BA Design

Formative Assessment 2

Questioning the Collection

EXAMINE HOW THE V&A MUSEUM

CONSTRUCTS A PARTICULAR HISTORY OR A

PARTICULAR THEORY OF DESIGN THROUGH

ANALYSING ONE OBJECT FROM COLLECTION

EXAMINE HOW THE V&A MUSEUM

CONSTRUCTS A PARTICULAR HISTORY OR

A PARTICULAR THEORY OF

DESIGN THROUGH

ANALYSING ONE OBJECT FROM COLLECTION

INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE

TASK 1 Visit the V&A Museum

TASK 2 Choose an exhibition or gallery display.

TASK 3 Spend 30 minutes walking around the chosen gallery space.

TASK 4 Choose one object.

TASK 5 Spend 30 minutes with the object, considering the following questions.

Think about the artifact within multiple contexts – social, cultural,

economic, political and technological:

• When was it made?

• What processes were involved in its manufacture?

• What cultural meanings has the object accrued throughout

its history?

• What kinds of people use the thing?

• How was it sold and advertised?

• Where was it manufactured?

• Did it change market dynamics?

INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE

• What is the Museum saying about design as a discipline?

• What is the Museum saying about itself as an institution?

• How is the Museum justifying its selection?

• What is the artifact placed next to?

• What information is given about the artifact?

• Is the historical context of the artifact explained?

• To what extent does the ‘designer/craftsperson/activist’ play a role in the explanation of the artifact?

INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE

INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE

Write a 500 word piece of text answering (some of) these questions.

Please remember:

• Your analysis needs to critique the Museum’s ‘voice’.

• Your history needs to represent your selections social / cultural / economic / political / technological meaning.

Upload pdf: To GDrive (Link to be sent out via email)

Deadline: 9am, Monday 2 March 2020