73456 - History of Industrial Design T-I

Learning outcomes

At the end of the module the student knows the History of Industrial Design and, more generally, of the design culture related to the production of objects, framed in the development of the history of contemporary architecture, over a chronological period that goes from the nineteenth century to the early twentieth century.

Course contents

The integrated course History and Aesthetics of Industrial Product (12 CFU, 120 hours) is composed of the History of Industrial Design T-I course, which in turn consists of two modules (module 1 characterizing, 3 CFU, 30 hours; module 2, 3 CFU, 30 hours) and the Aesthetics T course in turn consisting of two modules (module 1, 3 CFU, 30 hours; module 2, 3 CFU, 30 hours).

History of Industrial Design T-I course illustrates the reactions of architectural and artistic culture to the industrial revolution and the birth of the metropolis between the 19th and 20th century, framing the issues related to the industrial design in this process.

Module 1 Contents:

The Industrial Revolution and “everyday objects”

The Victorian age, from the Crystal Palace to the Arts and Crafts

Art Nouveau and Liberty in Europe

The Viennese Secession and the Wiener Werkstätte

Bauhaus: “from the spoon to the city”

The Avant-gardes

Module 2 Contents:

Telling by the hand: sign, writing and representation

Composition: typography and layout

Narration: the object told

Movement: vision of modernity and the languages of the metropolis

Operation: knowledge and interpretation of the object

Readings/Bibliography

Main suggested reading is:

- Domitilla Dardi and Vanni Pasca, Manuale di Storia del Design, Silvana Editoriale, Milano 2019, chapters 1-3.

The study of the book above mentioned is mandatory in view of the oral exam.

During the course, other supporting texts from the following volumes will be indicated:

- Tim Ingold, Making, Raffaello Cortina Editore, Milano, 2019.

- Tomás Maldonado, Disegno industriale: un riesame, Feltrinelli, Milano 1999 (I ed. 1976).

- Maurizio Vitta, Il progetto della bellezza, Einaudi, Torino 2011.

Other didactic materials will be suggested during the lessons and they will constitute an optional study subject.

Teaching methods

The course aims at providing the students with introductory tools to the History of Industrial Design and it will be based on lectures accompanied by a rich iconographic apparatus and on the discussion of the themes that will be illustrated by the teacher.

Classroom exercises will also require the active participation of students.

Assessment methods

The final exam of the integrated course History and Aesthetics of Industrial Product includes the verification of learning of the contents of all the courses and modules of the integrated course.

The final exam consists of a discussion on the course topics and issues. The exam will consist of two separate interviews, one relating to the Aesthetics of Industrial Product course and one relating to the History of Industrial Design course. The vote is global and it is referred to both the parts of the Integrated Course of History and Aesthetics of the Industrial Product.

To access the oral exam, the student must obtain a positive assessment of the individual exercise developed in module 2 of History of Industrial Design.

Any ex tempore exercises proposed during the lessons will contribute to the final evaluation.

Teaching tools

The specific bibliographies for the different parts of the course are illustrated during the course, starting from the tools available in the texts suggested in the program.

The didactic material presented during the lessons is available to the student in pdf format on the digital platform of the course, according to the modalities that are indicated in the first lesson.

Office hours

See the website of Micaela Antonucci

See the website of Stefano Ascari