VISUAL THINKING FOR PROBLEM SOLVING
Visual thinking's theoretical foundations are paired with visual thinking skills, tools, and applications. The format explores the way these can be combined while thinking critically and engaging with problem solving methodologies such as design thinking. Theoretical foundations include the elements and principles of design, the processes of visual narrative, and perceptual theories. Skills and applications include manual sketching, 3D visualization and modeling, data visualization, image manipulation, graphic design, video presentation, multimedia, design for 3D printing and fabrication, diagramming, digital rendering, and graphic design.
Prerequisites & course information
Requisites: Graduate/professional standing Course Designation: Grad 50% - Counts toward 50% graduate coursework requirement Repeatable for Credit: No Last Taught: Fall 2025 Learning Outcomes: 1. Understand what it means to think and communicate visually. Audience: Graduate 2. Manipulate visual content created by others, create new visual content related to problem solving, and integrate a wide range of visual thinking tools and processes in order to create a compelling narrative (including data visualization) in the context of solving a design problem. Audience: Graduate 3. Understand and apply the theoretical foundations of visual communication, such as the elements and principles of design, to engage in effective visual communication and data visualization. Audience: Graduate 4. Understand the differences between, and similarities among, a wide array of visual thinking tools and methods, Audience: Graduate 5. Choose and apply visual thinking tools and methods that are useful for different types of problem solving Audience: Graduate 6. Generate quick hand drawn sketches and diagrams for study and communication. Audience: Graduate 7. Develop a basic knowledge of how to apply technologies used for visual communication, including industry standard software applications in 2D, 3D, and 4D, along with foundational skills that will support future in-depth study. Audience: Graduate 8. Generate digital output files that can be used for digital fabrication such as laser cutting, CNC routing, and 3D printing. Audience: Graduate Learning Outcomes: 1. Understand what it means to think and communicate visually. Audience: Graduate 2. Manipulate visual content created by others, create new visual content related to problem solving, and integrate a wide range of visual thinking tools and processes in order to create a compelling narrative (including data visualization) in the context of solving a design problem. Audience: Graduate 3. Understand and apply the theoretical foundations of visual communication, such as the elements and principles of design, to engage in effective visual communication and data visualization. Audience: Graduate 4. Understand the differences between, and similarities among, a wide array of visual thinking tools and methods, Audience: Graduate 5. Choose and apply visual thinking tools and methods that are useful for different types of problem solving Audience: Graduate 6. Generate quick hand drawn sketches and diagrams for study and communication. Audience: Graduate 7. Develop a basic knowledge of how to apply technologies used for visual communication, including industry standard software applications in 2D, 3D, and 4D, along with foundational skills that will support future in-depth study. Audience: Graduate 8. Generate digital output files that can be used for digital fabrication such as laser cutting, CNC routing, and 3D printing. Audience: Graduate
Sources
- Course catalogue ↗2026-2027