Introduction to Environmental Design

LDA 1, University of California, Davis

  • What is the environment? And how does it come to be?

    The environment, that which surrounds us, is not something “out there.” It is something we always exist within, and thus, must be considered as something produced over time. It is the milieu of existence, of daily life.

  • What does design mean? What does it mean to change our environment?

    Our environment has been designed. Who has it been designed by? And what was the intent behind the design? The course examines the various processes that lead to change in the environment.

  • What does good design entail? How do designers make a difference in the world?

    Some designs result in positive change in the world. Some designer result in negative impacts in the environment. Students are challenged to learn the difference, as well as the process for developing a positive idea of change.

Syllabus

Just make something. Be creative

This course is an overview of Environmental Design, including the allied professions of Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Urban Design, and Planning. It includes an investigation of the role of design professionals in contributing to the built environment at a range of scales and locations, through case studies of historic and contemporary projects. Particular focus is given to the profession of landscape architecture as an interdisciplinary field, exploring its historic evolution, highlightng its interaction with arts and sciences, and examining its contemporary leaders. Lastly, this course provides an introduction to basic methods used by environmental design professionals to evaluate, design, plan, and manage landscapes and the built environment. It fulfills GE core competencies in Visual Literacy and Domestic Diversity.