Object Research

With the establishment of the State of Israel, the country’s first design office (IPDO) was founded as part of an American initiative under the Marshall Plan, aiming to develop local industry. This office operated with an international modernist approach, yet at the same time, products began to emerge that articulated a new local identity: dolls, kitchenware, posters, coins, and medals that reflected the spirit of the time, the Zionist ethos, and the lifestyle of a young nation. Over the years, the visual language of Israeli design evolved under the influence of political, cultural, and global events, including the 1967 occupation, globalization, and the growing interest in nostalgic objects known as "Israeliana."
The course Object Research offers a series of monthly sessions held in research centers, institutions, and collections dedicated to Israeli design. Throughout the course, we will explore how objects that shape collective identity in Israel were designed, and what kinds of identities they reflect and produce.