Splash Biography

Visual communication sits at the intersection of art, science, writing, statistics and engineering. This class is an introduction to what is called rational graphic design. Our goal is to use the elements of art to help us understand complicated ideas. We will cover the basics of how to say things with pictures, and why you should know graphic design even if you don't think you'll need it. There will be a hands-on element of this class, though no prior artistic or design experience is necessary. (For students who are interested in developing these ideas further, with an eye towards scientific applications, there will be a second course covering scientific visualization with this one as a pre-requisite.)

Do you have an itch to get out and see the world? Thinking of backpacking around Europe or India, or maybe volunteering at an orphanage in Indonesia? Come learn the basics of how to travel internationally, from visas to packing to getting around and making friends when you get there. Beyond the basics, this class is geared towards dealing with the difficulties of traveling by yourself (or in small groups) in the third world. Much of the material is suitable for travel to developed countries as well. We will cover the basics of bargaining, dealing with insurmountable language barriers, how to handle beggars and how to avoid being taken advantage of by unscrupulous persons. Many of the sections on specifically third-world travel will include a role playing segment to give you practical skills in dealing with things on the road. Bring some questions and a desire to see the world.