Teaching Design with Carin Goldberg, Instructor at the School of Visual Arts,

Thursday April 21, 2011 at Bumble and bumble, 3rd floor auditorium.

Carin Goldberg has been teaching at the School of Visual Arts for the past 30 years. Her courses include a third year type class and senior portfolio class. In her presentation she spoke about her approach to teaching, the assignments she gives, and why she teaches. Word is that she is a tough teacher, and this is true. Students are expected to work hard in her class, and end up thanking her for a year or two of tough love.

The Approach

Who where what how and why? These are five questions Carin asks students about the subject they are designing for. These questions, asked at the start of each assignment, encourage intelligent problem solving. In terms of the critique process, students are asked to analyze and respond to other students work, not their own. Each piece is dissected and discussed. Carin is interested not in the student’s opinions, but how and why something works. This encourages them to become critical thinkers.

To be an effective teacher, you have to look for the germ of an idea even in seemingly unsuccessful work. Find what is good about a student’s work, and how can that be expanded that into something great. She tells students “There is no magic bullet. If you work really hard, you get really good at what you do.”

The Assignments

Carin chooses assignments that are fun to teach, and ones she’d like to do in her own practice. She shares books and films that are eclectic and varied. Most students do not read enough, visit galleries or museums, or listen to a broad range of music. Without a broad overview of the arts, the potential for great work is limited. One of her assignments requires that students go to the theater (and bring the ticket stub to prove it). They then create posters for the play they see, and design the identity for the theater.

Another assignment is book jacket design, often a series. Students are instructed to read and interpret the book’s content as a designer and not a civilian.

On Typography

Type petrifies students, and they don’t know what to do. Carin helps them conquer their fear and explains to them that typefaces don’t solve problems; it’s how you use them. “If the typography is not good in the design, then the design fails.”

Carin’s NY Times assignment asks students to understand and recognize the voice of the Times typographically. It’s about working with type as color and musicality that is right for the NY times. This assignment is the hardest and takes the longest, but often the most rewarding.

Another assignment, an oversized quarterly magazine about photography, focuses on the relationship between typography and three photographers from different genres. Students learn about photography, it’s history, and how to curate and edit.

Closing Words on Teaching

Don’t teach if you don’t enjoy it. Go into it with the enthusiasm of a twenty year old and an understanding of who they are. Push them forward, be hard on them, they will thank you for it. Carin concludes “If you give the public sophisticated design they will rise to that level. My students are taught as designers to raise the bar by introducing culture, quality ideas, humor and intelligence to what they produce.”

For more information, visit:

Carin Goldberg

School of Visual Arts

To view event details, visit:

AIGANY / Teaching Design with Carin Goldberg

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