BFA Environmental Design

Otis Environmental Design student work will demonstrate:

• Disciplinary Knowledge and Skills:
  Mastery of the core principles of environmental design and the ability to produce three-dimensional spatial designs that effectively and creatively incorporate principles of anthropometry, health, safety, and welfare.

• Proficiency in Industry-Standard Skills, Technologies, and Processes:
  Competence in using industry-standard software and tools, such as CAD and digital modeling software, and the ability to produce three-dimensional spatial designs that effectively and creatively incorporate fundamental structural considerations, structural systems and materials, and non-structural (finish) materials.

• Cross-Disciplinary Awareness and Practice:
  Ability to integrate knowledge from related fields such as structural engineering, construction technology, and urban design, fostering an informed approach to environmental design.

• Audience-Focused Research, Historical Context, and Field-Specific Discourse:
  Ability to analyze the immediate and larger context, physical and cultural, in which they are working and to associate and apply design history and theory to develop and critically assess design solutions. 

• Capacity to Identify and Solve Creative Problems:
  Ability to effectively collect, compose and express ideas and information visually, verbally, and in writing. 

Otis Environmental Design student work will demonstrate:

• Innovation:
  Ability to imagine and propose new solutions to cultural, formal, and spatial problems.

• Experimentation and play:
  Ability to explore multiple and varied approaches to solving problems.

• Challenge to the status quo:
  Ability to be critical of current environmental design solutions.

• Bravery in their work and their interactions with others:
  Ability to persevere with the production and presentation of work that is novel, daring and not typical.

Otis Environmental Design student work will demonstrate:

• Self awareness:
  An understanding of the impact environmental design has upon individuals, communities and ecosystems. 

• Capacity to communicate (orally, written, and/or visually) about their practice:
  Ability to effectively compose and express ideas and information visually, verbally, and in writing.

• Capacity to seek, assemble, evaluate, and ethically apply information and ideas from diverse sources:
  Ability to associate and apply design history and theory to develop and critically assess design solutions.

• Analysis of both ethical and aesthetic impacts of art and design:
  Ability to recognize and address human effects upon, and sustainable use of, the earth through responsible design strategies.

Otis Environmental Design student work will demonstrate:

• Understanding of themselves as parts of a larger whole made up of human and non-human beings:
  An understanding of how their work impacts individuals, communities, and the broader world by critically reflecting on these connections and integrating socially and environmentally responsible practices into their projects.

• Awareness of positionality – in the world, their field, and their communities
  Ability to analyze the history of environmental design projects within specific communities and ecosystems, demonstrating an awareness of their own positionality in relation to the world, their field, and the communities they engage with, and applying this understanding to create contextually responsive design solutions.

• Ability to work well, collaborate, and build relationships across differences in identity, perspective, aesthetics and disciplines
  Ability to operate effectively within diverse participatory and collaborative environments.

• Integration of skills, information, and concepts
  Ability to synthesize all aspects of their work into a cohesive, interrelated whole.

Otis Environmental Design student work will demonstrate:

• Ability to define aspirations, future goals and their role within the creative economy
  Ability to articulate and critically reflect on their sense of self, creative work, and place within contemporary culture, demonstrating this understanding through written statements, presentations, and the development of a cohesive body of work.

• Awareness of audience and ability to cultivate relationships with others in their chosen fields
  Ability to engage in collaborative projects and provide constructive feedback to peers, demonstrating an understanding that all creative work is part of an ongoing dialogue with others within and beyond their field.

• Compelling presentation and exhibition skills, through Annual Exhibition, Capstone, and portfolios
  Ability to effectively compose and communicate ideas and information visually, verbally, and in writing. Ability to work collaboratively with their peers on group presentations and exhibitions.

• Proficiency in budgeting, time and project management
  Ability to balance responsibilities, interests, and distractions while working towards a goal.
• Career readiness, as evidenced by strong interpersonal skills, self-advocacy, adaptation, autonomy, initiative, and willingness to both receive and offer feedback
  Ability to define their professional and creative goals and develop a plan to pursue them, demonstrating accountability through the completion of targeted projects, reflective assessments, and engagement in opportunities that support their growth.