Background
Since the Spring 2022 semester, I've developed and taught undergraduate and graduate-level design courses. My students have gone on to intern and work for companies including Disney, Amazon, Walmart, and more.
These mixed-format courses consist of lectures, discussions, and studio time that allow students of all experience levels to develop fundamental visual design theory and skills to prepare for careers in design and related fields. Course topics include visual design foundations, user interface foundations, and design thinking methods. Students have the opportunity to create multiple projects for their personal portfolios. Students engage with industry professionals to provide insight into professional careers in design.
Learning outcomes
Students will be able to:
• Develop values to guide professional career.
• Generate divergent ideas for ambiguous and complex problems.
• Design and present work at the appropriate level of detail for the audience.
• Critique design works of self and others with tact to improve output.
• Demonstrate foundational graphic design skills by creating works with high attention to detail.
• Develop cohesive visual systems across multiple mediums.
• Support design rationale using appropriate design vocabulary.
• Create accessible design works for all users.
• Develop skills for mastering industry-used design software.
Student-centered course
I gather student feedback throughout the course to ensure that the curriculum is meeting their needs and providing the most value. This approach aligns with the principles of "Human-centered design," and I refer to it as a "Student-centered course," since the feedback is used to adjust the level of workload, pacing, lecture engagement, and other aspects of the course.
Student feedback
Don't take my word for it. Here's what some of my former students have said about my course.
“Daniel is one of my favorite professors I've had at UT... He's so incredibly understanding and genuinely cares so much for his students; he just wants us all to succeed! His course was one of the most well-organized and well-structured courses I've taken at UT. He's a gem of a professor and I will miss this class a lot!"
"Amazing. Literally my favorite class. Professor Kramer creates such an inviting space to learn and grow and makes us feel comfortable and eager to learn. He is so encouraging and I've definitely grown in my design abilities and confidence because of him."
"I can't wait to see what Prof Kramer does in the future. Will highly recommend his class to others and you can tell he does really care about his students."
"BEST PROFESSOR EVER!!! Honestly, the best professor I've had at UT... Attentive, always available, and made learning about design so fun."
Reflection
I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the success of my students. While I am pleased with the feedback I have received, I always strive to improve my teaching and provide value to my students. I regularly reflect on my experiences and share them on LinkedIn.