Students are introduced to the field of architecture through a studio project for a public building in New York City. They address complex urban and architectural spatial problems through field observation, architectural drawing, and model making. They acquire technical skills and develop the understanding of scale, form, and spatial relationships needed to interpret the built environment.

This course immerses students in the study of the human figure through drawing projects that investigate both its form and its capacity to carry meaning within various cultural contexts. Anatomy, motion, gesture, and a variety of techniques and media are used to explore the body as the site of messages ranging from the personal to the political.

This course combines the fundamental practice of observational drawing with conceptual strategies for constructing the drawn image. Emphasis is placed on drawing as an integral component of the design process. Students gain analytical skills and these skills are used to approach drawing as a way of thinking, as a critical tool, and as a means of observation, storytelling, and representation.

This course introduces students to principles of game theory and fundamentals of interaction design. Students explore methods for creating analog and digital games by experimenting with a variety of physical objects and digital interfaces. They develop an understanding of game structure, play experience, and the community aspect of gaming culture. Students are introduced to basic coding, enabling them to create their own games using a range of software and open-source programs.

The hybrid designer-illustrator is head and shoulders above the pack, possessing drawing skills; a keen sense of color, typography, and layout; and an interest in doing it all. Guest speakers who exemplify these qualities present case studies; slide-show lectures provide inspiration; and practical assignments afford students opportunities to produce portfolio work. Assignments call for students to create a range of packaging, objects, logos, animation boards, and advertising using a multidisciplinary approach.

This course focuses on the basics of painting, with an emphasis on technical paint handling, color, composition, and materials. Students acquire basic studio habits and practices and undertake a visual and conceptual examination of painting today. Individual and group criticism, combined with field trips and discussion, expands perspectives within historical contexts.

Beginners master basic skills in analog and digital photography, while experienced students learn to convey ideas and explore themes in their work. The class includes on-site shoots, lab work, critiques, and lectures. All work is done in black and white. Students must have a 35mm camera with manual settings and a DSLR digital camera.

In this course, students develop a solid understanding of the principles of animation and the art of storytelling as the foundation for creating sequential narratives — cartoons, graphic novels, movies, videos. The class helps students find their voice and artistic style as they create an animated short, from concept to finished work. Students use Adobe After Effects to bring their drawings to life.

This course introduces students to Parsons’ design methodology, including research, concept development, sketching and prototyping, iterative project development, and written reflection.  Students are also introduced to the fundamentals of drawing and are encouraged to experiment with sketching and illustration techniques using digital tools in Adobe Creative Suite, digital photography, and 3D materials and processes.

A variety of construction methods are explored, from hand and machine sewing to knitting, crocheting, draping, and patternmaking. Drawing and sketching are introduced as an integral part of the design process, allowing students to develop concepts in two dimensions before they begin making. Transposing visual ideas from sketching to fabricating, 2D to 3D, students are free to explore the techniques of patternmaking or draping to create the structure for their designs.

In this course, students are introduced to the fundamentals of visual research, composition, typography, and the organization of information. Students address a series of design problems through concept-driven solutions that explore 2D and digital making. The role of typography in design is examined in-depth, with an emphasis on the selection of the most appropriate typeface for each project.

In this course, faculty introduce students to the field of interior design in New York City. Students engage in an iterative creative process that includes field observation and analysis, measuring, drawing, model making, and evaluating and selecting nontoxic materials. Students build technical skills and develop an understanding of scale, form, and spatial relationships that enables them to interpret the interior environment.

Students learn to structure and narrate stories on video and in photography as they collaborate to create short digital films. Professionals visit the class to discuss their craft and share work. This course is recommended for students with some photography experience. Students must have a DSLR digital camera. Beginners should take Photography: Analog and Digital.

In this introductory course, students engage in hands-on exploration of object design. The product design process is explored through problem-solving, integration of essential skills such as drawing and rendering, and iterative prototyping of three-dimensional forms. Students learn where and how design can be best applied.