Consequences of Design

This is a DfI programme course.

The impact of design goes well beyond individual users. This course will help students reflect on the consequences of their designs, and the design profession, from a number of angles, including labor and political economy, race, gender, and environment. Drawing from critical theory, history, and social science, students will come to better understand the power of design--and the limits thereof--and gain the theoretical tools to articulate the role of design in the global order.

Each week the course zooms into a specific object using one or more critical lenses. At the end of the course students will curate mini-exhibitions in which they put these critical tools and skills to use in analyzing an original selection of objects.

The study goals of this course will be assessed by an individual assignment (100%).

Students will curate a mini-exhibition of three objects and write interpretive labels (photo of the object plus a short explanatory text and/or additional images) for each, plus an introduction label to unite the three. Once during the course students will have the opportunity to share their work-in-progress during a peer feedback session, with instructor guidance. At the end of the quarter each student will print all text panels and display them as part of a class exhibition and reception. (The assignment will also be submitted digitally for assessment).

Students will be assessed on their ability to apply theory from the course to make original critiques of individual products or services and the design field as a whole.