Photo Essay

 

The photo essay is a collection of 15-30 images on a subject relating to twentieth century design history. The photos may be slides, prints or digital images. At least half of the images must be taken in the field. The others can be shot or scanned from books or the web.

 

The photos should be presented on a page with a caption below containing the following information:

 

• * Name of designer, if known.
  * What the object or environment is.
  * Location.
  * Date of creation, either actual or approximate.
  * Style, if relevant.
  * Source of the image (complete citation) if taken from a book or the web.
  * One or two paragraphs describing in correct English the interesting features of the design (whatever points are important to you) and the stylistic or other sources of the design.
  

 

It is graded on amount of time spent (including research). Originality of idea, thoughtfulness and completeness in covering your subject, and clarity and correctness of writing. Quality of the photography is not particularly relevant.

 

The aim of this project for you is to get out in the field and analyze design which exists around us in our region. Its sources, its advantages and shortcomings and to do some research which helps you understand what you are seeing, in comparison to design from the past and/or from other locales.

 

Try to choose a topic (it must be okayed by the instructor or graduate assistant) which is truly interesting and which could make a contribution to others' understanding of good design.

 

The photo essay includes, in addition to the captions, a well-written summary of your research. Your introduction of 3-5 pages, should state what the topic of your research was and then discuss your conclusions about good and bad design, and sources of the designs' style. For some, a discussion of the historical evolution of different designs will be relevant. Your conclusion should point the way for designers of the future for your particular field of design.

 

There are many kinds of topics you can pursue. Here are a few suggestions (these are only suggestions):

 

• * Costume - any particular kind ofr item - from lingerie to tattoos
  * Architecture - any particular building type (e.g. any detail or ornament), the use of materials over a range of subjects, the use of a particular design principle over a range of subjects (i.e., negative/positive space) and a stylistic influence over a range of subjects.
  * Storefronts
  * Shopping Centers
  * Playgrounds
  * Campgrounds
  * Fountains
  * Parks
  * Theme Parks
  * Garden Design - specific type or detail
  * Graveyards/G ravestones
  * Parking Lots
  * Design for: Rock Venues, Night Clubs, Streets, Walkways, Pedestrian Malls, Mass Merchandise Environments
  * Building Types: Libraries, Study Environments, Schools, Churches, Restaurants, Designs for the Disabled
  * Product Design - a specific type (e.g. office machines & spaces for them, autos)
  * Display - any particular kind
  * Billboards
  * Graphic Signage
  * Packaging
  * Food Design
  * Designs for subcultures: like surfing or skateboarding, or any ethnic subculture (e.g. Chinese New Year)
  * Toys/Games