Art/Design
Design: Think. Know. Do.
This year’s summer camp will investigate how graphic designers can use their skills and knowledge to draw attention to the environment. Students will make powerful visual statements using the tree as a symbol and metaphor. Called the “Urban Forest,” students will use banners and other visual communication media to engage and educate the local community. The design camp also will inform students about careers in design and raise awareness of the impact of design through a series of weeklong projects. The assignments will challenge students to explore their creativity and critical-thinking skills while pushing them to try a range of techniques. The exploration of the design process also will teach students to question, make choices, generate possible solutions, work collaboratively and, ultimately, broaden their understanding of the world around them.
Facility
The department of art & design is housed in the Wilson Art Center for the Visual Arts, providing students with updated equipment, resources, wireless capabilities, and a stimulating environment in which to work. The design course meets in the drawing studio, which is well-equipped with drawing tables, group work stations, and storage space to meet the individual needs of students. The students also have access to the graphic design computer studio. This space contains the latest Macintosh computers, scanners, color and black and white laser printers, digital cameras, updated software and a small periodical library. A design studio, located next to the computer studio, is well equipped with drafting tables, light board tables, and group work stations. Most class presentations take place in the lecture room, located adjacent to the visual resource library. This department library contains thousands of slides to numerous videotapes, DVDs, and books for instruction.
The students' final capstone project will be on display in the Elzay Gallery of Art. The gallery is connected to the classroom-studio building by a loggia and is used to display work of artists of invited exhibitions throughout the year. Other studio/classrooms located in the Wilson Art Center include a painting studio and a printmaking studio. A variety of gas electric, soda, and raku kilns, and furnaces are adjoined to the ceramics and sculpture studios.
Faculty
Brit Rowe: Associate professor in art/graphic design; chair, department of art & design; BFA, Ohio Northern University, MFA, University of Michigan. The instructor has been teaching graphic design at Ohio Northern since 1999. The instructor's teaching philosophy encourages students to explore the process of design as a way to strategically solve visual communication problems. He has exhibited regionally and worked for such clients as Theta Chi, the United Way, and many others. He is a member of AIGA: The Professional Association for Design, Order of Omega, Omicron Delta Kappa, and Kappa Pi art honorary. During last year's Design SHI Camp, the instructor taught an interdisciplinary design course which focused on the strategic brand identity and implementation of a recycling program for Ohio Northern.
What to bring
There are always questions about what to bring to an overnight or week long activity. Here are some suggestions: Bring a cell phone or calling card to make long-distance calls. Sometimes Ada has poor reception for cell phones for such carriers as AT&T and Nextel. If you have a camera, you may want to bring it. There are always picture perfect events all week long. The dorms are lockable and secure so you should be able to bring normal things such as clock radios, small CD players, or alarm clocks. We suggest you bring closed-toed shoes and wear comfortable clothing. Also, we request you bring dress clothes for the final class presentation. You will want to bring a small amount of spending money since the university bookstore is usually open. Also, you can bring along some of your favorite snacks although there are vending machines located on campus, a local grocery store, and a Rite Aid for unplanned essentials. If medication needs to be dispensed, the SHI director will make appropriate arrangements.
List of essentials aside from normal everyday apparel.
- Alarm clock
- Soap, comb/brush, toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, deodorant, etc.
- Insect repellent – DEET-based works best, Off Brand, pump instead of aerosol
- Extra dress and athletic socks
- A pair of long jeans and slacks
- Shorts, shirts or blouses
- One nice outfit (e.g. khaki slacks/dress shirt/blouse) for final presentation
- Sweatshirt/jacket (some classrooms are air conditioned and can be cool)
- Rain gear (coat, umbrella)
- Comfortable shoes, closed toed shoes, shoes to be worn in the gym
- Swimwear, beach towel
- Camera
- Sunscreen
- Sandals for the showers
- If you anticipate washing clothes, bring along a small container of clothes detergent and quarters for the machines
- Bed sheets for a single extra long bed, pillow and blanket
What you do NOT have to bring? Towels are provided. You also do not need to bring food. All meals are provided in the cafeteria. Snacks and bottled water are offered during the day and evening. Do not bring candles or incense, TV, dart board, draperies, drum set, electric guitars, electric blankets, fire crackers, fish net wall hangings, flags, fire arms, halogen lamps, hot plates, microwave ovens, all pets such as snakes, spiders, lizards, cats, dogs, birds and fish, sunlamps, heat lamps and space heaters, toaster ovens, valuables, water beds or weights.
