Course detail

History of Design

FSI-YDDAcad. year: 2025/2026

The course is concerned with the development of design, applied arts and arts and crafts in the 20th century before and after II. World War, getting acquainted with important personalities of industrial design and current events and trends in design.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

3

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

doc. Ing. arch. Jan Rajlich

Department

Institute of Machine and Industrial Design (ÚK)

Entry knowledge

Knowledge of the development of fine art, arts and crafts and design from the beginning of the 20th century is assumed.

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

The exam verifies global orientation and knowledge of the development in the applied art and design of the given period and relationship to the previous development and to the present. The exam consists of individual work on the given topic and oral examination in the form of a debate. According to the article No. 13 of Study and Examination Rules of Brno University of Technology ECTS evaluation degree scale is used. The course is evaluated with the following grades: ECTS EVALUATION DEGREES / PTS. RATING / NUMERIC RATING: A / 100 - 90 / 1 / Excellent; B /89 - 80 / 1,5 / Very good; C / 79 - 70 / 2 / Good; D / 69 - 60 / Satisfactory; E / 59 - 50 / Sufficient; F / 49 - 0 / 4 / Failed.
The attendance in lectures is recommended.

Aims

Learning outcomes of the course unit The aim of the course is to acquire knowledge in the field of history and theory of applied art and design of the 20th century. Knowledge of history and theory will help students to orientate between the historical and contemporary contexts of design, applied art and arts in the 20th century and the present.

The student acquires:
- Basic orientation in development of modern applied art.
- Basic orientation in development of design.
- Knowledge of main styles and personalities.
- Ability of application of styles to the contemporary creation.

Study aids

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

BEARD, Lee, 2012. The art book: new edition. 2nd ed. (rev., expanded and updated). London: Phaidon Press. ISBN 978-0714864679.
GOMBRICH, E.H. The story of art. 16. ed. London: Phaidon, 1995. ISBN 9780714832470.
PIJOAN, José. Dějiny umění 9-12. Praha: Odeon/Euromedia, 1986/2004
RILEY, Noël, ed. Dějiny užitého umění: vývoj užitého umění a stylistických prvků od renesance do postmoderní doby. Praha: Slovart, c2004. ISBN 80-7209-549-8.
SPARKE, Penny. A century of design: design pioneers of the 20th century. Hauppauge, NY: Barron's, 1998. ISBN 9780764151224.

Recommended reading

BAUER, Alois, 1998. Dějiny výtvarného umění. Olomouc: Rubico. ISBN 80-858-3925-3.
HORSHAM, Michael, 1994. '20s and '30s. London: Grange Books. ISBN 18-562-7642-2.
KOLESÁR, Zdeno, 2004. Kapitoly z dějin designu. V Praze: Vysoká škola umělecko-průmyslová. ISBN 80-868-6303-4.
LUCIE-SMITH, Edward. Artoday. London: Phaidon, 1995. ISBN 978-0714832012.
MALIVA, Josef. Doteky s uměním a časem. Brno: Vysoké učení technické, 1996. ISBN 80-214-0822-7.
POLLY, Polly, 1988. '50s and '60s. Secaucus, N.J: Chartwell Books. ISBN 978-155-5213-244.

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme B-PDS-P Bachelor's 3 year of study, winter semester, compulsory
  • Programme B-VKP-P Bachelor's 3 year of study, winter semester, compulsory

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

26 hod., optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

doc. Ing. arch. Jan Rajlich

Syllabus

- Development of arts and crafts before the WWII.
- Development of arts and crafts after the WWII.
- Bauhaus.
- School of Art in Zlín.
- Industrial design in the 1st half of 20th century.
- Industrial design in the 2nd half of 20th century.
- Personalities of the European design.
- Personalities of design outside Europe.
- Personalities of the Czech design.
- The newest trends in design.