UNSCHOOL

UNSCHOOL

UNSCHOOL

UNSCHOOL

UNSCHOOL

05.25—05.26

UNSCHOOL is trouble making.
UNSCHOOL is created through collective action.
UNSCHOOL is seriously fun.
UNSCHOOL is about practice, not mastery.
UNSCHOOL is weird, but that’s the point.
UNSCHOOL is for everyone who shows up.
UNSCHOOL is free...and it’s free.
UNSCHOOL is not right nor wrong, just doing.
UNSCHOOL is for those who like to learn,

but hate to be taught.

WHAT IS UNSCHOOL

UnSchool is a pop-up school formed and offered by the first-year MDes students of the University of Washington School of Art + Art History + Design. Each class offers a new vision of teaching and learning design, as well as an alternative approach to design education. All classes are free and open to the public. No prior experience with design expected or necessary.

CLASSES

Classes take place at the UW Art Building, room 227/229. (Map)

Thursday 05.25
12:00–1:30 pm

De-Professionalizing Design:

Redesigning Narcan Nasal Spray

Taught by: Kristiaan Brauer

3:00–4:30 pm

Centering our Senses:

Experiments & Embodiment

Taught by: Maya Kaneko

6:00–7:30 pm

Thinking Critically:

Reimagining Recommendation Systems

Taught by: Wyatt Olson

Friday 05.26
12:00–1:30 pm

Data Sculpture:

Making Data Touchable

Taught by: Bill Xiong

3:00–4:30 pm

Reimagining Emoji: A Workshop in Making the Intangible Tangible

Taught by: Min Jung Koo

6:00–7:30 pm

Memory Augmentation with Digital Archiving:

Lifelogging

Taught by: Ann Mathew 

UNSCHOOL

UNSCHOOL

UNSCHOOL

COURSE

CATALOGUE

De-Professionalizing Design: Redesigning Narcan Nasal Spray

Kristiaan Brauer

While everyday individuals are increasingly being asked to participate in medical interventions for the opioid crisis, their input is not being sought in the design of the tools they are being asked to use. This class will use the lens of the form and function of a Narcan Nasal Spray to open the boundaries of who designs and how “expert” opinion is sought. In the course of redesigning students can expect to unlock the designer within us all.

Kristiaan Brauer is a current first year Master of Design candidate at the University of Washington. Previously he worked as a contract and then freelance industrial designer working on medical devices, consumer electronics and transportation projects. His work focuses on leveraging user insights to improve the lived experiences of all users. He currently works as a contract designer with Industrial Alchemy.

Centering our Senses: Experiments & Embodiment

Maya Kaneko

In this 90 minute class we will explore together how to use our senses to design things, learn how sensory design can enrich the process, and, ultimately, have fun while doing it. The class has both asynchronous and synchronous activities where attendees can have time to review material on their own before the in-person workshop. The workshop will consist of reimagining how to ‘keep track’ of our health data by using one of our five senses. This is a hands-on class where we will be learning through doing! Attendees should be ready to get messy, and experiment with materials.

Maya Kaneko is a current first year Master of Design candidate at the University of Washington. She is interested in translating research insights into imaginative design outcomes. Maya currently works as a Design Researcher at Studio Tilt, a Teaching Assistant in the Informatics school, and a Graduate Research Assistant researching child care provider’s experiences with technology. Before attending UW she led Design Research for the Buyer Growth and Retention team at eBay.

Thinking Critically: Reimagining Recommendation Systems

Wyatt Olson

This 90 minute class explores the relationship of interactive systems in the context of online recommendation services like Spotify, Pinterest, and Netflix. We will explore why these systems behave the way they do. We will try to find out what is lost in the shift from human curation to digital recommendation. We will introduce various techniques like, speculative design, system mapping, and bodystorming and anchor these loosely in the theory of systems thinking. Topics in the class will include surveillance capitalism, data privacy, and ubiquitous technologies.

Wyatt Olson is an artist and designer living in Seattle, Washington with a background in film and video production. Previously, he worked at the Northwest Film Forum as film colorist and freelanced as a web and visual designer. He is first year student, studying to receive his Masters of Design with a focus on Interaction Design from the University of Washington. He currently collaborates at The UW’s Makeablity Lab and Studio Tilt.

Data Sculpture: Making Data Touchable

Bill Xiong

Calories, steps, heartbeat rate, stand time, sleep hours, and our bodies are continuously tracked and measured through smart devices, generating data. But have these figures truly helped us understand our bodies better? This workshop aims to bridge the gap by delving into various data visualization methods and transforming your personal health data into tangible sculptures. Through a combination of engaging synchronous and asynchronous activities, participants will have the opportunity to explore, have fun, and immerse themselves in the world of data visualization. By using prepared materials, you will transform your data into physical sculptures that you can touch and interact with. This hands-on approach will provide a unique and insightful perspective on your body and its patterns.

Bill Xiong is a designer and artist based in Seattle pursuing a Master of Design at the University of Washington. Coming from an art background, he specializes in image-making, storytelling, and visual communication. Bill currently works as a Web Design/Developer at Studio Tilt and collaborates with Portrait of Humanity as a Visual Designer.

Reimagining Emoji: A Workshop in Making the Intangible Tangible

Min Jung Koo

Emoji have become a popular way to add emotional context and visual interest to electronic communication, adding texture and depth to messages. However, interpretation of an emoji can vary based on social, cultural, and contextual factors, leading to unpredictable and confusing messages between the sender and receiver. The workshop will consist of hands-on asynchronous and synchronous activities that encourage attendees to reimagine emoji as if they existed in a physical world. The workshop aims to inspire creativity and playfulness, an inviting space for participants to experiment with emoji as a medium of expression. Through this exploration, participants can generate new ideas and find innovative ways of using emoji.

Min Jung Koo is a current first year Master of Design candidate at the University of Washington. She has diverse work experience as an industrial and visual designer. She is currently working as a designer for the Illimited lab in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Her interest lies in exploring culture and behavior to provide tangible and meaningful experiences.

Memory Augmentation with Digital Archiving: Lifelogging

Ann Mathew

The functions of our memories are varied, as they aid us in regulating our mood, establishing a sense of self-identity, fostering social connections, and initiating a variety of behaviors geared towards self-improvement. In addition, the role of memory extends beyond the mere recollection of past events or the assimilation of knowledge, as it also enables us to make preparations for the future. The workshop will explore the concept of life logging and its relevance to individuals. Additionally, it will cover various methods for enhancing memory through mindful creation, collection, and encoding of episodic memories. The ultimate goal of the workshop is to equip attendees with the necessary tools to gain insights into their past and utilize them to improve their future. By attending this workshop, participants will have the opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of the practice of life logging and discover effective methods for utilizing it to their advantage.

Ann Mathew is a current first year Master of Design candidate at the University of Washington She specializes in the design of information, experiences, culture, data, and stories. She is a Teaching Assistant in the Art School. Prior to joining the UW she worked as a Communication Designer at Razorpay.

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