Communication Systems Design for Social Equity

Catalog description

This course will take a systems approach to understanding issues related to social equity and justice and will explore the creation of effective communication strategies for specific audiences across a range of analog and digital platforms. In this class students will explore and discuss the meaning of "social equity and justice" and explore its many facets through 1) assigned readings and discussions; 2) research on the problem and the stakeholders affected by it; 3) and the design of a communication system. A review of communication design from historic social equity movements will introduce the course. Students will work in teams to select a social justice issue, and map both the problem and the stakeholder groups affected by it in order to identify target audiences for the communication system. Over the course of the semester, students will formulate content and messaging for use in a range of communications that work together as a system such as brief tweets and messages + images for online platforms, concepts for apps, brief videos as well as print applications such as posters, brochures etc. The final result will be a multi-pronged campaign to raise awareness and motivate action with respect to a social justice/equity problem. Class will meet once a week for 2 hours and 50 minutes. Students will be asked to work in Miro and other online collaborative platforms. This course will be offered remotely.