EGD Core Competencies

Introduction

 

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In 2007, the SEGD Academic Education Committee surveyed a broad range of environmental graphic design professionals, particularly principals of EGD firms, to identify the core competencies required of graduating designers. To complete the core competency review, extensive interviews were also conducted with college and university faculty in EGD programs. The academics and professionals who participated in the survey agreed that EGD students should work to achieve three overall goals:

  • A full understanding of the scope of environmental graphic design
  • The ability to participate in the work of a design firm
  • The ability to take a leadership role in the design process

 

The Core EGD Competencies were identified to guide university and college EGD programs in structuring their courses and programs. While no one course or program can satisfy all of the competencies, they do provide a framework when developing goals for student achievement. The Core Competencies integrate two important concepts:

  • An understanding of the design process from initial concept through implementation
  • An understanding of design intent, or the ability to translate design goals into a visual communication approach

 

See also the Experiential Graphic Design, XGD Core Competences. Experiential is the term used to include all the communication design that uses digital and variable content to connect people to place. It is a broadening of the Environmental Graphic Design umbrella and includes the digital/interaction skills required to do that type of design work.

 

1. General Knowledge

 

> SEGD Courses covering General Knowledge of EGD
 

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> Learning Objectives and Outcomes related to General Knowledge of EGD

 

Knowledge of environmental graphic design

  • Understanding of the design process
  • Understanding of the different practice areasof environmental graphic design and the design firmsthat work in the field
  • Knowledge of the history and methodologies in specific areas of environmental graphic design
  • Knowledge of current high-level workin the field
  • Understanding of how EGD relates to other design disciplines including graphic design, information design, architecture, and interior design

 

 

2. Analysis and Development of Design Concepts

 

> SEGD Workbooks that cover Analysis and Development of Design Concepts

 

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> SEGD Courses covering Research, Analysis, and Development of Design Concepts

 

 

> Learning Objectives and Outcomes related to Analysis and Development of Design Concepts

 

Verbal and written communication skills related to concept development

  • Ability to articulate a design concept through formal writing and verbal presentation
  • Ability to use terminology related to environmental graphic design project planning and implementation

 

Ability to develop design ideas from a formal analysis

  • Understanding of how to incorporate design ideas into a formal design process
  • Ability to research design motifs and solutions and incorporate the ideas into an analysis
  • Ability to develop diagrams and written documents that communicate a design strategy

 

Ability to incorporate research into conceptual analysis

  • Ability to utilize background research on geography, cultural anthropology, demographics, environment, or architecture to develop a design concept

 

3. Design Development

 

> SEGD Courses covering Design Development

 

 

> Learning Objectives and Outcomes related to Design Development

 

Use of typography,color, and symbology

  • Ability to apply graphic analysis to design development including application of a consistent design palette of type, color, pattern, and materials

 

Legibilityand accessibility

  • An understanding of how comprehensibility, legibility, usability, and accessibility relate to design in the environment

 

Drawing and/or modeling in three dimensions

  • Understanding of massing, structural integrity, and relationship to human scale
  • Ability to draw dimensional design concepts in the design development stage
  • Ability to produce models and utilize them for design development
  • Ability to produce three-dimensional explorative drawings using computer software

 

4. Visual Communication

 

> SEGD Courses covering Visual Communication
 

> Learning Objectives and Outcomes related to Visual Communication

 

Documentationand communication skills

 

  • Understanding of how different elements in a project make up a family sharing similar physical and functional traits
  • Understanding of scale and how to document and model at different scales
  • Understanding how documentation works throughout the design process, including plans, elevations, dimensional models, diagrammatic maps, and schedules
  • Understanding of how different design drawings and details fit together to provide a clear picture of designer intent
  • Understanding of how drawings and models are part of a larger communication process with the fabricator
  • Understanding of how to describe materials and methodologies and how they are expected to perform

 

5. Presentation

 

> SEGD Courses covering Presentation

 

> Learning Objectives and Outcomes related to Presentation

 

Team collaboration and presentation skills

  • Ability to create formal presentations as part of a team
  • Ability to collaborate with other students with complementary skills in architecture, industrial design, graphic design, or information design

 

Process presentation skills

  • Understanding of presentation approaches and methodologies for reviewing an EGD process from concept to final implementation

 

6. Implementation

 

> SEGD Courses covering Implementation

 

 

> Learning Objectives and Outcomes related to Implementation

 

Process

  • Understanding of the fabrication process including the relationship between the fabricator and designer

 

Specification

  • Understanding the qualities of different materials and fabrication methods
  • Ability to describe how and where materials, fabrication methods, and technologies will be employed

 

NOTE: The EGD Core Competencies above do not cover the expansion of the EGD umbrella by SEGD in 2013 to the more expansive term of Experiential Graphic Design, i.e. the inclusion of digital technologies, interface design, dynamic and static content, story-telling, etc. For the Experiential Graphic Design (XGD) Core Competences see here

 

Become an SEGD memberand receive discounts on all course materials below plus access to industry intelligence and over 160 Educational videos!

 

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