Design Curriculum Requirements
How to Declare the Design Major
Students may declare the DES major by completing one DES course at UC Davis with a “C” or better.
Major Requirements
Preparatory Subject Matter Units: 28
Intro Courses:
DES 001 Introduction to Design
DES 014 Design Drawing or DES 021 Drafting & Perspective
DES 015 Form & Color
DES 016 Graphic Design & Computer Technology
University Writing Program; choose one:
UWP 011 Popular Science & Technology Writing
UWP 012 Writing & Visual Rhetoric Preferred.
UWP 048 Style in the Essay
UWP 049 Writing Research Papers
Lower Division History/Theory Choose one:
DES 040A Energy, Materials, & Design Over Time Same as SAS 043.
DES 040B Ideologies of Design
DES 040C Design for Aesthetics & Experience
DES 040D Designed Geographies: Environment, Containment, Sanctuary
Lower Division Electives Choose one:
DES 021 Drafting & Perspective Can only be used for this requirement if not counted above.
DES 040A Energy, Materials, & Design Over Time Can only be used for this requirement if not counted above. Same as SAS 043.
DES 040B Ideologies of Design Can only be used for this requirement if not counted above.
DES 040C Design for Aesthetics & Experience Can only be used for this requirement if not counted above.
DES 040D Designed Geographies: Environment, Containment, Sanctuary Can only be used for this requirement if not counted above.
DES 050 Introduction to Three-Dimensional Design
DES 051 Computer-Assisted Drawing for Designers
DES 070 Introduction to Textile Design Structures
DES 077 Introduction to Structural Design for Fashion
ART 012 Beginning Video
Depth Subject Matter Units: 40
Upper Division History Courses, Choose three:
List A:
DES 127A Sustainable Design
DES 128A Biodesign Theory & Practice: Biodesign Challenge Part I
DES 138 Materials & Methods in Interior Design
DES 142A World Textiles: Eastern Hemisphere
DES 142B World Textiles: Western Hemisphere
DES 141 Cultural Studies of Fashion
DES 143 History of Fashion
DES 144 History of Interior Architecture
DES 145 History of Visual Communication
DES 146 Mobilities
DES 148 Trend Research & Forecasting in Design
DES 149 Information Design: Principles & Practice
Any upper division art history course (AHI 100-189)
DRA 114 Theatre on Film
DRA/CTS 116 Design on Screen
DRA 150 American Theatre & Drama
DRA 154 Asian Theatre and Drama
DRA 155 Representing Race in Performance
TCS 150 Introduction to Theories of the Technoculture
TCS 152 New Trends in Technocultural Arts
TCS 153 Concepts of Innovative Soundtracks
TCS/CDM 155 Introduction to Documentary Studies
TCS/CDM 159 Media Subcultures
Upper Division Studio Courses Choose five (20 units total) from lists B & C; one may be a non-Design (DES) course:
List B:
DES 107 Advanced Structural Design for Fashion
DES 111 Coding for Designers
DES 112 UI/UX Design: Principles & Practices
DES 113 Photography & Digital Imaging
DES 115 Letterforms & Typography
DES 116 Visual Communication: Graphic Design Studio
DES 117 Interactive Media I
DES 126 Design Ethnography
DES 127B Studio Practice in Sustainable Design
DES 128B Biodesign Experimentation & Prototyping: Biodesign Challenge Part II
DES 131 Global Fashion & Product Design
DES 132A Textile Design: Woven Structures
DES 132B Loom-Constructed Textile Design
DES 134A Introduction to Interior Design–Residential
DES 134B Introduction to Interior Design–Commercial & Technical Spaces
DES 135A Furniture Design & Detailing
DES 135B Furniture Design & Prototyping
DES 136A Lighting Technology & Design
DES 136B Designing with Light–Industrial Design
DES 137A Daylighting & Interior Design
DES 137B Daylighting Design Studio
DES 150 Computer-Assister Presentations for Interior Architecture
DES 151 Type in Motion
DES 155A Pattern, Form & Surface
DES 156 Graphitecture: Architecture in the Age of New Media
DES 157/157A Interactive Media II
DES 158 Data & Large-Scale Installation
DES 160 Textile Surface Design: Patterns & Resists
DES 161 Textile Surface Design: Screen & Digital Printing
DES 165 Studio Practices in Industrial Design
DES 166 Human Centered Design
DES 167 Prototyping: From Objects to Systems
DES 168 Interactive Objects
DES 169 Advanced Explorations in Textile Design
DES 170 Experimental Fashion & Textile Design
DES 171 Fashion Drawing: Technical & Illustration
DES 175 – Functional Apparel Design
DES 177 Computer-Assisted Fashion Design
DES 178 Design and Wearable Technology
DES 180A Advanced Interior Design: Institutional Spaces
DES 185 Exhibition Design
DES 186 Environmental Graphic Design
DES 191A-D Workshops in Design
One from the following approved list may count:
ART 110A Intermediate Photography: Black & White Analog
ART 110B Intermediate Photography: Digital Imaging
ART 113 Interdisciplinary Art
ART 114A Intermediate Video: Animation
CDM 100 Experimental Digital Cinema I
CDM 104 Documentary Production
CDM 125 Advanced Sound: Performance & Improvisation
CDM 130 Fundamentals of Computer Graphics
CDM 131 Character Animation
CHI 172 Chicana/o Voice/Poster Silk Screen Workshop
DRA 124A Principles of Theatrical Design: Scenery
DRA 124B Principles of Theatrical Design: Scenery
DRA 124C Principles of Theatrical Design: Lighting
DRA 124D Principles of Theatrical Design: Costume
DRA 124E Costume Design for Film Same as CTS 124E.
DRA 128 Principles of Theatre Sound (3 units)
DRA 130 Approaches to Theatrical Design: Practice & Theory
DRA 170 Media Theatre
TCS 104 Documentary Production
LDA 141 Community Participation & Design
List C:
Capstone Course Option; these courses are the most advanced in the major and prerequisites are strictly enforced:
DES 154 Visual Communication: Message Campaign Design
DES 157B Interactive Media III
DES 159 Design for Understanding
DES 179 Fashion Design: Signature Collection
DES 180B Advanced Interior Architecture
DES 187 Narrative Environments
Upper Division Elective Courses. Choose two from list A, B, or C that have not been previously counted. 8
Note: Substitutions for the listed courses may be allowed under certain circumstances with prior departmental approval.
Total: 68
Design Major Map
Gather skills, combine areas, and depart from the chart… See connections between areas of design practice. Use this chart to identify which courses are connected to larger themes within design practice, and to make informed choices about your path through the major.* Gather skills in 2- and 3-dimensional, analog, and digital practices. Combine one or more depth areas of design practice to build your own toolkit and become the designer you want to be. Depart from the chart to build your own toolkit!
