ARTH 298 Special Topics in Genre Studies: Design.HER: DIY and the Interior

• Tuesdays, 2:45-5:30 pm
• Instructor: Vanessa Sicotte

Have you ever wondered if or how women integrated do-it-yourself (DIY) ethos into their design practices? How might we understand contemporary DIY culture in relation to these historical spaces? In this course, we will focus on some of the key figures, moments and issues related to nineteenth and twentieth-century design, emphasizing the contribution of women and those who identify as women in the field of DIY and design. We will engage with scholarly articles, primary source materials, and visual resources, gaining a nuanced understanding of the evolution of interior design and the role women played in its development. But it is not just about theory—as part of this course, you will embark on a hands-on creative research project. This project will be focused on an interior space of personal significance to you, allowing you to apply your learning in a meaningful and personal way. Through this experiential learning process, you will gain practical insights into analyzing interior design through the lenses of aesthetics, history, and gender perspectives.