Designers communicate ideas not only through form, color, and material—but also through words. Writing for Designers introduces students to the critical role writing plays across design disciplines, from architecture and fashion to industrial and interaction design. Through readings, discussions, and workshops, students examine the contexts, histories, and research practices that shape contemporary design thinking. Assignments emphasize analysis, reflection, and clarity of voice, helping students articulate their own creative processes and values. By the end of the course, students will have written and refined a personal design statement that synthesizes their approach, influences, and ambitions as designers. Readings and writing will focus on, among others, Japanese Design, including Studio Ghibli interviews (Miyazaki, Takahata) – reflections on beauty, imperfection, and storytelling through design; recent NYTimes coverage of Japanese design, including, Ligaya Mishan, “The Dark Side of Cute” (New York Times) – on aesthetics and cultural power; and “In Praise of Shadows” by Jun’ichirō Tanizaki – foundational reading on aesthetic and cultural values in design.

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