STUDY PROGRAMME
Design

AFAM CODE
ABPR17

DISCIPLINARY AREA
Design

DISCIPLINARY FIELD
Project culture

CREDITS
8

APPROACH
Theoretical/project based

The etymology of the word Design comes from the Latin de + signare meaning “to do something”, to identify it through a sign and give meaning to it by designing its relation with other things, owners and users of goods. Based on this original meaning, we can say that designing equals to giving meaning (to things). We can thus introduce the idea of culture within a creative project, which can convey depth and real value, as a vital condition for the project culture itself. The programme is divided in the basic areas of design education: representation through digital design, understanding of basic materials and culture of photography.

The programme grants 8 credits, divided as follows:

• CAD: 3 CFA

• PHOTOGRAPHY: 2 CFA

• INTRODUCTION TO LAB: 3 CFA

Successful students will be able to:

CAD:

• Create detailed technical drawings suited to different representation scales

• Master the basic principles of three-dimensional shapes creation to better understand architectures or products as the objects of the designing process

PHOTOGRAPHY:

• Read and interpret images

• Use the photographic language in a specific and professional way

• Add value to and communicate Product design as well as Interior design projects through a basic understanding of photography

INTRODUCTION TO LAB:

• Creation of 3D volumes, mock-ups, or scale models starting from technical drawings, using simple materials such as paper, cardboard, poliplat, polystyrene and expanded polyurethane

• Achieving confidence and command in devising projects as well as in carrying out the graphic design phase. The experience gained through the work on volumes supports the development and representation of products, as well as the study of spaces

CAD:

• Autocad interface and preliminary settings

• Basic drawing

• Editing tools

• Shapes

• Objects properties

• Notes

• 2D drawing setup, layout, printing, exporting

• 3D foundations

PHOTOGRAPHY:

• Photography foundations

• Image languages

• Image processing

• Post-production

INTRODUCTION TO LAB:

• ABC of a model: technical drawing (measurements, dimensions, templates)

• Technical tools

• Paper models

• Cardboard models

• Creating volumes with sheet materials

• Creating volumes with solid materials

• Mock-ups

This is a theoretical/project based course.

Students will take part in the following activities, which may vary depending on the development of different projects:

• Classroom lectures

• Use of tutorials, videos or other media tools

• Exercises and revisions

• Workshops

• Individual or group projects

• Individual or group study and research

CAD:

• Completion of comprehensive projects

• Submission of exercises, projects or research works

PHOTOGRAPHY:

• Graded exercises/revisions

• Submission of exercises, projects or research works

INTRODUCTION TO LAB:

• Graded exercises/revisions

• Submission of exercises, projects or research works

Further details about the exams will be provided by the professors.

The final grade will result from the weighted average of the programme modules.

CAD:

• www.autodesk.com

PHOTOGRAPHY:

• Bunnell, Peter C. (2006) Inside the Photograph: Writings on Twentieth-century Photography, Ed. Aperture.

• Calvino, I. (1978) Invisible Cities, Ed.Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.

• Evans, W. (2012) American Photographs, New York: Ed.The Museum of Modern Art.

INTRODUCTION TO LAB:

• Iwamoto, L., Digital Fabrications: Architectural and Material Techniques (Architecture Briefs), Ed. princeton architectural press.

Many of the recommended sources, together with additional material, are also available online on MyNaba, in the Library section.

More books and resources might be requested or suggested by the professors.