91114 - Design Cultures

Academic Year 2020/2021

  • Docente: Ines Tolic
  • Credits: 6
  • SSD: ICAR/18
  • Language: English
  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Rimini
  • Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Fashion Studies (cod. 9067)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, students have acquired methodological skills aimed at the understanding of design issues in relation to historical, theoretical and critical narratives specific to that disciplinary sector. Moreover, students understand the symbolic role that everyday objects play in relation to the social, economic and political contemporary panorama, with particular attention to the fashion sector and to the accomplishments within the field.

Course contents

This course occupies the intersection between fashion, design and architecture, addressing the topic of communication projects and how these are enacted through setups, locations and architecture. We will focus on commercial setups, spaces for buying and selling and the most recent flagship stores, with the objective of analysing the (self-)representation strategies adopted by (fashion) brands on the contemporary urban scene. During the course, students will acquire basic knowledge of communication projects and will have the opportunity to develop one of their own.

With the goal of encouraging a participatory discussion on design cultures, the classroom lessons are accompanied by a practical exercise on the course topics. The brief consists of the creation of a monogram that can interpret the language of the brand and its spirit, both deeply rooted in the film and music culture of the late 20th century.

The design proposal must be tested on a hoodie, iconic garment of the brand, in the colours of the palette defined for 2021. The monogram must also be presented as a pattern and used as wallpaper to adorn the exhibition space.

The best projects will be exhibited as part of the "Casa UniBo" initiative organised by the Department of Quality of Life Sciences of the University of Bologna organised for the Photography Festival of Savignano sul Rubicone (SI Fest) celebrating its 30th anniversary and scheduled for September 2021.

 

Readings/Bibliography

At the conclusion of each lecture, the instructor will provide a bibliography of reference readings on the topics dealt with during the lecture. The slides prepared by the instructor - available on the Insegnamenti On Line platform - and all the information contained in them are an essential part of the course bibliography.

A supplementary bibliography will be provided for those students who do not attend lectures or participate in the project, in order to help them prepare for the exam.

Teaching methods

Course lessons will alternate between theoretical lectures, analysis of case studies and discussion of student projects.

Assessment methods

The exam will be oral in format. Its objective is to evaluate the critical and methodological capabilities developed by the student. Questions are formulated so as to allow students to lead their own autonomous discussions, focusing on key questions in accordance with the methods learned in class and through the study of course readings.

Specifically, students able to express an organic vision of the themes dealt with in class, and apply them critically, will receive excellent grades. Students who memorise course material but are unable to provide a clear synthesis and analysis of them, as well as those who employ correct but at times inappropriate language, will receive passing grades. Finally, students who have not learned the course contents or who use incorrect language (in the context of an introductory course) will not pass the exam. Gaps in knowledge, inappropriate language, and lack of familiarity with the recommended readings will all lead to failing grades.


Teaching tools

Powerpoint and video. The slides we illustrate and comment on during lectures integrate the bibliography of readings with useful information and iconographic material. Students can download slides on the Insegnamenti OnLine (IOL) platform.


Office hours

See the website of Ines Tolic

SDGs

Quality education

This teaching activity contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda.