Design in Europe and the United States WH-KON-DesiinEurope
The course presents the origins of design and the long-lasting cultural phenomenon of contemporary design as well as the methodology of design studies. It starts with the questions of art theory in the 19th century England related to the key figures of William Morris and John Ruskin, analysing the influence of the Industrial Revolution on the birth of design. Further on, the classes present the basics of modernism in Europe with the leading achievements of de Stijl and the Bauhaus. On the basis of modernism the students gets acquainted with the design of the North, starting with Alvar Aalto. The course explores the changes in the Nordic Countries over the course of years and presents the trend commonly known as Danish Modern. Moreover, the classes focus on the modern materials (Giulio Nata and his discoveries), and the question of office space and ergonomics, particularly visible in the United States. Also questions of streamline, postmodernism and pop-design are discussed. The last essential point is the question of replicas and "creative" inspirations. The course present the interdisciplinary apparatus of design research which would allow students to conduct their studies in the field.
(in Polish) E-Learning
(in Polish) Grupa przedmiotów ogólnouczenianych
Subject level
Learning outcome code/codes
Type of subject
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
1 ECTS 30 h class attendance
2 ECTS 60 h preparing presentation
1 ECTS 60 h reading
Assessment criteria
Continuous evaluation
Active participation
Maximum of 3 absences
Oral exam
COVID-19 UPDATE - oral exam will be conducted via Zoom
Bibliography
BASIC LITERATURE
Charlotte Fiell, Peter Fiell, Design of the 20th century, Taschen: Hamburg-London 2012
Penny Sparke, The genius of design, The overlook press: London 2010.
Penny Spark, An Introduction to Design and Culture: 1900 to the Present, Routledge: London 2013.
Dejan Sudjic, The Language of Things: Understanding the World of Desirable Objects, W.W. Norton: New York 2009.
EXTENDED READING
Kjetil Fallan, Design History: Understanding Theory and Method, Berg Publishers: Oxford 2010.
Charlotte Fiell, Peter Fiell, Scandinavian Design, Taschen: Berlin 2013.
Catherine Ince, The world of Charles and Ray Eames, Thames and Hudson: London 2015.
Pat Kirkham, History of Design: Decorative Arts and Material Culture, 1400–2000 (Bard Graduate Center for Studies in the Decorative Arts, Design & Culture), Bard Center: New York 2013.
Pekka Korvenmaa, Finnish Design, Aalto University Press: Helsinki 2014.
Victor Margolin, Design Discourse: History, Theory, Criticism, The University of Chicago Press: Chicago 1989.
Jeffrey L. Meikle, Design in the USA, Oxford University Press: Oxford 2005.
Bruno Munari, Design as Art, Penguin Classics: London 2008.
Mark Mussari, Danish Modern, Bloomsbury Academic: London 2016.
Paul Overy, De Stijl, Thames and Hudson: London 1991.
Bradley Quinn, Mid-Century Modern: Interiors, Furniture, Design Details, Conran: 2004.
Elizabeth Wilhide, Design the whole story, Thames and Hudson: London 2016.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: