A History of Design from Wedgwood to Apple

This course begins at the historical moment when the traditional decorative arts were being swept away by the Industrial Revolution. As emerging manufacturers rushed to produce large quantities of useful goods, it quickly became apparent that a new type of professional was needed to dictate the visual form of these objects. While the contexts, purposes, and principles of design have varied quite significantly since then, designers in the West still generally occupy a translational role between elite aesthetic values formed within the fine arts and the imperative for competitive success within capitalist mass markets. As such, the history of design and designers becomes a fascinating site for examining capitalisms radical remaking of our material world from the 18th century to present. The course proceeds chronologically, critically engaging with the history of design practices and products since Josiah Wedgwoods founding of his potteries in the early days of the Industrial Revolution. Along the way, we will cover key movements and moments in design history in England, Western Europe, and the United States, including Gothic Revival, Design Reform, the Arts & Crafts movement, the Aesthetic Movement, Art Nouveau, the Wiener Werksttte, the Deutscher Werkbund, L'Esprit Nouveau, de Stijl, Constructivist/Soviet design, the Bauhaus, Art Deco, and streamline, as well as mid-century modernism, postmodernism, and contemporary product design.