Abstract

In liberal arts universities all students are compelled to complete a variety of general education courses, often including selections from an artistic expression category. The stereotype that art is an exclusive realm inhabited by a select few excludes the majority of university students and further separates them from a successful understanding of how the principles and elements of design impact and inform their daily experiences. Teaching general education students to recognize and categorize design components poses special challenges to art educators. Within the broader context of a liberal arts course, the focus must rely heavily on projects and presentations that actively challenge pre-existing notions of what art is, who artists are and what those definitions mean within a larger dialogue. This paper addresses exercises and topics art educators employ to allow general education students to explore the very personal role design in its many incarnations has in their daily interactions from current trends in fashion, car and furniture manufacturing and urban planning to the fine arts. Inspiring students to notice and recognize design elements in their everyday lives strengthens their critical thought skills and enriches all facets of their future aesthetic experiences.