As designers, we’re constantly navigating cycles of feedback to develop creative ideas with resonance and impact.

In this course, each student will develop a production-ready design concept, learning hard and soft skills on how to give and action creative feedback. We’ll push ourselves and one another to consider new perspectives, influences, and resources while learning what makes a creative concept resonant and meaningful.

As you hone your project concept, you’ll learn critical communication skills, setting you on a path for fruitful creative growth within — and beyond — your career as a designer.

Come with a freelance or personal design project you’re embarking on, or develop a concept for your own website. We’ll explore how to find a unique, fundamental truth in every design problem, and build it into an actionable and beautiful creative concept.

Whether you’re a freelancer needing to get out of your own head, a member of a creative team looking for new sources of inspiration, or an independent designer looking to ground your personal projects with an audience, this 4-week workshop offers an opportunity for designers to develop a viable design idea, practice presenting concepts with precision, and push each other’s work in new directions.

While no specific skill level is required, all participants should be practicing graphic designers with a working understanding of composition, typography, color theory, art direction, and standard project lifecycles.

• Learn how to identify and develop a unique and resonant design concept.
• Learn how to give written and verbal feedback that pushes the work forward.
• Learn how to share a creative concept in a clear and concise way
• Learn how to turn abstract feedback into actionable next steps.
• Leave with a production-ready design concept

Week 1

Establishing a shared standard for conscious critique; intention setting; project introductions.

Week 2

Defining creative territories; what makes a viable design direction?

Week 3

Creative territories group peer-to-peer critique, 12 mins per student (6 to share and 6 for crit)

Week 4

Final presentations on Index Public Square, 12 mins per student (6 to share and 6 for questions)

Jacob is a self-taught graphic designer also experimenting in type design, programming, and photography. He got his first design job at age 27, has won no awards for his work, and after burning out from agency and in-house experience, co-founded XXIX. He is a faculty member at Parsons School of Design and visiting professor at HBKSaar, and gives talks and workshops throughout the year.

Index scholarships are designed to benefit underrepresented groups, BIPOC members of our community, and those for whom the class price is not accessible. These need-based scholarships will go to the candidates who best demonstrate why they should be chosen for the free spot to our class based on the following criteria:

• Belong to groups that are traditionally underrepresented in the graphic design and creative industries
• Do not have jobs that would pay for these courses as professional development
• Cannot independently afford the class at list price
• Share our value of intentional community

The number of selected applicants chosen is subject to the discretion of Index and the instructor, but every course will select at least one. Apply for a scholarship here. Applications close September 24th.

We get that things come up, but we rely on headcounts in our programs to survive as a business. If you request a refund...

More than 4 weeks before class begins → 100% refund
More than 2 weeks before class begins → 50% refund
Fewer than 2 weeks before class begins → No refund

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