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William Paterson University Spring 2010ARTH 256 History of Modern Design

Instructor: Barbara Friedman E-mail: friedmanb1@wpunj.eduWebsite: http://sites.google.com/site/lookspot (select your class)

Required text:Pioneers of Modern Design, from Wm. Morris to Walter GropiusNikolaus Pevsner Isbn: 0-300-10571-1Buy this book used if possible

Additional reading will be given as .pdf (you will print) or you will be directed to the source; seesuggested readings and web sources listed at the end.

Course Description: (from the catalog) Traces the development of industrial, domestic,andgraphic design from the nineteenth century to the present. Themes include the power of thedesigned environmentto shape daily life and the rise of professional designers to celebrity status.Prerequisite: One course in art history (ARTH101 or ARTH 399)

What things, what objects, are important in your life? Is it your I-Mac, your I-Pod, or that newshiny I-Jeep? What couldnt you live without? Things, objects, they are important to how we live

our lives, how we feel about our lives, how we define and communicate who we want to be seenas. Some objects are handmade and individual, others are mass-produced; some objects havevalue to the viewer because they are seen as aesthetically beautiful, and other objects are trulyuseful transforming how we live. The drinking straw (LifeStraw) that filters and purifies water hassaved thousands in Africa; the snow shovel that has a wheel (Sno Wovel) and preventsbackaches has saved many a baby boomer; Dean Kamens (the IBOT) stair climbing wheelchairhas added independence transforming where someone in a wheelchair could go.

In this course we will survey the history of modern design from the mid 19th century to thepresent. Readings, lectures, projects will encourage discussion to create an appreciation andunderstanding of domestic goods, graphic design, and architecture as well as the trends ofindustrialized mass production. You will be challenged to think in what Warren Berger the authorof Glimmer calls thinking laterally, tricking your brain to work in unexpected directions. Byquestioning, thinking deeply, and trying to figure out what is missing in the world you will also bechallenged to be a designer, that is someone who wants to improve how we live, think, and

work.

Course Objectives: Art & design are not created in a vacuum; history, world events, politicalperspectives, media all shape the world in which design is created often serving as to the why it iscreated. Students will learn and be expected to understand what has informed the work beingpresented and how these design objects are connected to the period, culture, and movements ofthe day.Specific objectives include:

Understanding the designers role The ability to recognize characteristics of selected design from the mid 19th century

to the present Serve as a connection to understanding the commercial, political, & philosophical

messages that are the basis for design and its trends as well as its place in our culture Using deep thinking to assess problems and come up with design solutions

Learning Outcomes:By completing this course studentsshould:

Be able to identify selected examples of design such as graphic, product, & architectural Be able to discuss the time line of the history of modern design and the connections

between history, world events, political perspectives, & media Be able to think critically, developing responsible, engaged and informed dialogue Develop an enjoyment regarding designed objects that allows for independent

exploration Develop a new approach to thinking about problems and their potential solutions

http://sites.google.com/site/lookspothttp://sites.google.com/site/lookspotmailto:friedmanb1@wpunj.edumailto:friedmanb1@wpunj.eduhttp://sites.google.com/site/lookspothttp://sites.google.com/site/lookspotmailto:friedmanb1@wpunj.edumailto:friedmanb1@wpunj.edu

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Class Procedures/Expectations: Attendance: More than3 absences may result in a failing grade. Two tardies of 20

minutes or more will equal one absence. Readings must be done prior to class so that you are ready for discussion unless

otherwise noted Participation in class discussions. This means you need to speak-up; I dont like talking to

myself. Papers: will be handed in on time; any late paper will go down 1 letter grade. Work is not

accepted after 1 week past the original due date and will result in an F Cell phones: if you should receive an emergency call, please take it into the hallway. Texting, listening to a MP3 player are not acceptable in class Everyone will be respectful when someone is offering their opinion; we dont have to

agree, we do have to be respectful. Please do not interrupt when someone is speaking.Please do not have side discussions when someone is speaking.

Instructional Methods: Lecture, readings, discussion, projects/assignments, papers,quiz/test (2 quizzes, 1 test), independent directed field visits to support assignments.Failure to complete any of the above mentioned will result in a lowering of your grade.

Plagerism: never acceptable and will result in failure. You are however permitted to citework using the MLA style (see WPUNJ library website: http://ww3.wpunj.edu/library/refpubsx.shtml#genBibliography, references to be included.

Grading CriteriaClass participation in discussions 20%Assignments 20%Quiz/test 20%Research project & presentation 40%

Websites of interest:www.moderndesignblog.comwww.swiss-miss.comwww. dwellmagazine.comwww. ikeafans.comwww.ikea.comwww.dexigner.comwww.justamodernguy.com/2009/03/17/the-mad-men-of-modern-designwww.coulourlovers.comwww.theselvedgeyard.wordpress.comwww.apartmenttherapy.comwww.print.com

Suggested Reading: (some of our readings will come from these books among other sources)www.nyt.com (Thursday style, Sunday art)Glimmer, by Warren Berger ISBN-13: 978-1594202339

A Whole New Mind, by Daniel Pink ISBN-13: 978-1594481710Objects of Desire, by Adrian Forty ISBN-13: 978-050027412579 Short Essays on Design, Michael Beirut ISBN-13: 978-1568986999The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell ISBN-13: 978-0316346627

Soap, Sex, & Cigarettes, Julian Sivulka ISBN-13: 978-0534515935

History of Modern Design, David Raizman ISBN-13: 978-185669348

http://www.nyt.com/http://www.print.com/http://www.print.com/http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/http://www.theselvedgeyard.wordpress.com/http://www.theselvedgeyard.wordpress.com/http://www.theselvedgeyard.wordpress.com/http://www.dexigner.com/http://www.ikea.com/http://www.swiss-miss.com/http://ww3.wpunj.edu/library/refpubsx.shtml#genhttp://www.nyt.com/http://www.nyt.com/http://www.print.com/http://www.print.com/http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/http://www.theselvedgeyard.wordpress.com/http://www.theselvedgeyard.wordpress.com/http://www.coulourlovers.com/http://www.coulourlovers.com/http://www.justamodernguy.com/http://www.justamodernguy.com/http://www.dexigner.com/http://www.dexigner.com/http://www.ikea.com/http://www.ikea.com/http://www.swiss-miss.com/http://www.swiss-miss.com/http://www.moderndesignblog.com/http://www.moderndesignblog.com/http://ww3.wpunj.edu/library/refpubsx.shtml#genhttp://ww3.wpunj.edu/library/refpubsx.shtml#genhttp://ww3.wpunj.edu/library/refpubsx.shtml#genhttp://ww3.wpunj.edu/library/refpubsx.shtml#gen