Class History of Design

This course proposes alternative approaches to graphic design history, challenging linear narratives, the cult of the hero and a canonical and universal view of history widely disseminated throughout the 20th century. Adopting social and political readings of the specific contexts through which the discipline has progressed, History of Design uses a range of different lenses to think, challenge, and rewrite history?seeing it as an essential tool for the design practice. From Feminist revisions of design history, with a particular focus on Portugal, to a survey of Latinx legacies to the specificities of graphic design in Iberia, this course provides space for erased and marginalised histories, while sharing with students methods and tools to further the use and research of design history.

— Introduction to counter-narratives and the margins of history beyond the canon. History against universality.
— Political contextualisation of design histories and decolonisation of bibliographies.
— Issues of under, over and misrepresentation in illustration under specific political influences and ideologies.
— Feminist revision of Portuguese graphic design history, with challenges and methods towards counter-hegemonic representation.
— Graphic design in the Iberian Peninsula, focusing on the politics at play, the implementation of democracy and postmodernism without modernity.

— Interchange with other European Universities in direct relation to the course's curricula.
— Partnership with cultural institutions and arquives, using the infrastructures with the students.

Levit, B. (2021) Baseline Shift Untold Stories of Women in Graphic Design History. Princeton Architectural Press.
Pater, R. (2021) CAPS LOCK: How Capitalism Took Hold of Graphic Design, and How to Escape from It. Valiz.
Scotford, M. (1994) Messy History vs Neat History: Toward an Expanded View of Women in Graphic Design. In: Visible Language 28:4, pp. 368-388.