200 design students paraded through campus for the College of Design’s Procession of Forms on Friday.
Nathan Edwards, an associate teaching professor in art and visual culture, said, “The procession is a group project where students work together to develop an abstract or sculptural form that explores space and time and takes on the elements and principles of design, which are the building blocks of making a visual representation of thinking.”
Edwards was one of the professors leading students on a route covering most of East Campus, where they not only carried their projects, but also performed them.
“The project is five weeks long, and over that period, they work together through iteration and what they’re influenced by, and then they navigate the project with their studio instructor,” Edwards said.
There were around 60 to 70 projects displayed in the procession, with around four to five projects coming from each Design Studies 1020 studio.
Mike Jackson, an associate teaching professor in art and visual culture who teaches DSNS 1020, said, “Students work both individually and in teams in 1020 and begin to understand what it takes to develop work that is both innovative and creative. Along the way, they gain an understanding of what a studio culture is like and begin to truly grow as artists and designers.”
This project is one of several in the class that teach students about team building and the design process.
“The Processional Form project is really about understanding what a team process is like and how to communicate and work together toward common goals,” Jackson said. “The project is the end result of that process and encourages exploration, multiple iterations, and builds skills in teamwork, construction methods and an understanding of form, space and materials.”
Following the presentation, a selection of the forms will be displayed in the College of Design atrium until the procession next semester.
“Our students really enjoy the project, and the procession is all about taking time to celebrate the project and share their ideas with everyone,” Jackson said. “It has really evolved over the last few years into an event that everyone, both students and instructors, look forward to. Having the event coincide with Halloween just makes it that much more fun for everyone.”
Students and faculty will be able to see not only these forms, but also drawings from the Design Studies 1310 studio, another class Edwards teaches, during the Core Exhibition.
“The Core Exhibition is where both of the studios pin up the work that they’re doing in their classes,” Edwards said. “We take over the first and second floor areas of the college for the reception and celebrate the work of our core students.”
The reception will take place from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. Nov. 13, and it is open to the public.
