TEXTscape

To understand figure-ground as a fundamental compositional tool in landscape design, students apply the concepts of syntax and narrative in a figure-ground composition and learn some basic graphic tools in Photoshop and InDesign. At a basic spatial design level, learning how to manipulate figure-ground relationships enables us to guide visual perception which in turn affects people’s experience of a place. This is a fundamental skill for a landscape designer who strives to enhance human experiences through the shaping of space. Students research the etymology of their first and last names, write a narrative, and craft photographic figure-ground compositions of their initials - a syntax of representation and meaning.