Karen Cheng - University of Washington

Professor: Karen Cheng

Department: TBD

College: University of Washington

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: DESIGN166
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Professor Cheng has so far been one of my favorite lectures to attend at the University of Washington. I took her design class winter quarter and while this was a particularly challenging class, I benefitted a lot from her teachings. If you attend lectures, do the readings, participate in class and critiques you should do well in this class.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: DESIGN166
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Before taking Design 166, I read these reviews and was terrified but after going through the course with Prof. Cheng, I don't regret it! She is really hard to please but provides good feedback and is organized. Stay on top of things, and give it your all. The stress is worth it if you want to be in design. Being pushed creatively was great!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: DESIGN166
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Karen Cheng is a professor who knows what she is talking about. Her stances are firm, and she sometimes gives feedback that can be brutal but is absolutely necessary. Learning from her was truly an honor. Show that you're a hard worker and she will respect you.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: DESIGN166
• Grade Received: D-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

i love karen

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: DESIGN166DE
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Professor Cheng knows what shes doing and shes very knowledgeable in terms of design. Tough grader indeed and she knows that she is pretty mean about the grade. Very fun lectures and you do learn a lots of things from the lecture.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: DESIGN166
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

She knows she makes Design 166 harder than it needs to be, and she says so right off the bat. Shes a good person to get to know and getting to know her/being personable does help a lot in the selection process. She has a clear sense of what she likes and doesnt like in terms of design - doesnt mesh with my thoughts, but shes the one grading me.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: DESIGN166
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

While professor Cheng is well respected in the design world, she is a really harsh grader. Getting a good grade is also super hard because each project is graded in portions by Cheng and the two TAs, however it is impossible to please all three with one project.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: DESIGN166
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Karen is one of my favorite professors at UW. I'm a design major who got in through the 166 workshop and from experience with her, I know she cares. She can be rough in critique, but you HAVE to separate yourself from your work. The class is basically a litmus test for future design majors. In design, nothing is holy so non-designers beware.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: DESIGN166
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Prof Cheng is extremely knowledgable in the field of design. She is a hard grader but that is only because she wants you to strive for the best. Her feedback is brutally honest but very useful and helpful.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: DESIGN166
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Well prepared and organized with a clear understanding of the material she is teaching which led me to become enthusiastic about design as well. What people mistake about her is that she is rude. She isn't, she is just blunt and honest in her critique of you and that is necessary in making you progress as a student. Embrace the professor and class.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: DESIGN166
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

If you want to do design and produce good work, work 24/7 for this class. It's a very time-consuming class.. Her feedback is very quality. LOVE.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: DESIGN166
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

She likes to put people on the spot for her own entertainment. Sometimes has good jokes, though mostly only she's laughing.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ART166
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Was interested in the topic until I actually got into the class. Karen was very discouraging and was just plain mean for no reason!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: DESIGN166
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

don't take

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: DESIGN166
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Fabulous professor who cares a great deal about your individual success. Will go far out of her way to help you if you ask. Her critiques are direct and honest, but how else are you going to improve?

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: DESIGN166
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

A very tough class, but so worth it! She teaches you so much about design concepts. I absolutely loved this class with her!!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: DESIGN166
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Karen Cheng is hilarious. She's a bit blunt a lot of the time, but she's funny nonetheless. Don't expect this to be an easy class only take it if you're truly interested in what it takes to become a designer. There's a lot of work and if you're a procrastinator, this is def not the class for you. Cool projects makes you think out of the box.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: DESIGN166
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Took 166 hoping to major in Design, loved design itself (though really difficult and time consuming), but was put off the prospect of dealing with Cheng for three more years. Did not feel respected or like she cared about us at all unless you were top five, yet she demanded respect from us. Often rude and abrasive, not fit to teach an intro course.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: INFODES
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Amazing class. Karen really knows how to inspire the class to learn through their own research, visualization and competent design choices. I recommend this class and Karen as a teach. She's one of the best!!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: DESIGN166
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

harsh grading. fun lectures..