DESIGN P ROJECT #1 (50% OF YOUR FINAL GRADE )

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE

HUMAN?
The question what does it mean to be human? has been around for a long time.
What does this question mean to you? What does it mean to be human? Are there
certain characteristic that all human share? These characteristic define and limit our
understanding of humanness. What do you think these characteristics are?
My first world is humanity. My second world is humanism. And, I live in the third
world being merely a human.
Santosh Kalwar

Directions: By means of this project, I want you to answer the question what does it mean to be
human? To answer this question, determine the 5 characteristics you find essential to humanness
(i.e. freedom, love, etc.). You then have to present these characteristics through an art form (i.e.
songs, movies, art pieces, etc.); make sure the piece you choose reflects your characteristics. For
instance, you can illustrate the characteristic of freedom using the song waving flag. Make sure
to explain how your art piece relates to the characteristic. DO NOT assume that I can make the
link; I want to know what your link is.
Inquire and Analyze (15%)

Consider the following questions

o What does it mean to be human?
o Why is this question important?
Analyze the representation of humanness.
Understand how art is used to represent the given characteristics.
o What is the artist trying to say?
o How does he achieve his goal?
Analyze previous works in order to understand what to do, and what not to do.

Checklist:
Worksheet
Participation in class discussion
Analyze the work of your peers

Developing Ideas (10%)

Brainstorm your ideas as a class using the live size human.

o What are the essential characteristics of a human being?

Find your pair and brainstorm your ideas together (for your final project you will be
working in groups of two).

Checklist:
Work on the live size human
Brainstorm in pairs.

Creating the Solution (20%)

(This is the actual product/Final design)

This is your actual project. It answers the question what does it mean to be human?
It includes 5 characteristics of humanness represented through an art form.
Your work includes a justification of why the given art form represents your
characteristic of humanness.
Present your Final design in a class fair. Bonus point for the team that wins.

Checklist:
Your final product

Evaluation (5%)

Reflect on your work

o Fill out the checklist
o What could you have done better?
o Are you satisfied with your work?
o What did you learn?

Checklist:
Your checklist
Reflection worksheet