A Cultural Tour of the Best in Design (London & Milan)

LONDON - A Journey through the Design Landscape in London - Architecture & Interior Design at Chelsea College of Art & Design, 25 June - 5 July 2012

Course Detail: The Cultural Tour will consist of a history of design from the ancient civilisations to the present day as a series of visits in London. The course acts as a foundation to the Milan section of the Cultural Tour, tracing the roots of modern design back to their origins in the classical past, through the upheavals in Europe of the last two thousand years to the present day. In London it is possible to travel through the cultural history of the World in our great Museums, Palaces, Houses and Churches. Students will come to understand how important the historical basis of design is in the production of innovative modern design.

Course Outcomes: By the end of the course the students will have amassed, mounted and annotated a visual record of the two weeks tour. Having seen so much of London’s cultural heritage the students will in future be able to source examples and prototypes on which to base their own individual work.

Lead Tutor: George Rome Innes has an MA Art History by Research at Birkbeck College, University of London, and has also trained in Medicine and Architecture and so has a wide knowledge base. He has done research and restoration work for the Victoria & Albert Museum, Sir John Soane’s Museum and the RIBA Drawings Collection in London, the Bodlean and Ashmoleum in Oxford, Kings College, Cambridge and the National Trust. He has taught History of Art and Design at the Chelsea College of Art and Design since 1990 and more recently at the London College of Communication. He also regularly conducts Architectural and Interior Design tours for the Short Course Unit of the University of the Arts at Chelsea and Camberwell, and has taken students on Art History tours to Italy a number of times.

Materials: Please note that students may be asked to contribute towards the admission charges to various museums, palaces, houses and churches. You will be responsible for your own transport. For further information of the transport systems and tariffs in London please visit the transport for London website

MILAN - Cultural Tours of the Best in Milan. A journey through the Italian Landscape at NABA, 10 – 20 July 2012

Course Detail:The course aims to demonstrate how during the 20th century design has had a distinct role in the Italian way towards modernity and how the idea of "design" is closely connected with the core of Italian creativity. These aspects will be examined by considering several cultural, social, artistic and industrial elements. The course will dig down to the heart of Italian design values, alternating lectures with visits to the best of the design industry. Shops, museums, art exhibitions, design studios will all be explore to unveil the hidden city that each year hosts the most important design week in the world.

Course Outcomes:Students will discover and understand why and how Milano and Italy are among the main centers of international design. Students will complete a visual project about Milano: fashion, design, architecture, lifestyle. Students will realize a booklet presenting their vision of the city. It will contain pictures, drawings, articles, notes taken during the lessons, the field trips and in their free time. Students will be able to explore and analyze the unique reality of Design in Milano (features, history, outlook) and present it properly through a personal project.