THPERF 149Introduction to Critical Design Practices
- Units
- 0.50
- Faculty
- Arts
- Subject
- Theatre and Performance
- Cross-listed
- COMMST 149, DAC 209
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 7 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
How does design help us think? This studio course introduces students to practice-based methods for generating knowledge. Topics may include prototyping, performance as research, material thinking, multi-modal representation, and experience design. Students will test and explore how we learn differently through creative practices.
Prerequisites
None listed.
Antirequisites
None listed.
Leads to
No course lists it as a requisite.
Fall 2026 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| WSP 001 | 3694 | 9 / 9 | Online or by arrangement |
| WSP 002 | 3980 | 7 / 7 | Th 13:00–14:20 |
Winter 2027 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| WSP 001 | 3568 | 0 / 5 | Th 14:30–17:20 |
| WSP 002 | 3821 | 0 / 5 | W 13:00–14:20 |
| WSP 701 | 1356 | 5 / 9999 | Online or by arrangement |
| WSP 702 | 1475 | 0 / 9999 | Online or by arrangement |
Reviewed on UW Flow
100% liked it75% easy75% useful
From 3 ratings and 2 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
I took this class with Betsy Brey, last minute. I loved it a lot. Betsy is passionate, kind and great at keeping the class engaged. However, she is not the best at answering emails and her syllabus was slightly vague for late marks. In this class you will have a lot of work, you essentially submit weekly asynch activities which are long and time-consuming weekly and you also do in-class synch activities that you need to submit with group members to give a participation mark. There is a midterm and final project, both were fun but again, tedious as this is a design course. Despite some cons, I looked forward to coming into classes as they were distressing, fun and useful about design.
Jul 2024 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Useful and fun class.
Apr 2026 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
4 posts and comments in 4 threads mention THPERF 149, August 2021 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.
Spring 2023
THPERF courses? 10 points, 2 comments
u/PailsInCompartments: “… to seep into the darkness of the Internet and live in our blind spots Anyhow, specifically THPERF 100, 102 and 149? …”
Winter 2023
How is Spcom 149/Thperf 149? 2 points, 0 comments
u/abdulkalem9999: “There are no reviews on them in uw flow”
Spring 2022
Anyone taken SPCOM 149/THPERF 149? 4 points, 2 comments
u/ariscmv: “Sounds kinda interesting but I can’t find any info about it beyond a brief description. Would love any insight on the course content and enjoyability!”
Spring 2021
THPERF 149? 1 point, 0 comments
u/_donewiththis: “Title. Has anyone taken this course before? I got rejected from THPERF 102 and 100 (class full/time conflict) and the only available class left is THPERF 149.... but I cant find any reviews about it anywhere, not on uwflow or on reddit!!!”
Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026
- Undergraduate Calendar, 2026–27The official entry
- Requirements for Fall 2026Waterloo’s requisite checker
- Schedule of Classes, Fall 2026Instructors, rooms, live seats
- Quest Class SearchWhere you enrol
- Course outlinesSyllabi from past terms (UW login)
- UW FlowStudent ratings and reviews
- WClassesPast sections back to 2004, and who taught them