Italian Contemporary Design and Trends - Spring Semester

Contemporary Art

The instructor will introduce, analyze, compare, contrast, and juxtapose the profile and the work of painters, photographers, sculptors and video artists who use a variety of media, materials, tools, and processes to create their work. Lectures will be complimented by site visits to galleries and exhibitions.

Contemporary Design

This topic explores contemporary trends and design languages, which will be investigated via showroom visits and lectures. Lectures will focus on the contemporary domestic life, initially deepening various typologies of houses which underline different lifestyles. The purpose of this first assignment is to understand that the design of a physical space influences the mental state of the occupants. Attention will be focused on contemporary furniture trends, which define the needs and desires of the occupants, not only from a practical and functional point of view but also an emotional one. The physical environment will be read through the analysis of the contemporary production of furniture and design languages, focusing on shapes and forms, colors, textures, materials. You will create a book of trends: magazines, catalogues, showrooms tours will be used as research tools for the final presentation.

Design Trends

This course provides you with the analytical, cultural and economic tools needed to identify and analyze trends in design. The course prepares you for the Milano Design Week by providing an investigative methodology. The course includes a theoretical section, to define methods of analysis and verification of the main macro and micro trends in design and interior design. The final exam is a research project focused on a single brand of the furniture industry considered a “trend setter”.

Design Trends Workshop

The course objective is to structure a comprehensive research project on a major macro and micro trend that emerged during the Milan Design Week. Beginning with an analysis of what was presented during the course, you develop a complete mapping of the main design and interior design trends. The areas analyzed will focus on home design, retail store design, entertainment design. At the end of the course you will present your project of a new line of colors, materials, finishings proposal for a new line of products for a “Made in Italy” furniture brand.

Graphic Design

Focuses on the basic principles of graphic design and composition of diverse elements with attention to the balance between them. As well students understand the differences in developing a layout for printing or relative to a presentation in digital format will be addressed. The course also goes in depth with the use of the main graphic design softwares; Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator.

Material Trends

Exploration of the impressive choice of materials available to designers, as well as analysis of new materials and surface finishes. Through the workshop and visits to the most important Italian producers you analyze how specific colors, materials and finishes affect a space or a product and how they can be used as instruments of communication.

Research Methods

The course is organized in two different modules: the first module is focused on the user experience connected with a specific product, while the second module allows you to understand a brand, its image and values.