Browse all Design Studies courses →
Red: department · Gray: UW–Madison
GPA and percentages are weighted by recorded letter grades. UW comparisons use the same terms. Cross-listed courses count once within this department and once across UW; department totals should not be added together. Grade counts are not unique students. Offering counts reflect captured records, not a complete historical schedule.
Grades have not been recorded for this term. Historical results remain in the overview above.
No released grades for this term.
43 courses
Introduces the interdisciplinary field of material culture studies for students interested in careers in museums, galleries, historical societies, historic preservation, and academia.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Ann Smart Martin
Grading standards were inconsistent, with some assignments described as harshly graded while others were not.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Dimensions of Material Culture introduces the interdisciplinary field of material culture studies for students interested in careers in museums, galleries, historical societies, historic preservation, and academia.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2026–Spring 2026 · limited sampleIntroduction to virtual reality focusing on creating immersive, interactive virtual experiences, covering history, graphics, perception, and HCI.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · J. Michael Collins
Exams were tough despite lacking memorization, and the final consisted of 55 questions in 25 minutes, leaving students without enough time.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2026Introduction to technical and conceptual Textile Design, covering print and dye concerns, off-loom processes, and structural enrichment techniques.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026WHAT IS DESIGN? interrogates the place of design in everyday life and its intersections with society, economics, politics, the environment, and culture.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2024–Spring 2026Visual Thinking: Form and Space covers manual and digital techniques for idea exploration, concept development, and design presentation using various media.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Brooke Godfrey
The course involved learning design software methods, with a difficulty rating of 2 out of 5 reported by students.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Explores visual media for describing reality, generating ideas, and communicating design concepts using hand drawing and professional design software.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2026CRAFT & CONSTRUCTION FOR GARMENTS introduces sewn construction, fabric cutting/layout, and finishing techniques for creating garment prototypes within the design process.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
No recorded grade history
Fashion Design I introduces core principles of fashion design focusing on creativity, sustainability, critical thinking, and concept development.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2026–Spring 2026 · limited sampleDesign Fundamentals II covers elements and principles of three-dimensional design relevant to the design and analysis of the spatial environment.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Lesley Sager
The course involved a good amount of project work, but students noted it was not horribly complicated if they put in the time.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2026Textile Design: Printing and Dyeing I covers surface design using print and resist techniques through historic and contemporary methods.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2024–Spring 2026 · limited sampleTextile Embellishment I covers historic and contemporary techniques for embellishing textiles, including embroidery, beadwork, and appliqué.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2026 · limited sampleVisual Communication II covers advanced concepts, methods, and materials for communicating ideas in design, integrating manual and digital approaches within creative design thinking.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2026Introduction to the science of textiles covering fiber properties, fabric behavior, construction, and sustainability in relation to design practices.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Majid Sarmadi
A past student found the material challenging, stating that very few people earned high grades and that significant effort was required throughout the year.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2026Design Leadership Symposium examines careers in textiles, fashion, apparel, interior, industrial design, and architecture with guest speakers.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Independent study for directed study projects arranged with a faculty member.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
No recorded grade history
Interior Design II covers residential interior design, including space planning, lighting, materials, furniture, and communicating design solutions.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Lesley Sager
The course was rated as difficult, though specific workload details were not provided in the review.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2026Digital Fabrication for Designers combines professional design software, laser cutting, and 3D printing with traditional model making for tangible prototyping.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2026–Spring 2026 · limited sampleDesign Thinking for Transformation teaches techniques for creative analysis and problem solving, applied to human-centered design challenges through prototyping and testing real-world projects.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Samuel Dennis
Attendance was somewhat mandatory and the class relied entirely on group work, but no textbooks were required.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Patternmaking for Fashion Design II covers complex pattern manipulations, zero-waste design, sustainable practices, and multi-piece garment development with emphasis on precision and fit.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2026–Spring 2026 · limited sampleHistory of Architecture & Interiors II surveys architecture, interiors, furnishings, and decorative arts from the mid-19th to mid-20th centuries.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Textile Design: Printing and Dyeing II focuses on silkscreen printing, including discharge, burnout, and chemical resist processes, while exploring alternative image production methods.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
No recorded grade history
An advanced studio course where students develop original textile work through embellishment techniques and creative research.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2025–Spring 2025 · limited sampleTextile Design: Weaving II analyzes complex hand weave techniques and focuses on developing individual solutions for structural textile design problems.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Emelia Haglund
The review indicated a moderate level of difficulty, though no specific workload details were provided.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2023–Spring 2025 · limited sampleHistory of Textiles explores the designs, meanings, and interrelationships of textiles across selected cultures and time periods.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Beverly Gordon
The reviewer rated the difficulty high and reported that the professor became angry when students did not already know everything she did.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Fall 2025 · limited sampleSpecialized topics of current interest.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Majid Sarmadi
Students described the workload as substantial, though one noted that understanding study guides helped them perform well on tests.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Digital Patternmaking I explores CAD software for patternmaking, focusing on digitizing patterns, manipulating blocks, creating models, and designing original garments with sustainable principles.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
No recorded grade history
This course covers specialized topics of current interest under the title Special Topics.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Uchita Vaid
The class required substantial reading, including posted PDFs and links, to prepare for a format split evenly between lecture and discussion.
No recorded grade history
Covers strategies for presenting textile and fashion design work, including curatorial methods, portfolio development, artist statements, and critique of communication strategies.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
No recorded grade history
Environments of Crisis & Design explores built environments supporting people in disasters, conflicts, and forced migration through a human-centered, trauma-informed design lens.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2025–Spring 2026 · limited sample