History and Ethics of Design

Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. In this class we will examine the history of design, the challenges that designers at different historical moments have had to face and the ethical questions that have arisen from those choices. This class will explore a non-traditional view of design, looking at both the sung and unsung figures of history and question the choices they made, up to and including recent events in the Silicon Valley. Course work will include group projects as well as weekly writing. This course is required for undergraduate students in Product Design and, as such, priority will be given to these students. If you are not in the Product Design program, instructor permission is needed for enrollment.