Low Effort class. The topics were silly though not sure if I learned anything useful. Gave me some interesting perspective though and background behind design I’d seen before. Literally do the work and you’re good.

Is this an easy GE? Yes. Do you really learn anything? No. I really tried hard to pay attention in class, but being a 3hr lecture at 9am and the fact that the lights were dimmed, I slowly started to just do other work during lecture or sleep. There are three pop quizzes (lowest score is dropped) throughout the quarter, and attendance is taken either at the break or at the end of class. There's a midterm paper that is individual (it was about our opinion on if ornamentation is considered a crime), the "UCLA game" which is basically a scavenger hunt across campus with a group done instead of a midterm test, and a final group paper (this year we had to write about the design of a place we liked in Westwood). You will need to get the course reader because we have to use the readings in there as our sources for our essays. Huhtamo also used concepts from the readings in some quiz questions. If I paid more attention I would have gotten more out of the class, but it is easy to get an A without listening to lecture.

I am probably not the only one get offended when the professor characterize his lamp as "look like an Asian figure" because of the "eye shape." He could have been more sensitive given the amount of Asian students in his class.

I could go on and on about why I would never take this class again and why I would never reccommend this atrocious class to anyone, but in short:

- Huhtamo has probably the worst communication skills I have experienced from a professor
- not lenient towards any type of extensions (got an extremely rude email response back for asking for a ONE day extension because I was sick for an entire week)
- expensive textbook that is required, you cannot complete assignments or write essays without the ereader
- homework is just busywork (you could easily answer each question in at least three sentences but each question required a minimum of 100 words so you found yourself repeating yourself multiple times)
- usually I enjoy GEs, but this class drained every ounce of happiness from me
- it is extremeley boring (you would think a design class would be interesting and engaging but no, it's shocking what Huhtamo can do to you) I would honestly forget about this class a lot
- you would also think that since this class is focused on design they would design this class better
- only good thing is that it is an easy A

TLDR: DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS... INSTEAD you should try PORTSGE 46 (actually interesting, engaging, you learn something useful, you don't waste a quarter, still an easy A)

I definitely recommend taking this class, the two hour lecture on Friday morning with mandatory attendance isn't very appealing but you honestly don't even have to really listen and when you do they are pretty engaging and easy to follow. The quizzes are difficult but I failed all three and still got an A+ due to all the extra credit that was offered. Im not sure if this is offered for every quarter but still if you do the readings you should be fine. As long as you try and show up you will get an A+ I can almost guarantee. Plus Professor Huhtamo is amazing so I definitely think you should take this as an easy GE.

Really Easy A, Huhtamo is really passionate about the subject but the lectures are really boring/dry (and long/ mandatory I may add) unless you really like media art history. There are weekly discussion posts on Bruinlearn, 4 events/screenings that you have to go to and report on, a midterm essay, and a final essay. The essays need to be really long but aren't graded harshly based on the TA. I would only take this class if you have to or I guess like the A.

This class is so easy but it can be boring because it’s 3 hours long and the professor takes attendance either towards the end or the middle of the class. There are 3 pop quizzes and I failed all of them and still passed with an A because they’re is extra credit opportunities and the midterm + final would pretty easy which was just exploring westwood and campus and writing about the topic they give. I would def recommend it as a ge

Professor Huhtamo is clearly a very passionate professor that enjoys design culture. He tries to make his lectures entertaining and although some lectures were quite interesting there are other weeks where it was so boring (especially when the lectures are 3 hours). This class is basically lectures every week exploring different aspects of design and famous designers or movements that initiates design over the years. Overall this class is extremely easy and low effort. I personally didn't read the textbook at all and failed all of the pop quizzes, but despite this I received an A+ in the class. There are all lot of extra credit opportunities and the lowest pop quiz grade is dropped. I would recommend you to focus more on the midterm, final, and desma specials and event since they are worth more and if you do well you will definitely be fine.

I ended with a 104% in this class along with my friends. I definitely recommend if you are looking for an easy GE. I found myself interested in a lot of the concepts we learned about and the lectures despite being a STEM major. However, it can be difficult to sit through three hours of any class. I recommend taking notes to pay attention at least slightly, but you can definitely do homework on the side as well. Additionally, there are readings required every week that the pop quizzes are half on as well. I didn't do a single reading. I got 4/10, 4/10, and 6/10 on the three pop quizzes, with one of the 4/10's dropped, but I did three extra credits. The extra credits are so so helpful, they can take you for example from an A- to an A just from doing one. The assignments do require you to attend events outside of class. A lot are on campus or zoom, which I did. They are easy and interesting. If you like to learn or enjoy the subject, definitely take this class. If you just want an easy GE and A, I would also recommend. Overall, I would definitely take it again.

Professor Huhtamo is great, I did not have an issue with him, it was the actual course content. His 3 hour lectures are very tough to sit through, but the break in between is nice and long enough to grab a coffee from the library. There are readings every week that introduce you to the topics being discussed in lecture, 3 random pop quizzes based 30% on the readings, and 70% from last week's lecture. Our final was a research essay that used 5 sources from the reading, so I'd say it was important for that. If you are not into design or reading super deep into design choices, you'll most likely find this class to be very boring. Attendance is taken by QR code during the break, although sometimes they'll switch it up to ensure everybody stays the whole time. If you just do the work, and at least skim through the readings you'll be fine.