Lecture series: Graphic design as a mediator in public space.
Frequency: 8 weekly meetings
Department: Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Culture, Book Studies chair group
Elective course for all students in the MA Humanities programme, University of Amsterdam
Since this course has been offered by the UvA in collaboration with the Wim Crouwel Institute since 2015-16, interest among students has grown. Participants are students of art history, literary studies, book studies, general cultural studies, history, media and Dutch literature.
Graphic design mediates our forms of information and communication. This course explores more than a century of graphic design history – the emergence and professionalisation of the field and the impact of the digital revolution – with an emphasis on bringing the professional field in relation to broader cultural, social, technological and economic contexts. By focusing on what graphic design means within and for society, this course examines the societal roles of graphic design while gaining an understanding of the historical development of the practice. In parallel, attention will be paid to key theories and analytical methods applicable to visual culture. The exploration of Dutch graphic design will take place through a combination of lectures and seminars consisting of archival research.