DESIGN 5750: Advanced Design History: Interiors, Contents, Communication, and Culture
Advanced study of the history of the designed environment, product, and communication systems.
Credit Hours
3
Overview
Human ingenuity has created much of what comprises the built environment and manufactured objects purposefully. These are acts of design; a term that serves as both noun and verb. As a student in this course, you will gain knowledge of “who,” “what,” “where,” and “when,” as associated with quintessential representations of designed effort in particular eras, but our emphasis will really be on “why.” While Design 2750 (Introductory Design History) paints design history with a broad brush that makes wide-sweeping marks across time and place, this advanced-level course provides opportunities for you to dig more deeply into focused topics. You will practice forming points of view about the meaning of spaces and objects by thinking and writing about your understanding of their development—far and near. We will focus most of our attention on topics that are relevant to the 20th and 21st centuries, giving this course a modern and post-modern emphasis
Objectives
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Identify the methods that historians of design use to frame various understandings of the history of design with consideration of their usefulness and potential limitations
- Evaluate the merit of written, visual, and time-based sources / stories that extend your knowledge of topics in this course
- Use specific descriptive terms from history in ways that advance the meaning of your ideas
- Develop an understanding of the arc of history by making connections between design’s contribution to a range of historical developments by speculating on possible relationships among overlaps and influences
- Articulate historical knowledge clearly in writing
Course Materials
- In the interest of prioritizing the affordability of this course, no textbook or materials are required for purchase
- Access to internet and a reliable device will be necessary (An iPad is sufficient)
Course Organization
This is a 3 credit hour course that meets online each week
Sample Coursework
Students can expect:
- Attendance and participation required
Semester(s) Offered:
Spring