B4920 - SEMINARS DESIGN (GR.B)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the Seminar the student will have acquired specific skills relating to the field of design cultures, with a particular focus on the communication and representation of fashion products.

Course contents

This course offers a practical and conceptual introduction to contemporary fashion curatorial practices, understood in the many fields these are applied in the contemporary fashion landscape: from exhibitions to books, editorial formats, and digital and social media platforms.

Students will be introduced to the foundational stages of the curatorial process, identified primarily in research practices based on images, objects, and concepts. The course aims to develop an analytical approach to fashion, encouraging students to work across different sources and references in order to construct a curatorial concept.

Through short exercises and guided exploration of selected resources, students will build both theoretical and technical skills relevant to fashion curation today. They will learn how to conduct research, create moodboards and visual maps to organise ideas, and translate concepts into structured proposals. Fashion objects and images will be analysed as cultural artefacts, with the aim of developing critical readings through the combined use of text and visuals.

The course alternates theoretical sessions with dedicated time for project development. Each student will be supported in the creation of a complete individual research project, with tailored guidance designed to strengthen both conceptual thinking and technical execution. Particular attention will be given to the development of a small publication as a curatorial outcome, through both individual and collaborative work.

In parallel, the course introduces key contemporary fashion curatorial practices through the analysis of recent exhibitions and projects, addressing different approaches and current themes in the field. The main objective is to enable students to develop original ideas and analytical tools to engage critically with fashion from perspectives relevant to today’s cultural discourse.

The course will cover:

• Introduction to contemporary fashion curatorial practices, understanding the different approaches to curating fashion, from exhibition-making to creative direction
• The creative process: concept development, research methods, and moodboard creation
• Writing about fashion: articulating and presenting a curatorial concept in text
• Short exercises focused on the development of curated fashion projects
• Development of a small publication based on the course materials and projects

Teaching methods

The course is primarily practice-based. Technical instruction and first-hand examples are combined with practical exercises followed by open discussion, debates and group critiques.

Throughout the course, students will be guided step by step in the development of an individual curatorial project, which will ultimately contribute to a shared collective publication.

Supplementary digital materials—such as videos, slides, and selected readings—will support technical learning and will be used to stimulate critical reflection and creative thinking. Selected theoretical content will provide a concise introduction to the historical, cultural, and professional context of fashion curation.

Assessment methods

To successfully complete the course, students are expected to attend at least 80% of classes, actively participate in discussions and practical exercises, develop and present an individual project.

 

Students with learning disorders and\or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives

Teaching tools

Students are required to bring:

• Their own laptop

Office hours

See the website of Dylan Colussi