During my semester studying abroad, I participated in a survey of Italian graphic design that emerged from Milan in the 1930's and holds influence to the present day. Through this class I developed and completed a series of self-directed design projects that synthesize contemporary surroundings with historical visual precedents.
WEEK ONE / Italian Design Past
Poster Design
Stained glass and jewelry making / CMYK printing
Fashion capital / Modern couture
Famous sculptures / Typography as sculpture
OBJECTIVE
Create three posters that combine Italian design history with contemporary/personal interpretations of these precedences.
WEEK TWO / Italian Design Present
Photographic Composition / Publication Design
OBJECTIVE
Using a personally curated collection of images that follow photographic and illustrative composition rules and techniques, create a 20 page booklet that speaks to the designer's experience of Italy.
This booklet highlights the emotion seen in the eyes of paintings and sculptures across Italian museums, churches, and palaces. Emotion is so unique to the human experience and recreating emotion in art is a feat unmatched by human hands. Artificial intelligence has so far been bested at capturing the life that lives within the eyes. Artists put themselves into their creations, so it is only natural that those who can feel emotion, can better communicate it.
WEEK THREE / Italian Design Interpretation
Poster Design
What is This?
Who is This?
Where is This?
OBJECTIVE
Illustrate understanding of major visual trends within Italian design and how to creatively integrate them into a creative expression.
These posters highlight and call into question the Italian's history of intricate, sophisticated, and intentional detail in all manners of artistic expression. With these details stripped away and only the base shapes left, are these classically Italian art forms still inherently Italian? Is it the fine craftsmanship that makes it Italian, or is it the craftsmen who created the work?