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
-
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
-
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 - Visual Design 1
Primary Instructor
-
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 - Copywriting 1
Primary Instructor
-
Fall 2020 / Fall 2021 / Fall 2022 / Fall 2023 / Fall 2024
Explores the development of interactive concepts that meet a strategic brief's brand objectives. Emphasis is placed on developing strong digital ideals and mastering and applying the styles appropriate for different digital media.
APRD 3400 - Creative Concepting 1
Primary Instructor
-
Fall 2020 / Spring 2021 / Fall 2021 / Spring 2022 / Fall 2022 / Spring 2023 / Fall 2023 / Spring 2024 / Fall 2024
Introduces students to Design Thinking and the techniques for designing ideas into concepts. The course leads students through the design thinking process of 1) Empathize, 2) Define, 3) Ideate, 4) Concept, 5) Prototype, 6) Test. Most emphasis is placed on the first four steps.
APRD 3402 - Video Design
Primary Instructor
-
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
-
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
-
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 - Creative Portfolio 1
Primary Instructor
-
Fall 2021 / Fall 2022 / Fall 2023 / Fall 2024
Develop a variety of design concepts and execute them at a professional level. Students are assigned projects to demonstrate their ability in areas such as branding, product design, advertising creativity, and interaction design. Students will also design their own online portfolio. Creative work is presented in a juried show at the end of the semester.
APRD 4601 - Creative Portfolio 2
Primary Instructor
-
Spring 2021 / Spring 2022 / Spring 2023
Drawing on creative skills and knowledge developed in previous courses, students produce a final creative portfolio ready for professional viewing. There will be an opportunity to enter work into the International One Show advertising and design awards competition.
APRD 4873 - Special Topics
Primary Instructor
-
Fall 2018 / Fall 2019 / Spring 2020 / Spring 2021
Special Topics.
APRD 4931 - Internship
Primary Instructor
-
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 / Fall 2024
Internship course
