syllabus

6069 – Visual Arts, Modulo Design
Prof. Stefano Mirti

Wobbling Solutions (or, an introduction to contemporary design)

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Goals of the course

The main goal of the course is to expose the students to a number of key case-studies, referring to some of the most interesting dynamics of transformation of contemporary design. To understand the obvious (and the invisible) connections, to show various projects from their final result going backward all the way to the “making of”, the “behind the scenes”.

In our world design is a commodity: to observe the transformation of the discipline, to understand its reasons and the tacit rules.

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To know before the course

This class does not need previous knowledge on the topic.
Still, the habit of reading a newspaper on a daily base generally helps.
The students will be asked to keep an on-line blog during the course.
In the first class we will explain how to run and manage a blog for the ones who don’t know

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Program of the course (abstract)

An introduction to contemporary design interpreted upon its multiple layers of meaning. To show to the students how this informal galaxy works, when “design” quit its “fancy object” status to infiltrate every possible area of our everyday life.

What are the most relevant transformations (from product to all kind of service-based system), and why these transformation happened and are happening.
Design and its narrative featurea. The nature of this contemporary “narrations” that are transforming and re-defining (in an analogue and digital way) what we intend for reality.

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Books for the exam

The exam will be be based on the pdf, articles, essays, links given to the students during each class.
The complete collection is available on this blog (see: materials page).

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Description of the exam

The exam will  have two parts: a written test (on the various materials shared during the lessons) and an oral part related to the student’s blog (referred to the on-line blog edited by each student during the course)
If the students didn’t attend the class, they have to do their blog as well.

There won’t be any intermediate exam, but each class will have a part devoted to the on-line blogs of the students.

The final grade will be made out of 50% from your written test + 50% from the oral exam.

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(image above: Charles and Ray Eames, House of Cards, 1952)