VA523 Fields of Design
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Jan 01, 2026
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Visual Arts and Visual Communications Design
TBA
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
• To give comprehensive knowledge on the basic qualities of the design category, on various classifications of design fields and their basic historical settings • To memorize basic facts on design in the 20th and the 21st c. - historical and non-historical lines (diachronic and synchronic review) • Different contemporary and modern visual languages and concepts (different fields of design) should be adopted
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
• Christopher, Alexander (1964). Notes on the Synthesis of Form, Harvard University Press • Frampton, Keneth. (2007, rev. ed.). Critical History of Modern Architecture. Thames & Hudson. • Hauffe, Thomas. (1998). Design - A Concise History. Laurence King, London
Additional Literature
• Hollis, Richard. (1994). Graphic Design – A Concise History . Thames and Hudson. • Poynor, Rick. (2003). No More Rules. Laurence King Publishing, London • Janson, H.W. Janson, Anthony F. (1997). History of Art. Thames and Hudson. • Booth-Clibborn, E., Baroni, D. (1980). The Language of Graphics. Harry N.Abrams, Inc., Publishers, New YorkTeaching Methods
Lecture: Power Point presentations; discussions; consultations; in situ analysis (possibility)
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to the Synthesis of form. From-context theory of design by Christopher Alexander. | Christopher |
| 2 | Sociology of communication - context that shaped movments | Janson, Edward Booth - Clibborn and Daniele Baroni |
| 3 | Between functionality and aesthetics in design communication: from Jules Cheret to the new Four dimensional view | Edward Booth - Clibborn and Daniele Baroni |
| 4 | Structuralization and specialization of design fields - period before WWI (Streamline design, Graphic arts in USA - art director and graphic design) estimate. Two-sample estimation problems. | Hollis |
| 5 | Art Deco; the idea of unification of various fields of design and their technics - standardization and total design | Hollis |
| 6 | Postwar situation - Diversification and aesthetic issue: Ulm school for design and good form | Hauffe |
| 7 | In-term exam (Essay paper - 1) - presentations and defend | |
| 8 | In-term exam (Essay paper - 1) - presentations and defend | |
| 9 | Postwar Design Context - Scandinavian school for design, Italian school and bell form,USA and styling in design | Hauffe |
| 10 | Postmodern situation and semiotics in the context of design. Introduction to the concept "Talking architecture and design"- -design communicates massage beyond aesthetics, communicative role of design | Poynor, Philip B. Meggs |
| 11 | Punk design, deconstructivism in design, New Wave | Poynor, Philip B. Meggs |
| 12 | Italian postmodern leadership - groups of Alchimia and Memphis | Hauffe, Poynor, Philip B. Meggs |
| 13 | Miesism (concept of minimalistic form) vs Gehryism (concept of curved form). | Frampton, Poynor, Philip B. Meggs |
| 14 | New fields of design - multimedia (unimedia) and design of visual communications. Contemporary situation and new concept of unification of design fields - trends in designs. | Janson, Poynor |
| 15 | Final exam (Essay paper - 2) - presentations and defend |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VA523.1 | Course | Thursday 17:00 - 19:50 | B F1.10 Class/ART Studio | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3
Midterm exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3
Assignments
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 9 ECTS credit course corresponds to 225 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture hours
39 hours ⏳ (13 week × 3 h)
Home study
70 hours ⏳ (14 week × 5 h)
Midterm study
20 hours ⏳ (2 week × 10 h)
Final Exam study
26 hours ⏳ (2 week × 13 h)
Assignments
70 hours ⏳ (5 week × 14 h)
225 Total Workload Hours
9 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [VA523] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Jan 01, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
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Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 40 | 1,2,3 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Midterm exam | 1 | 18 | 1,2,3 | Not Allowed | |
| Assignments | 4 | 42 | 1,2,3 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture hours | 3 | 13 | 39 | Home study | 5 | 14 | 70 | |||
| Midterm study | 10 | 2 | 20 | Final Exam study | 13 | 2 | 26 | |||
| Assignments | 14 | 5 | 70 | |||||||
| Total Workload Hours = | 225 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 9 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 16/01/2026 | |||||||||