Dan Ligon is focused on the application of design thinking and design practices to strategically shape modern media in all its forms. Currently, his research is focused on the Idea Ratio—how many ideas per great idea.
keywords
Concept Design, Video Design, Story Design, Interaction Design
Teaching
courses taught
APRD 1001 - Creative Concepts
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2018 / Fall 2018 / Spring 2019
Introduces students to a disciplined process that is used to create innovative solutions across commercial communication fields. Emphasizes approaches to problem identification and solution that combine research and human insight with a variety of creative thinking techniques. Topics include need finding, structured brainstorming, rapid sketching, storytelling and visual communication.
APRD 3000 - Intermediate Creative Concepts
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2018 / Spring 2019 / Fall 2019
Explores both strategic and creative thinking and examines approaches to narrative storytelling as a tool for telling overarching brand stories. Students use the foundation to develop creative briefs and advertising campaigns. Instructor consent required.
APRD 3001 - Intermediate Design Concepts
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2020
Students are introduced to design elements and principles, research and visual storytelling. They are challenged to communicate intellectual, sensory and emotional concepts by learning a visual vocabulary of type, color, and form expressed in a variety of mediums and dimensions.
APRD 3102 - Story Design I
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2020 / Fall 2021 / Fall 2022 / Fall 2023
Explores the development of interactive concepts that meet the strategic brief's brand objectives. Emphasis is placed first on developing strong digital ideals. Students also master the styles appropriate for different digital media and then use those skills.
APRD 3400 - Concept Design
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2020 / Spring 2021 / Fall 2021 / Spring 2022 / Fall 2022 / Spring 2023 / Fall 2023 / Spring 2024
Introduces students to Design Thinking and the techniques for designing ideas into concepts. This course will lead students through the design thinking process of 1) Empathize, 2) Define, 3) Ideate, 4) Concept, 5) Prototype, 6) Test. The emphasis will be on the first four steps.
APRD 3402 - Video Design
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2022 / Spring 2023
Building upon the fundamentals of the three required Media Design classes (Concept Design, Visual Design, and Story Design), Video Design teaches students how to work within a specific timeline to deliver video for strategic communication purposes that demonstrates understanding of pace, structure, and tempo. Previously offered as a special topics course. Recommended prerequisites: APRD 3500 or APRD 3001.
APRD 4503 - Portfolio 1
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2018 / Fall 2019 / Fall 2020
Enhances student conceptual abilities and generates both print and integrated multimedia campaigns. Students work in teams to develop an extensive body of work that's exhibited in an awards show judged by advertising professionals. Instructor consent required.
APRD 4523 - Portfolio 2
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2018 / Spring 2019 / Spring 2020
Gives students an opportunity to develop an extensive body of work. Students create integrated campaigns, which include print, digital and guerilla ideas. Final portfolios are critiqued by both faculty and outside reviewers. Instructor consent required.
APRD 4600 - Media Design Portfolio I
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2021 / Fall 2022 / Fall 2023
Develop a variety of design concepts and execute them at a professional level. Students are assigned projects typical of those handled by design firms to demonstrate their ability in areas such as branding, product design, interaction design, etc. Students will also design their own online portfolio. Creative work is presented in a juried show at the end of the semester. Department requisite: students must apply with a portfolio, the quality will determine enrollment.
APRD 4601 - Media Design Portfolio II
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2021 / Spring 2022 / Spring 2023
Refine the skills learned in APRD 4600 and further development of work at a professional level. With help from visiting professionals, students continue to develop a body of work that provides their mastery of user-centered design and branding across a variety of real-world assignments. The final portfolio is judged in the student creative show, juried by design professionals. Department requisite: students must apply with a portfolio, the quality will determine enrollment.
APRD 4873 - Special Topics
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2018 / Fall 2019 / Spring 2020 / Spring 2021
Special Topics.
APRD 4931 - Internship
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2018 / Summer 2018 / Spring 2019 / Summer 2019 / Fall 2019 / Spring 2020 / Summer 2020 / Fall 2020 / Spring 2021 / Summer 2021 / Fall 2021 / Spring 2022 / Fall 2022 / Spring 2023 / Fall 2023 / Spring 2024
Internship course.
