ARTH 42.03 Contemporary Design: Theory and Practice
This course surveys theoretical frameworks, historical movements, and social currents that inform present-day design practices. Interdisciplinary in its approach, the class will examine case studies drawn from the visual arts, graphic design, architecture, industrial design, and fashion. Students will gain insights into the evolution of design principles that have guided design philosophy and practice since the late 19th century. At the same time, the course places emphasis on contemporary innovations in design that run parallel or counter to the dominant narratives that have shaped the field. While the course focuses on real world applications of design thinking it also looks to speculative and critical design methodologies that challenge the assumptions and preconceptions of the present. These methodologies look beyond a functional instrumentalism to consider design scenarios based on longer and shorter timescales than regular product lifecycles and geared toward “users” who may exist at the margins of the social order. Accordingly, the assigned readings will encompass a diverse array of disciplines, including design philosophy, futurology, political theory, the philosophy of technology, and science fiction. The course includes units on Modernism, Postmodernism, Deconstruction, Afrofuturism, Feminism, Biodesign and Social Justice.
Instructor
Elias