Human Factors in Design & Art

Catalog description

Within human factors engineering, a critical component to the design of products is understanding the physical and cognitive elements of the human. Within artistic design are fundamental elements to all visual expression. Thus, every artist, designer and visual communicator needs an awareness of formal elements and principles, variations within forms, relationships among forms. We must be aware of the impact evoked within viewers and users by formal conditions. This course and topics within it are inherently interdisciplinary in nature and could not be accomplished as effectively on their own. Without art, we cannot understand the design process effectively. Without human factors psychology, we cannot understand the human behavior effectively. Human factors is a discipline within psychology that deals with how humans interact and understand their world. This is necessary in product design. Art focuses on the creative process of design and is essential as well.