Design and Material Culture

The course explores few fundamental questions between design and material culture. We will investigate the origins and the development of selected aspects of the design practice. The question of Time, will be our main study case: measure instruments, watches and their impact on the material culture, craft, industry, mechanics, design and social aspect of the technological history. The course will explore the role and the modern status of the designer through the mechanization and consumerism processes. We will debate the environmental impact of the industrialization and the alternative and sustainable design approach. We will define some typical connections between objects design technologies and actual interactivity models. The formal and aesthetical aspects of contemporary designers work will conclude the course.