LA 5050

Graphic Communication I

Course Description

Course information provided by the 2025-2026 Catalog.

This course introduces students to landscape architectural representation and teaches conventions such as basic drafting and orthographic drawing (plan, section, axonometric) alongside freehand drawing, collage, modeling, photography and digital representation. Assignments will be fully integrated with the projects being undertaken in the companion Studio Course LA 5010 emphasizing the seamless interplay of landscape architectural design with the activities of drawing, making and representation through which it is conceived and visualized.

Prerequisites REF-FA25/Corequisites REF-FA25 Prerequisites: None. LA 5010 or permission of instructor.

Last 4 terms offered (None)

Outcomes REF-FA25

• Students will learn, practice and develop habits of drawing and representation that are integral to their ongoing learning, growth and development as a designer. Generative and iterative drawing, orthographic drawing, drafting, modeling, mapping, diagramming, analysis and concept drawing, photography, collage, modeling, and ideation drawing will be among the drawings types practiced.
• Students will learn how to conduct, record and translate field observations and measurements on landscape sites into site basemaps, plans, and sections.
• Students will learn how to graphically compose, organize, and present well-conceived visual design presentations that persuasively represent their designs in poster, portfolio, and web-portfolio formats. Their learning will include a basic introduction to Creative Suite programs including In-Design, Photoshop, and illustrator.
• Students will learn how to digitally prepare, upload, size, store, and secure their graphic work for presentation and portfolio purposes.
• Students will learn and practice critical evaluation of landscape representation process and products- their own and those of their peers- through group critiques, peer review, and reflection/evaluation sessions.
• Students will gain a basic understanding of the historic and contemporary way that the theory and practice of landscape representation has reciprocally influenced the theory and practice of conceiving and creating constructed landscapes. This understanding will be achieved through readings, lectures, and visits to Cornell archive and museums collections.
• Students will learn how to access and use an array of landscape representation resources including books, articles, mapping resources, digital collections, on-line graphic tools, etc.

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