Week 1: Introduction to Industrial Design Histories
February 14, 2025
Welcome! We will start the course with an introduction to Industrial Design History and each other, discussing course themes, expectations, and assignments.
Assignments:
Sketchnotes on women designers (due by next class)
Preparation for Group Subject Presentation inspired by Pat Kirkham’s Lecture
Week 2: Pat Kirkham on the History of Women Designers
February 21, 2025
This week will be an introduction to women designers within the history of design with a guest lecture by design historian Pat Kirkham.
LECTURE RECORDING: https://risd.zoom.us/rec/share/lV0vnoG9AwbpGjExgpyNEblCd876d4kKCDgdZyabYaq2VCv8eh-jUXjlg8NeguLh.n7HTgntdLVSCFro_
Passcode: 1#1Z*aOc
Readings:
Pat Kirkham, “Chapter 1: Women Designers in the USA, 1900-2000: Diversity and Difference” in Women Designers in the USA, 1900-2000: Diversity and Difference (2000), p.48-75.
Class Presentations:
Assignments:
Sketchnotes on design and disability (due by next class)
Preparation for Group Subject Presentation inspired by Shilpa Das’ lecture
Week 3: Shilpa Das on the History of Design and Disability
February 28, 2025
An introduction to design and disability with a guest lecture by Design Studies Professor Shilpa Das.
LECTURE RECORDING:
https://risd.zoom.us/rec/share/9pcuQpjgLqxeZSzt1A1SKqgn2aPoG8RHqtBx4e7u4fgntWC8uG4wR08FYqsGrKhl.psa-f0ZEAp-MrS8z
Passcode: ^0TS@V35
Readings:
Shilpa Das, Design and the Disabled Body: Where Do the Twain Meet? (2010), p.3-24.
Shilpa Das, Disability And Public Spaces: Universal Design Approaches (2015), p. 1-16 (Optional).
Class Presentations:
Assignments:
Sketchnotes on African American designers in Chicago (due by next class)
Preparation for Group Subject Presentation inspired by Christopher Dingwall’s Lecture
Week 4: Christopher Dingwall on the History of African American Designers in Chicago
March 7, 2025
An introduction to the history of African American designers in 20th-century Chicago with a guest lecture by History Professor Christopher Dingwall.
LECTURE RECORDING: https://risd.zoom.us/rec/share/BASw62KuE2n2urrznVJ4wquPJjVeJNOSt7SBzx2o9YExu_PnVgzI4uzhYRayEwru.D5gZYbkRYLso3jL-
Passcode: ^+%UcV#0
Vernon Winslow, “Making the Negro's Art Practicable,” Opportunity 18.9 (Sept. 1940): 262–263 and 277-278.
Laszlo Moholy-Nagy, “The Contribution of the Arts to Social Reconstruction” in Moholy-Nagy: An Anthology, (1943/1970), p. 19-21.
Class Presentations:
Assignments:
Sketchnotes on the history of shopping (due by next class)
Preparation for Group Subject Presentation inspired by Eric Anderson’s Lecture
Week 5: Eric Anderson on the History of Shopping
March 14, 2025
An introduction to the history of shopping and commodities in design history with a guest lecture by Design History Professor Eric Anderson.
LECTURE RECORDING:
https://risd.zoom.us/rec/share/X-3iEWR8Hgg32BcRSJ9g2Ahomam5oJteMNI9JamGopV6geB1uwxI7G3gOHYBbivs.OeQkdBf1hdK4ej5l
Passcode: vkM2Pt1?
Readings:
Barbara Radice, “Memphis and Fashion” in Memphis: Research, Experiences, Failures and Successes of New Design, (1985).
Class Presentations:
Assignments:
Sketchnotes on queer design histories (due by next class)
Preparation for Group Subject Presentation inspired by Cas Holman’s Lecture
Week 6: Sandy Ng on Modern East Asian Design and Material Culture
March 21, 2025
An introduction to modern East Asian design history and material culture with a guest lecture by Design History Professor Sandy Ng.
LECTURE RECORDING:
https://risd.zoom.us/rec/share/bg8dcjSQdkg63r4nx-opvW_1JiRkzxRfKQVJ8aShNAkTYtikpVZUaTon4X8558LM.soT4xzE4tF3Ffp_X
Passcode: &Ge4Az$Y
Readings:
Nina Murayama, “Toward (Re)defining Akari” and Bonnie Rychlak, “Searching for the New and Authentic,” in Design: Isamu Noguchi & Isamu Kenmochi (2007) p. 82-97 and p. 20-53.
Brian Sze-hang Kwok and Anneke Coppoolse, “Hong Kong Skins: Signs and Screens in a Changing Cityscape, Visual Communication, 17(1) (2017) p. 71-90.
Brian Sze-hang Kwok, “The Imageable City – Visual Language of Hong Kong Neon Lights Deconstructed,” The Design Journal, 23:4 (2020), p. 535-556. (Optional)
Class Presentations:
Assignments:
Sketchnotes on design by need (due by next class)
Preparation for Week 7 Group Subject Presentation inspired by Ernesto Oroza’s Lecture
SPRING BREAK | NO CLASS MARCH 28
Week 7: Ernesto Oroza on Design by Need
April 4, 2025
An introduction to the concept of design by need, necessity, and counterculture or vernacular design histories with a guest lecture by Design Professor Ernesto Oroza.
LECTURE RECORDING: https://risd.zoom.us/rec/share/O418Pfr4Nw4hsUmzA1Ek1H4aEzRiHX5JfHObDP1bEBGCMd8byQx0PCdo4xrar_x7.gKCsVT0XaL4WFNSq
Passcode: z!X0yi^!
Readings:
Julio García Espinosa, “For an imperfect cinema” translated by Julianne Burton, from Jump Cut, no. 20, (1979) p. 1-11.
Antonio Benítez-Rojo, “Introduction” in The Repeating Island (1992), p. 1-29. (Optional)
Class Presentations:
Assignments:
Sketchnotes on queer design histories (due by next class)
Preparation for Week 8 Group Subject Presentation inspired by Cas Holman’s Lecture
Week 8: Cas Holman on Queering Design Histories
April 11, 2025
An introduction to a queer design history with a guest lecture by designer Cas Holman.
LECTURE RECORDING: https://risd.zoom.us/rec/share/S8KP3WiLskdl2yOo8ciO7zfYDqaAEehk1uAd_4yuj9pLAKh55eXDnf2t9Lk8fiDW.UzHecP9DlbVxE2D_
Passcode: dS$tj7?t
Readings:
John Voss, “A Practical Approach to Queering Design”, Queer Design Club, (2020).
Class Presentations:
Assignments:
Sketchnotes on design from the continent of Africa (due by next class)
Preparation for Week 9 Group Subject Presentation inspired by Mugendi K. M'Rithaa’s Lecture
Week 9: Mugendi K. M'Rithaa on Design from the Continent of Africa
April 18, 2025
An introduction to design from the continent of Africa and decolonizing design education with Design Professor Mugendi K. M'Rithaa.
LECTURE RECORDING
https://risd.zoom.us/rec/share/eXGEiLKjwYVeiKhDhc7lB_C_PGEK4UEbjnpP9J0_UPzBP0sRfmRj1ldvFtwQRMGF.FmcMP6B1wVNLRIT1
Passcode: 0RN+s&1C
Readings:
Mugendi K. M’Rithaa, Richie Moalosi, and Yaone Rapitsenyane, “Chapter 1: Design Context in Afrika” in Design Context in Afrika, (2023) p. 1-20.
Class Presentations:
Assignments:
Sketchnotes on designing motherhood (due by next class)
Preparation for Group Subject Presentation inspired by Michelle Millar Fisher’s Lecture
Week 10: Michelle Millar Fisher on Designing Motherhood
April 25, 2025
An introduction to the history of design for motherhood and human reproduction with a guest lecture by design historian and curator Michelle Millar Fisher.
LECTURE RECORDING:
https://risd.zoom.us/rec/share/QA47gqMZ9tpIH8qaDvmlwEz9w7XZJn5fUXTdst8aUsI3tSsL3yMG00VnrxA_BADG.qS_x5bP0qFa8m9m6
Passcode: T&n*n$n8
Readings:
Michelle Millar Fisher and Amber Winick, “A Facking Raw Deal: Designing Motherhood the All American Way,” Vestoj: On Capital, 2019.
Michelle Millar Fisher and Amber Winick, “Birth Places: From the Bed Room to the Hospital and Back Again,” Architecture Association Files, p. 83-98 or listen to this article here.
Michelle Millar Fisher and Amber Winick, Designing Motherhood: Things That Make and Break Our Births, (MIT Press 2021) Designing Motherhood Project Website (Optional)
Class Presentations:
Assignment:
No sketchnotes this week! Work on your final assignment (alternative timeline or VR gallery)
No Group Subject Presentation Preparation this week!
Week 11: The History of Modern Latin American Design
May 2, 2025
An introduction to modern Latin American design history with a guest lecture by design historian and curator Christina De León.
Readings: TBD
Assignments:
Work on your alternative timeline and final presentation.
Week 12: Emily Banas on RISD Museum Collection and Design History & Alternative Timeline Final Class Presentations
May 9, 2025
Our last class will be dedicated to a guest lecture with curator Emily Banas and final presentations of your Alternative Timelines or Virtual Galleries. Upload these to your section folders the day before our last class.