Teaching of visual communication at FAU USP: history, implementation and characteristics

• Grant number: 13/09945-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date until: August 01, 2013
• End date until: July 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Applied Social Sciences - Architecture and Town Planning
• Principal Investigator: Marcos da Costa Braga
• Grantee: Dora Souza Dias
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Arquitetura e Urbanismo (FAU). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Changes in all Educational stages and throughout the world are triggered usually by changes in political, social, cultural and economic contexts in which education and training are processed. Education improvement assumes a critical review of the paths followed, which includes a look at the past. The proposed research aims to rescue part of the history of visual communication taught at FAU USP. It has not yet been sufficiently assessed and analysed by previous studies on aspects of curriculum, textbooks and teaching. The teaching of visual communication at FAU USP started officially in 1962, simultaneously with the implementation of industrial design disciplines, aiming a new profile expected for the architects formed by this institution. The role of graduated professionals from this course who influenced the design in the state of São Paulo and nationally in several areas is prominent, as well as the importance of FAU USP as a reference for other pioneer courses of design in the State. The teaching of industrial design at this Faculty had its history and contents rescued by recent studies. However, the teaching of visual communication has not yet been equivalently historically analysed. Its intended to redeem, record and analyse the origins and characteristics of the first phase of visual communication teaching implementation at FAU USP over a time frame covering the years 1960, as well as the syllabus, the protagonists and teaching methods applied by teachers in class. The main sources of information will be documents from FAU USP deposited at the Faculty and the University rectory, publications and research done at the Faculty during the study period and interviews. Alumni and former teachers who participated in the construction of the history of FAU USP in the 1960s, will be interviewed based on the methods of oral history. The knowledge of teaching practices will contribute not only to rescue the roots of graphic design in Brazil, but also to the current debate about identity and design education in this institution and in São Paulo scenario.

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

DIAS, Dora Souza. Visual communication at FAU USP: history, implementation and characteristics of the education. 2015. Master's Dissertation - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Arquitetura e Urbanismo (FAU/SBI) São Paulo.