Material Culture I

Alison Jane Clarke
Design, Theory and History of Design
2020W, scientific seminar (SEW), 4.0 ECTS, 2.0 semester hours, course number S02856

Description

Design For All: Exploring Accessibility in 20th-century European and American Design  

Scientific seminar (SEW), 4.0 ECTS, 2.0 semester hours,  2020W 

Faculty:  

Prof. Dr. Alison J. Clarke MA (RCA)

Michelle Jackson-Beckett, MA, MPhil 

This seminar explores twentieth-century and contemporary themes and discourses around accessibility and design for a range of physical, cognitive, and sensory abilities. Students will engage with themes of access, agency, and activism through a variety of sources, including news media, film, literature, fashion, product design, graphic and UX design, architecture and urban planning. We will examine how popular culture, changing sociopolitical landscapes, universal design and human factors have affected how accessible design has been perceived and consumed over time. Case study examples range from the idealism of Herbert Bayer’s Universal typeface at the Bauhaus, Ergonomi Design Gruppen’s products for limited mobility users, the architecture of Gallaudet University, the first institution of higher education for the deaf and hard of hearing, and the Open Style Lab for adaptive clothing design in New York City.  Students will debate the potential merits and disadvantages for end-users in universal design processes, as well as consider the first ever European Standard “Design for All” approach to products, goods, and services introduced in 2019.   

Examination Modalities

(1) A seminar grade requires regular, punctual attendance (5 out of 6 sessions, plus 1 tutorial) and completion of the assignments.  

(2) 20% of grade: active oral participation in each session in the form of well-considered comments, questions, and critique of the session readings and content.  

(3) 30% of the grade: 5 short written responses of 300-350 words on selected seminar readings. Must be typed and printed prior to each session, submitted at the end of each session for credit.  

(4) 50% of the grade: Oral presentation with accompanying reference images and/or audiovisual material. Submission of typed presentation notes and visuals for credit. Presentation topic must be requested by email to the instructor within one week after the first session. 

 

 

Assessable Tasks: 

  • The instructor will evaluate written deliverables. Successful work will have clear and concise writing, correct grammar, accurate information, established academic standards in citations and selection of source material, and express and support a thesis. 
  • Plagiarism in any form will not be tolerated.
  • In-class presentations will be expected to be clear, concise, well organised expressions of critical thought regarding session themes.  
  • Final project will be evaluated on the degree to which students incorporate relevant readings and topics covered in class. 
  • Students will be expected to actively contribute their verbal and/or written feedback during each session. 

Comments

Learning Outcomes 

Students will learn:  

  • How formal, functional and ethical criteria have stemmed from historical contexts and are embodied in objects and material culture 
  • How historical and contemporary contexts influence the nature of design, the built environment, and accessibility   
  • How theory and modes of consumption have affected contemporary design practices and industries with regard to accessibility  
  • To further hone critical research and reading skills by engaging multiple perspectives and developing a historically referenced point of view to expand the student's design practice   

Course Enrolment

From 18 September 2020, 00:00 to 30 September 2020, 00:00
Via online registration

co-registration: possible

Art Education: subject kkp (Bachelor): FOR: Lehrveranstaltungen nach Wahl aus Wissenschaftliche Praxis

Art Education: subject kkp (Bachelor): IT: Bachelorseminar Wissenschaftliche Praxis

Art Education: subject kkp (Master): Lehrveranstaltung nach Wahl aus wissenschaftlicher Praxis, SE

Art Education: subject kkp (additional subject): FOR: Seminar aus dem Bereich Kunst- und Kulturwissenschaften

Art Education: subject kkp (additional subject): FOR: Lehrveranstaltungen nach Wahl aus Wissenschaftliche Praxis

Art Education: subject tex (Bachelor): FOR: aus Geschichte und Theorie der Architektur bzw. des Design (wahlweise)

Art Education: subject tex (Bachelor): FOR: Lehrveranstaltungen nach Wahl aus Wissenschaftliche Praxis

Art Education: subject tex (Bachelor): IT: Bachelorseminar Wissenschaftliche Praxis

Art Education: subject tex (Master): Lehrveranstaltung nach Wahl aus wissenschaftlicher Praxis, SE

Art Education: subject tex (additional subject): FOR: Seminar aus dem Bereich Kunst- und Kulturwissenschaften

Art Education: subject tex (additional subject): FOR: Lehrveranstaltungen nach Wahl aus Wissenschaftliche Praxis

Art Education: subject dae (Bachelor): FOR: aus Geschichte und Theorie der Architektur bzw. des Design (wahlweise)

Art Education: subject dae (Bachelor): FOR: Lehrveranstaltungen nach Wahl aus Wissenschaftliche Praxis

Art Education: subject dae (Bachelor): IT: Bachelorseminar Wissenschaftliche Praxis

Art Education: subject dae (Master): Lehrveranstaltung nach Wahl aus wissenschaftlicher Praxis, SE

Art Education: subject dae (additional subject): FOR: Seminar aus dem Bereich Kunst- und Kulturwissenschaften

Art Education: subject dae (additional subject): FOR: Lehrveranstaltungen nach Wahl aus Wissenschaftliche Praxis

Art Education: subject dex (Bachelor): FOR: aus Geschichte und Theorie der Architektur bzw. des Design (wahlweise)

Art Education: subject dex (Bachelor): FOR: Lehrveranstaltungen nach Wahl aus Wissenschaftliche Praxis

Art Education: subject dex (Bachelor): IT: Bachelorseminar Wissenschaftliche Praxis

Art Education: subject dex (Master): Lehrveranstaltung nach Wahl aus wissenschaftlicher Praxis, SE

Art Education: subject dex (additional subject): FOR: Seminar aus dem Bereich Kunst- und Kulturwissenschaften

Art Education: subject dex (additional subject): FOR: Lehrveranstaltungen nach Wahl aus Wissenschaftliche Praxis

TransArts - Transdisciplinary Arts (Bachelor): Theoretical foundations

Media Arts: Specialisation in Transmedia Arts (2. Section): Kulturwissenschaften

Media Arts: Specialisation in Digital Arts (2. Section): Kulturwissenschaften

Studies in Art and Culture (Master): Electives Area 2

Design: Specialisation in Graphic Design (2. Section): Theory and History of Design

Design: Specialisation in Graphics and Advertising (2. Section): Theory and History of Design

Industrial Design (2. Section): Theory and Design History

Design: Specialisation in Fashion Design (2. Section): Theory and History of Design

Fine Arts: Specialisation in Photography (2. Section): Kultur- und Geistesgeschichte (2.0 ECTS)

subject Fine Arts / Art and Communication Practices (2. Section): Aus Kunst und Kulturwissenschaften, (davon min. 4 SSt SE) (2.5 ECTS)

subject Handicrafts / Design, Architecture and Environment (2. Section): Aus Geschichte und Theorie des Design (2.0 ECTS)

subject Textile Design / Textiles - Art, Design, Styles (2. Section): Aus Kunst- und Kulturwissenschaften (mind. 4 SSt SE) (2.5 ECTS)

Fine Arts (2. Section): Media Theory,Art&Knowledge Transfer,Th. of Architecture,Th. and Hist. of Design

Fine Arts (2. Section): Free Electives out of Scientific and Research Practice

Design: Specialisation in Applied Photography and Time-based Media (2. Section): Humanities

Fine Arts: Specialisation in Painting (2. Section): Geisteswissenschaftliche LV nach Wahl (2.0 ECTS)

Fine Arts: Specialisation in Graphics (2. Section): Geisteswissenschaftliche LV nach Wahl (2.0 ECTS)

Individual courses: possible