If you’re planning to enter one of the UW’s design majors this Autumn, you’ll need to take the 2006 Design Entrance Exam on Tuesday, June 13.
The Design Majors:
All design students take courses focusing on the broad concepts of design during their sophomore year. Then their paths diverge:
Industrial Design is now admitting majors for the first time in three years. The program is being restructured to provide integrated coursework in several areas of design including interaction design. Further information about this program will be available soon. Please contact Art Advising, uaskart@u.washington.edu for details as they develop.
Visual Communication Design is a professional program aimed at visual communication in the corporate, institutional, and municipal sectors. It emphasizes visual problem solving, organizational skills, and information theory. The curriculum includes all phases of typography, information design, design systems, exhibition design, publications design, new media, and visual methods/processes.
Students in Design Studies explore design in a multi-disciplinary context that includes dedicated courses in design theory, history, methodology, and case studies as well as shared courses in Visual Communication Design, Industrial Design and Interaction Design.
The Design Entrance Exam:
The 2006 Design Entrance Exam will be held on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 from 8:00am-5:00pm on the UW Seattle Campus.
All participants must check-in between 8:00-8:30am at Room 130 of Kane Hall. Directions and Parking Information are available from University Parking Services.
To be eligible for the exam, you must be a current UW student, or an eligible transfer student who has already applied for UW admission in Autumn 2006. All participants must register for the exam by Wednesday, May 31, 2006.
To register in-person:
Please visit the Art Advising Office room 104 Art Building, Mon-Fri, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
To register by phone:
Call the Art Advising Office at 206-543-0668, Mon-Fri, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
To register via e-mail:
Send your full name, phone and complete mailing address to uaskart@u.washington.edu.
Please use "Registration for Design Entrance Exam" as the subject.
Please rank your preferences among the three design majors (Visual Communication Design, Industrial Design and Design Studies).
PLEASE BRING THE FOLLOWING ITEMS TO THE EXAM:
1. Five to Ten Samples of Design Work
Please show each sample on a single 8.5x11" page. DO NOT SUBMIT ORIGINALS AS SAMPLES CANNOT BE RETURNED. Samples should support your application to the design major. Samples may include photography, drawing, design projects and/or coursework from your 2-dimensional design course.
2. Letter of Intention
This personal statement should address your background and reasons for interest in the Visual Communication Design, Industrial Design or Design Studies major. We are especially interested in how you see these programs relative to other programs and your interests/career goals. Please limit this statement to one 8.5x11" page.
3. Personal Resume
Please include the following information:
Please see our sample resume on the Design web site http://depts.washington.edu/vcd/
4. All College Transcripts
Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.
5. Pencils and Ruler
You will need drawing pencils (leads of your preference) and a straight-edge ruler (at least 12" in length). All other materials will be provided at the exam.
WHAT TO EXPECT AT THE EXAM:
Design faculty will present an overview/orientation to all design majors. Following the orientation, students will be divided into smaller groups to complete a series of short design problems. There will be a breaks for lunch (on your own) as well as snack breaks (snacks provided). During the problem sessions, faculty will be available to answer questions and provide guidance.
AFTER THE EXAM:
Students will be notified by email of their status by Friday, June 23, 2006. Accepted students should contact the Art Advising Office by Monday, July 10, 2006 to register for the Fall 2006 sophomore design classes – the beginning of a year-long series of six courses that address broad themes and issues in design concepts, methods and values. At the end of this year, students will be directed into one of the three specific design majors – VCD, ID or Design Studies - based on their interests and demonstrated abilities.
