History of Industrial Design

Catalog description

This survey class focuses on the history of modern design from the world of Art Nouveau in 1900 to Contemporary Design. The emphasis falls squarely on the development of mass production and its alignment with the Modern movement, with elements drawn from the history of architecture and the fine arts. The Bauhaus (1919-1933) is examined in detail as is the growth of the industrial design profession in the US between 1927 and 1944, when the Society of Industrial Designers was formed. Postwar styling and consumerism in the US are examined in conjunction with the development of human factors, its early investigations and influence on design since 1955. Material culture issues are examined through visits to the Gregg Museum of Art & Design and its growing collection of industrial design. Postmodernism, Universal Design, and User Experience Design are examined in the contexts of their emergence and relevance to design today.