Abstract

This paper focuses on the design problems and solutions occurring throughout an online course development process, one of the first courses developed in an art education department. Issues of concern to the instructors and course developers included online course design development approaches, visual design, team collaborations, and online course interactions. The faculty members who participated in this study chose “Instructor with design and technical assistance” when asked their preferred online course design development approach. Team collaborations and online interactivities required faculty to rethink notions of communication, management, and shared responsibilities. Data collected from the case interviews indicated most participants were not fully aware of the value of integrating visual design into the online course design development process. It was apparent from a design practitioner perspective that non-design departments at the university faced greater challenges recognizing the need for and fully integrating visual design elements in the online course development process.