DeCal Course Listings

The Fall 2026 Jacobs-sponsored, student-led DeCal courses are listed below. To see Jacobs Hall DeCal course listings from other semesters, please visit our DeCal Course Archive.

DES INV 98-1 PHOTOGRAPHY PRINCIPLES DECAL

In this class, students will be introduced to the history, art, and practices of photography in the modern world. Students will learn how to manually operate a digital SLR camera, how to use lighting in conjunction with posing to create compositions, and how to post-process RAW photos. Different disciplines will also be taught and include portraiture, landscape, architecture, product, studio, and more. Over the semester, students will learn critiques of photos and develop a more artistic eye for photos.

DES INV 98-2 HUMAN CENTERED DESIGN DECAL

In this course facilitated by Berkeley Innovation, students learn about the human-centered design process and theory and engage in hands-on activities during class and in homework assignments. The course covers research, synthesis, ideation, prototyping, Figma, communication, and presentation skills. Throughout the semester, students will apply what they learn while using industry standard tools to solve a problem they care about in their group midterm research report and individual final project. The course culminates in a case study students can use to kickstart their portfolio and greater design journey. Learn more at hcd-decal.org

DES INV 98-3 INTRODUCTION TO FIGMA DECAL

Introduction to Figma is an opportunity for any student to learn Figma — a powerful, free-to-use design tool — and gain the skills, community, and confidence to bring any idea to life. Through the course, you will learn the mechanics of Figma, basic design theory, and unconventional ways to apply the skills you pick up during the semester. Although Figma is known for its UI/UX design capabilities, you can leverage it for anything that you desire!

DES INV 98-4 ENABLETECH: INTRO TO ASSISTIVE DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY DECAL

This 1-unit DeCal teaches technical skills important to the design of assistive technology. Students will be walked through the design process and taught technical skills (such as 3D modeling, 3D printing, laser cutting, Arduino, and electronics) through the perspective of assistive technology design. The class will be held for 2 hours, consisting of 1 hour lectures followed by 1 hour of active work on a hands-on project. The class will culminate in a final project, designed to implement skills gained throughout the course. No prior experience or major is required for this course.

DES INV 198-1 VIDEO GAME DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT DECAL

This course is a deep dive into the creation of games, from beginning to end. Over the course of the semester, students will pitch a game, form small teams, and build a project from start to finish with help from the instructors. Students are not required to have any prior game development experience but it is required that a student taking the course either has basic art, music or programming abilities. They will also learn about the different roles that exist within the industry, how to apply their skills to them, and form an understanding about how to best prepare themselves to find their way into these roles. This will be a rigorous class, one that will require a lot of time and dedication. Students will be selected via the application due Friday, September 4th at 11:59 PM, to ensure that the class’ composition reflects a diverse range of skills, backgrounds, and proficiency levels.

Course Website:
https://www.gamedesigndecal.com

DES INV 198-2 INTRODUCTION TO PRODUCT DESIGN DECAL

Introduction to Product Design is a project-based course that introduces students to the process of designing thoughtful digital products. Rather than focusing only on UX/UI tools, students learn how product designers identify user needs, frame problems, research opportunities, generate and evaluate ideas, map product flows, prototype solutions, and improve designs through critique and iteration. Through weekly assignments, discussions, workshops, and midterm and final projects, students will develop a portfolio-ready product concept while building a foundation in product thinking, collaboration, visual communication, and design decision-making.

DES INV 198-3 BRAND IDENTITY GRAPHIC DESIGN DECAL

This course is an in-depth exploration of what branding is and how it works, through the eyes of a designer. Each student will come up with a brand concept for a company/business that’s imaginary or real. Students will cultivate skills of conceptualizing and visualizing and learn the basic skills of graphic design as a means to make those ideas a reality. The course focuses on design as a tool to communicate. Students will learn about the conceptual elements of branding, and how to use graphic design tools like Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop as a valuable skill set that will help them in the future.

DES INV 198-4 INTRODUCTION TO PHOTOSHOP & ILLUSTRATOR DECAL

This course teaches graphic design through the use of Photoshop and Illustrator. Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator CC will be taught in a series of tutorials complemented with exercises to perform during class and at home. These exercises give students the opportunity to practice the tools, create designs, and exercise their creativity. We will also explore graphic design trends and their applications, and learn to receive and give critiques in order to improve your design work.