Design und Kultur

Leah Armstrong
Design, Theory and History of Design
2026W, Academic Seminar (SEW), 4.0 ECTS, 2.0 semester hours, course number S20572

Scientific bachelor seminar for teacher education

Description

Critical Design- From Critique to Crisis?

What does it mean to research, write and think critically about design? This course traces the emergence of design criticism as a way of seeing, reading, interpreting, interrogating design in the course of the twentieth century, until the present day. Focusing on critical design discourse and design itself as a form of critique, across different platforms, historical contexts, geographical locations and methodologies, the course aims to equip students with the conceptual tools to examine design, past and present, from new perspectives and to understand the value of different types of criticism. This includes design journalism, exhibition curation, speculative and critical design practice and digital social media. The course ends by reflecting on the current state of design criticism, inviting students to consider if the integrity of design criticism is in tact, or in crisis?

 

Examination Modalities

  • 80% attendance is mandatory and attendance in the first week is essential;
  • Seminar reading and participation in seminar discussion;
  • Written submission (independent) in the form of a critical review of a design object or subject. Minimum 1,000 words, including  references and a bibliography, (10 sources minimum).

 

Comments

This course take place in English.

Key Words

critical design, crisis, curation, journalism, social media, critique, design exhibitions

Dates

Tue, 13 October 2026, 10:00–12:30 Seminarraum 31 (GCP, 1.OG)
Tue, 27 October 2026, 10:00–12:30 Seminarraum 32 (GCP, HP)
Tue, 10 November 2026, 10:00–12:30 Seminarraum 31 (GCP, 1.OG)
Tue, 24 November 2026, 10:00–12:30 Seminarraum 32 (GCP, HP)
Tue, 01 December 2026, 10:00–12:30 Seminarraum 31 (GCP, 1.OG)
Tue, 15 December 2026, 10:00–12:30 Seminarraum 31 (GCP, 1.OG)
Tue, 12 January 2027, 10:00–12:30 Seminarraum 24 (VZA, EG)

Course Enrolment

From 31 August 2026, 00:01 to 12 October 2026, 00:02
Via online registration

Art Education: study subject kkp (Bachelor): Academic Practice: GO: Seminar, SEw 034/2026UBA-003.10

Art Education: study subject kkp (Bachelor): Academic Practice: FOR: Seminar, SEw 034/2026UBA-003.30

Art Education: study subject kkp (Bachelor): Degree Completion (kkp): IT: Bachelor Seminar (Academic or Subject-Didactic), SEw (kkp) 034/2026UBA-010.30

Art Education: subject kkp (Enhancements study): Academic Practice: GO: Seminar, SEw 034/2026UEW-003.10

Art Education: subject kkp (Enhancements study): Academic Practice: FOR: Seminar, SEw 034/2026UEW-003.30

Art Education: subject kkp (Enhancements study): Degree Completion (kkp): IT: Bachelor Seminar (Academic or Subject-Didactic), SEw (kkp) 034/2026UEW-010.30

Art Education: study subject dex (Bachelor): Academic Practice: GO: Seminar, SEw 037/2026UBA-003.10

Art Education: study subject dex (Bachelor): Academic Practice: FOR: Seminar, SEw 037/2026UBA-003.30

Art Education: study subject dex (Bachelor): Degree Completion (dex): IT: Bachelor Seminar (Academic or Subject-Didactic), SEw (dex) 037/2026UBA-010.30

Art Education: subject dex (Enhancements study): Academic Practice: GO: Seminar, SEw 037/2026UEW-003.10

Art Education: subject dex (Enhancements study): Academic Practice: FOR: Seminar, SEw 037/2026UEW-003.30

Art Education: subject dex (Enhancements study): Degree Completion (dex): IT: Bachelor Seminar (Academic or Subject-Didactic), SEw (dex) 037/2026UEW-010.30

Art Education: subject kkp (Bachelor): Wissenschaftliche Praxis: FOR: Lehrveranstaltungen nach Wahl aus Wissenschaftliche Praxis 067/2016UBA-003.80

Art Education: subject kkp (Bachelor): Wissenschaftliche Praxis: IT: Bachelorseminar Wissenschaftliche Praxis 067/2016UBA-003.85

Art Education: subject kkp (Master): Wissenschaftliche Praxis: Lehrveranstaltung nach Wahl aus wissenschaftlicher Praxis, SE 067/2016UMA-003.80

Art Education: subject kkp (Enhancements study): Wissenschaftliche Praxis: FOR: Seminar aus dem Bereich Kunst- und Kulturwissenschaften 067/2018UEW-003.25

Art Education: subject kkp (Enhancements study): Wissenschaftliche Praxis: FOR: Lehrveranstaltungen nach Wahl aus Wissenschaftliche Praxis 067/2018UEW-003.80

Art Education: subject tex (Master): Wissenschaftliche Praxis: Lehrveranstaltung nach Wahl aus wissenschaftlicher Praxis, SE 071/2016UMA-003.80

Art Education: subject dae (Master): Wissenschaftliche Praxis: Lehrveranstaltung nach Wahl aus wissenschaftlicher Praxis, SE 072/2016UMA-003.80

Art Education: subject dex (Bachelor): Wissenschaftliche Praxis: FOR: Lehrveranstaltungen nach Wahl aus Wissenschaftliche Praxis 074/2017UBA-003.80

Art Education: subject dex (Bachelor): Wissenschaftliche Praxis: IT: Bachelorseminar Wissenschaftliche Praxis 074/2017UBA-003.85

Art Education: subject dex (Master): Wissenschaftliche Praxis: Lehrveranstaltung nach Wahl aus wissenschaftlicher Praxis, SE 074/2017UMA-003.80

Art Education: subject dex (Enhancements study): Wissenschaftliche Praxis: FOR: Seminar aus dem Bereich Kunst- und Kulturwissenschaften 074/2018UEW-003.25

Art Education: subject dex (Enhancements study): Wissenschaftliche Praxis: FOR: Lehrveranstaltungen nach Wahl aus Wissenschaftliche Praxis 074/2018UEW-003.80

TransArts - Transdisciplinary Arts (Bachelor): Theoretical foundations: Theoretical foundations 180/2025UBA-003.01

Expanded Museum Studies (Master): Electives: Design History and Theory 537/2021UMA-080.24

Media Arts: Specialisation in Transmedia Arts (2. Section): Wissenschaft, Theorie und Geschichte : Kulturwissenschaften 566/2019U00-208.15

Media Arts: Specialisation in Digital Arts (2. Section): Wissenschaft, Theorie, Geschichte: Kulturwissenschaften 567/2019U00-208.15

Kunst- und Kulturwissenschaften (Master): Electives Area 2: Design History and Theory 568/2021UMA-006.15

Design: Specialisation in Communication Design (2. Section): Methodological and Theoretical Basics: Theory and History of Design 577/2025U00-203.08

Industrial Design (2. Section): Design in Context: Theory and Design History 580/2013U00-202.11

Design: Specialisation in Fashion Design (2. Section): Fashion in Context: Theory and History of Design 584/2019U00-208.01

Fine Arts (2. Section): Scientific and Research Practice: Media Theory,Art&Knowledge Transfer,Th. of Architecture,Th. and Hist. of Design 605/2019U00-202.02

Fine Arts (2. Section): Scientific and Research Practice: Free Electives out of Scientific and Research Practice 605/2019U00-202.80

Co-registration: possible

Attending individual courses: possible