Cultural Diversity, Connection, Value, and Sustainability – the Role of Hand Craft
Course: Design Studies 527 – Global Artisans
Day/Time: Spring 2022 | Mon. & Wed. 1:45-3:45 pm
Credits: 3 | Counts for certificates in Design Strategy, Global Health, and/or Textiles and Design
Location: Innovation Lab, 2194 Nancy Nicholas Hall | 1300 Linden Dr.
Prereq: Minimum junior standing
Description: Utilizing design thinking, students in this project-based survey course will be exposed to important issues surrounding small-scale artisan production, value, and sustainability. Students will develop valuable hands-on skills working with artisan partners through craft techniques, design, quality control, branding, and story-telling.
Students will explore the Helen Louise Allen Textile Collection and learn to use the holdings as inspiration, and then exhibit their co-designed work later in the semester in the Lynn Mecklenburg Textile Gallery. Four textile artisans, a hand weaver, hand block printer and natural dyer, a bandhani (Shibori) artist, and an embroiderer, will virtually co-teach the studio craft sessions and coordinate the artisans partnering with students in the co-design segment.
The course is open to those with at least a Junior standing. The course is open to any major, though might be of interest to students in the areas of art, anthropology, design, arts administration, museum studies, South Asian studies, and business/marketing.
Download the course flyer (PDF).
Image provided by the artist.
If you have any questions about the course, please contact iarp@arts.wisc.edu.