Contemporary Design

This course will explore the development of contemporary design approaches and issues from the Enlightenment to the 21st century. The many critical issues that have evolved during this time period will be analyzed and connected to the work of contemporary designers. Insights into the very real connections between students' studio work and relevant historical design approaches will be encouraged. Students will become familiar with specific works of the many important and relevant designers who have advanced the fields of interior design, architecture, and furniture design, as well as advancements in painting and sculpture. The course is organized as a matrix of the specific histories of ideas, spatial design, art, and furniture and finishes across historical developments in four chronological units: The Enlightenment; The 19th Century; The 20th Century; and Contemporary Design, 1990-Present.