Some educators can teach by sheer instinct. But for most teachers, having a syllabus is crucial to providing a high-quality learning experience. Wether hand-scribbled note or elaborate blueprint, the syllabus enables teachers to balance their personal vision with the requisites of the class, needs of the students, and expectations of the school. A new book by Steven Heller provides design educators with a powerful tool for creating course syllabi for any type of subject and learning level. Co-published with the School of Visual Arts by Allworth Press, Teaching Graphic Design brings together forty-six syllabi and course descriptions from leading educators throughout the U.S.

Heller, who sifted through several hundred syllabi before making his choice, praises educators for their cooperative attitude: "When asked to submit to this volume not one teacher balked. In fact, they were extremely anxious to share their methods with others in the educational community." The selection process was more difficult, requiring a careful balancing between traditional courses and innovative models, detailed instruction guides and inspirational outlines, standard versus "eccentric" styles. The result is a mix of syllabi complete with weekly breakdowns, projects, and selected readings.

With a focus on graphic design studio classes, the syllabi are divided into three sections—undergraduate, graduate, and undergraduate and graduate levels—and range from classic courses such as Typography I and Photoshop to more innovative courses such as web, film, and game design. Highlights featured in Teaching Graphic Design include

* "Flash Intensive" by Natalie Zee, Susan Harris, Anna McMillan, and Josh Ulm
* "Corporate Culture and Alternative Visions" by Maud Lavin and Sol Sender
* "Music Design" by Stefan Sagmeister
* "Service Learning: Connecting Community and Design" by Elisabeth Charman and Susan Agre-Kippenhan
* Graphic Design Thesis: A Survivor’s Guide by Michael Vanderbyl, Leslie Becker, Jennifer Morla, Karen Fiss, Bob Aufuldish, and Mark Fox
* "Professional Practices in Design" by Terry Stone

"Knowing how other designers teach" is one of the most frequently expressed needs among today’s design educators. With Teaching Graphic Design, designers have the opportunity to see how their peers across the U.S. manage to teach demanding subject matter, engage their students through meaningful assignments, meet the expectations of their schools, and keep themselves motivated.