UNIVERSITY NEWS LAST UPDATED : 16 MARCH 2017
A key element of being a designer is exploring different cultural environments and capturing design inspirations from new sources. Following on from last year’s successful Barcelona trip our BA (Hons) Product and Furniture Design students recently spent a fantastic study week in Berlin, providing them with further first-hand experience of iconic designs and architecture from Europe.
Students were encouraged take lots of photos, bring their sketchbooks, research the city for other suitable design destinations to visit in their free time, and most importantly use the trip find potential influences for their future design work. Available to all years on the Product & Furniture Design course, the study trip provided a great opportunity for early research and visual inspiration for current and upcoming modules.
The week’s activities started with a trip to the Neues Museum. Renowned for its wonderful collection of art, encapsulated within iconic David Chipperfield architecture, students had the chance to experience the archaeological restoration of the building after the destruction of World War II.
The next stop for students was the iconic Reichstag building, the meeting place of the German parliament. Here the visit included a guided tour that provided a great insight into German parliamentary history and provided the perfect opportunity to see Norman Foster’s bold architecture – a combination of old and new elements and a now established landmark of the city.
Historical content played a large part of the trip, combining visually stunning architecture with cultural experiences. Day two provided the students with poignant and memorable visits to the Jewish Museum, designed by architect Daniel Libeskind, and also the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe.
One of the key design elements of the week was a visit to the Bauhaus-Archive. The Archive collects and displays art pieces, items, documents and literature which relate to the renowned Bauhaus School, one of the most influential schools of architecture, design, and art of the 20th century.
Speaking afterwards, second year student Will Gibson said:
“Aside from the educational side, socially it was a great opportunity to meet new people and have new experiences. It was great to practice my German as well!”
Image credit: Thomas Hughes