
Program Chair, Asiistant Professor, Graphic Design
California State University, Long Beach
We are proposing a "break away" group discussion on implementing joint projects with corporations and design schools. Also as part of the discussion will be how to implement national and international travel to enhance the "real world" experience to students. In the past years, the CSULB Graphic Design Program has taken students to Seattle, Chicago, New York, London/Paris, Hong Kong, and Italy in which we visit numerous design, advertising and new media firms and show our student portfolios. By showing our student projects and discussing the structure of our program to elite professionals in different regions of the nation and the world, we have been able to keep our curriculum on the cutting edge of the educational system. Professor Cummings and Hovind's expertise includes "global branding" and our trips to Europe and Asia has expanded our knowledge a "world design culture" in which we would bring the experience and knowledge back to the classroom. Another benefit is that having our student portfolios reviewed and by listening to the critiques the professionals are giving, it serves as a peer review of our curriculum and how it is relates to international regions. As in past years, this information has been very beneficial on how we mentor students in regards to the development their portfolios and how they can be focused for national and international markets. One of our program focuses includes having an "international internship program". By setting up contacts with these firms, we have a strong network of designers to help place our students in the different national and international firms. The students benefit in many different ways by participating in international excursions. As mentioned above, we tour different design, new media, and advertising firms to discuss how design has influenced the global markets and cultures. Our students bring their portfolios and have them reviewed by different art directors and creative directors of these firms. They receive an international perspective on "global" design and how it relates to their portfolios. In addition to the design firm experience, we visit many different museums and galleries to further their exposure to International trends within design. A second topic that expands upon the experiences that the students garner for travel is working on different corporate projects nationally and internationally. We will show and discuss examples of projects with companies we have worked with such as: HEB Grocery Company in San Antonio, TX; Abercombie & Fitch in Columbus, OH; Sutter Home Wines in Napa Valley, CA; Landor and Associates in San Francisco, CA and currently working on developing a project with Landor's Tokyo office; and Oakley in Forest Ranch Hills, CA. Our students work closely with design teams, marketing groups and brand development experts to implement design solutions. By working in this environment, student portfolios reflect a professional level and polish which gives them an advantage in starting their design careers.