History of Design

MSt in the History of Design

This course is not accepting applications for 2012/13 entry

Architecture, gardens, interiors and the decorative objects they enclose offer distinctive insight into society and its mores. The MSt in the History of Design focuses particularly on the Modern Period from 1851–1951 in Europe (including Britain) and America. Combining close visual and material analysis with historical methodologies, the course explores decorative and applied art; landscape and garden design; graphic design; monumental and ornamental sculpture; interior design; mural painting; design for performance and fashion; industrial design. Core themes of the course will include the rivalries between historicism and modernity; internationalist and nationalist tendencies; handicraft and industrial processes as well as the analysis of critical debates about the makers and audiences of decoration in advice literature and aesthetic writing.

The University of Oxford offers a uniquely rich programme of lectures and research seminars relevant to the study of Design History. Research specialisms particularly well represented in the Department for Continuing Education are:

• Ecclesiastical Architecture and Design
• Art Nouveau and Modern French Decoration
• The Art of the Book
• The Arts and Crafts Movement
• Modernist Design and Architecture
• Garden History

 As a discipline Design History is well represented in conferences organised and academic journals and books published by The Design History Society; the Association of Art Historians; AHRC Centre for the Historic Interior at the Victoria and Albert Museum; the Modern Interior Centre at Kingston University; The Twentieth Century Society; The Garden History Society; The Textile History Society; The Wallpaper Society, The Société des Dix-Neuvièmistes.

• Length of programme: Part-time (taught on monthly weekends over two years)
  
• Core courses
  • Techniques and Materials of Design
  • Historical Methods
  • Research Project
  • Dissertation
• Optional courses
  • Decoration in Modern France
  • The Arts and Crafts Tradition in Modern Britain
  • Design in the Machine Age
  • Design, Body, Environment
  • Visual Cultures of the World Wars
  • Academic Writing & Contemporary Practice
  • Medieval Period or Early Modern Period Option
    
• Papers available to be shared with the existing MSc English Local History: The social history of English architecture, 1870–1940; The English suburb, 1800–1939; English architecture 1500–1640
• Programme specification

While we do not offer a DPhil programme in this subject, we may be able from time to time to take exceptional research students where we are able to offer appropriate supervision and either we, or, where relevant, the applicant's employer, can provide appropriate facilities. Applicants would need to demonstrate that they have skills and competencies in the History of Design.

The DPhil would be available on a part-time basis, to be completed in a minimum of four years, and would normally start in October. Informal enquires should be directed to the MSt course director.

The Ashmolean Museum, the Pitt Rivers Museum, the Continuing Education and Sackler Libraries.

Dr Paul Barnwell 

University Lecturer in Architectural History, Department for Continuing Education and Fellow of Kellogg College

Further details

Dr Cathy Oakes

Director of Studies and University Lecturer in the History of Art, Department for Continuing Education and Fellow of Kellogg College

Further details

Dr. Claire I R O'Mahony (Course Director)

University Lecturer in the History of Art, Department for Continuing Education and Fellow of Kellogg College

Further details

Dr Geoffrey Tyack

Fellow of Kellogg College and Director, Stanford University Programme in Oxford

Further details

Dr Jon Whiteley

Senior Assistant Keeper of Western Art, Ashmolean Museum

Further details

• MSc in English Local History (part-time)
• MSt in the History of Art (full-time)
• DPhil in Architectural History (part-time)

Future research and career paths might be doctoral programmes; creative industries; museum curatorship; the art market; teaching; arts publishing.