Environmental Design Electives

This introductory course introduces students to BIM modeling through the Revit platform. Fundamental skills will be taught to help students understand technical and practical aspects of this software to both support academic projects and gain early exposure to expectations in professional practice. Emphasis throughout the course will be placed on the most successful ways to utilize this powerful program whether in early design stages or later stage production. This course is not intended to evaluate design skills but advance knowledge of the presented software.

Focuses on construction and use of computer-based information systems to represent and manipulate geographic data. Emphasizes the recording, mapping, and transforming of data for analysis and use by planners. 

Illustrates color media techniques for the preparation, composition, and presentation of landscape and built environment drawings.

Fall 2025 (7 week, Session 2)  TTH 2:00pm-4:45pm

Teaches the student fundamental to intermediate skills and design practices around 3d modeling using Rhino 3d software. 3D modeling is the process of developing a mathematical representation of any three-dimensional surface or object (either inanimate or living) via specialized software that can be used for representation, calculations, fabrication, visualization etc.. Learning strategies around how to see your world in “3d models” and learning when/how/where to use these techniques will make students confident designers and marketable.

Please contact Nate Jones for more information and to register.

The course is an exploration of topics related to graphic design and visual communication as they relate to constructing your own professional identity. Topics will include layout, composition, fonts, color theory, printing, publication and web-based presence. We will work on visual communication strategies to develop graphically compelling and clear portfolios in both web-based and print formats for use in applications for graduate school and professional practice. A comprehensive and fluid approach to the use of the Adobe Creative Suite for all design tasks will be stressed.

• Comprehend the fundamentals of graphic design and their application in visual communication.
• Be able to speak about visual communication in your own language and evaluate critically the visual design surrounding us.
• Construct a comprehensive personal and professional identity through print and digital mediums.
• Be able to synthesize the inherent strengths of various different software tools into a fluid digital design process.

This 7-week course focuses on the training and practice of visual sensitivity in the freehand graphic technique including composition, freehand sketch, and color application to improve the skill of design and to achieve the graphic presentation effectively. This course will help students to develop skills and understanding with 1) the pencil sketch, 2) the freehand drawing with pen, 3) pastel, 4) the introduction of Chinese painting, 5) watercolor, and 6) watercolor rendering. The objectives of this course are to improve composition capability and artistic/color appreciation, develop a variety of skills in different mediums, and generate attractive work to support the student portfolio.

Addresses variable topics in the relationship of human experience and behavior to the built environment, e.g., social research methods in environmental design.

Fall 2025 (16 week) TTH 9:30pm-10:45pm

Architectural Imagination and AI:
How can AI reshape the way we imagine and design spaces, cities, and speculative worlds? This course explores the creative intersection of artificial intelligence and architecture, pushing the boundaries of design through generative tools and world building techniques. Students will engage critically with AI’s potential while addressing its ethical and environmental challenges. Through a mix of theory, hands-on experimentation, and world-building exercises the course will culminate in a major project where students design speculative architectural worlds using AI generated imagery, videos, and interactive-storytelling.
 

Addresses variable topics in the relationship of human experience and behavior to the built environment, e.g., social research methods in environmental design.

Fall 2025 (7 week, Session 1)  TTH 2:00pm-4:45pm

Fidgets and Stims:
This course will introduce key concepts on neurodiversity as it relates to the design of products and the built environment. "Neurodiversity" encompasses the broad spectrum of normal human variations in cognition, emotion, and sensory processing. Students will create fidget designs aimed at enhancing emotional wellbeing by encouraging soothing, self-stimulatory behaviors, known as "stims." They will then design and evaluate new fidget prototypes created using digital fabrication methods such as 3D printing and CNC milling. 

Provides an advanced seminar on new technologies and issues of professional practice in the environmental design professions.

Fall 2025 (16 week) TTH 11:00am-12:15pm

Dispute Resolution: 
This course develops skills in negotiation, communication, and public dispute resolution involving government, private sectors, and the public. It combines theory with hands-on practice, focusing on interdependent situations requiring mutual agreement in development and policy matters. Students engage in discussions on real-world policy conflicts, analyzing case studies and participating in two 2-party exercises. Through active participation, they explore, apply, and critique various conflict resolution techniques across different dispute contexts.

Enrollment is open to all majors, with priority registration given to ENVD majors. After April 21, non-ENVD majors will be registered based on seat availability and enrollment windows. Non-Environmental Design students must submit an Intent to Enroll Form: https://forms.gle/kzETNF94ikV1xZmR6

Provides an advanced seminar on new technologies and issues of professional practice in the environmental design professions.

Fall 2025 (7 week, Session 1) F 8:00am-1:00pm

Urban Design Livable Cities: 
This is a 7-week deep dive into urban design and human well-being in an interdisciplinary, experiential learning format. City form at multiple scales – buildings, public spaces, transportation and access to nature - plays a strong role in human experience. We will explore proven urban design principles, consider trends and explore solutions to emerging challenges with evidence-based applications. In the second half, students will engage with professionals in a series of real-world “design challenges”. 

 

Provides an advanced seminar on theory and criticism in environmental design, e.g., architecture now and introduction to design theory and criticism.

Fall 2025 (7 week, Session 2) TTH 2:00pm-4:45pm

Sustainability & Feng Shui: Supported by CU Diversity Grants, this 7-week course demonstrates a synthesis design approach, emphasizing design with climate and using feng-shui as a clue. Class field investigations identify landform patterns of areas prone to fire, wind, and postfire debris flows to avoid rebuilding in impacted areas. Students are also trained to evaluate and improve their home design to enhance healthy living, combining feng-shui principles and scientific knowledge. Class exercises Tai Chi during class breaks.

Please contact Nate Jones (nathan.p.jones@colorado.edu) for more information and to register.​