Program Overview

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HISTORY OF CONTEMPORARY GRAPHIC AND ILLUSTRATIVE ART

Course Details

• Code: 72643
• Academic Year: 2025/2026
• Credits:
  • 6 cfu anno 2 DESIGN PRODOTTO EVENTO 11440 (LM-12) - GENOVA
  • 6 cfu anno 2 STORIA DELL'ARTE E VALORIZZAZ. PATRIMONIO ARTISTICO 8467 (LM-89) - GENOVA
  • 6 cfu anno 2 INFORMAZIONE ED EDITORIA 8769 (LM-19) - GENOVA
  • 6 cfu anno 2 SCIENZE STORICHE 9917 (LM-84) - GENOVA
  • 6 cfu anno 2 DESIGN DEL PRODOTTO E DELLA COMUNICAZIONE 11439 (L-4) - GENOVA
  • 6 cfu anno 1 DESIGN PRODOTTO EVENTO 11943 (LM-12 R) - GENOVA
  • 6 cfu anno 3 DESIGN DEL PRODOTTO E DELLA COMUNICAZIONE 11439 (L-4) - GENOVA
• Scientific Disciplinary Sector: L-ART/03
• Language: Italian
• Teaching Location: GENOVA
• Semester: 2° Semester
• Teaching Materials: AULAWEB

Overview

The course traces the history of graphic design through an analysis of the major currents and the most important artists who have shaped its vicissitudes, from the Art Nouveau season to current trends in a dense interweaving with the most important art experiences.

Aims and Content

Learning Outcomes

The teaching aims to introduce the history of graphic design from the end of the nineteenth century to the present day with specific insights into the relationship with the visual arts of the twentieth century and deals also with some aspects of the history of illustration in Italy with particular reference to the circulation and reuse of images between the 19th and 20th centuries.

Aims and Learning Outcomes

The course aims to provide students with the notions and methodological tools necessary for the correct analysis and understanding of the evolution of graphic design from the 19th century to the present day.

At the end of the course, students must be able to explain with an appropriate vocabulary the development lines of the discipline and interpret graphic design works in relation to the cultural context in which they were born, showing that they have acquired the necessary critical and methodological tools. They must be able to autonomously construct paths of meaning, in both thematic and problematic terms, between the various and different moments in the history of graphic design. He/she will have to present an in-depth written study in which, by means of an adequate bibliography, he/she will argue in an original manner and with propriety of language a freely chosen theme.

Prerequisites

Basics of 19th and 20th century art history.

Teaching Methods

Classes are held in person. Attendance, although not compulsory, is recommended. No remote learning is available for this course.

Meetings with subject specialists and specifically scheduled teaching visits are planned.

Syllabus/Content

The history of graphic design from the end of the 19th century to the present day. Meetings with specialists in the subject and visits to exhibitions and museums are planned.

The programme is intended for both attending and non-attending students: the latter will complete their preparation with an additional text (to be chosen between two) indicated in the bibliography.

Recommended Reading/Bibliography

• D. BARONI, M. VITTA, Storia del design grafico, Longanesi, Milano 2004.
• Non-attending students will also study one of the following books:
  • S. POLANO, P. VETTA, Abecedario. La grafica del Novecento, Electa, Milano 2002.
  • Filosofia del graphic design, edited by R. FALCINELLI, Einaudi, Torino 2022. Further bibliography will be indicated during the course. The final bibliography will be available on aulaweb at the end of the course.

Students, whether attending or not, must also complete their preparation with a research paper to be submitted in written form (at least one week before the date of the exam) on one of the topics addressed during the course or dealt with in the Baroni-Vitta text.

The rules for the written paper and an orientation bibliography will be provided in class and, at the end of the course, will be available on the pages dedicated to the course on aulaweb.

Teachers and Exam Board

• LEO LECCI
  • Reception: At the end of the lessons or by appointment
• Exam Board:
  • LEO LECCI (President)
  • ANDREA DAFFRA
  • PAOLA VALENTI (President Substitute)
  • VERONICA BASSINI (Substitute)

Lessons

Lessons Start

10th February 2026

Class Schedule

The timetable for this course is available.

Exams

Exam Description

Exam oral and written

Assessment Methods

Oral test aimed at ascertaining knowledge of the major protagonists and currents in the history of graphic design and, for students using the 9 cfu teaching, also of the most salient aspects of the history of illustration between the 19th and 20th centuries.

The student must also complete the preparation with a research paper to be submitted in written form (at least one week before the date of the exam) on one of the topics addressed during the course or covered in the Baroni-Vitta text.

Standards for the written paper and a guiding bibliography will be provided in class and, at the end of the course, will be available on the teaching pages on aulaweb.

The written paper will be discussed during the exam.

Exam Schedule

• 16/12/2025, 10:00, GENOVA, Orale
• 20/01/2026, 10:00, GENOVA, Orale
• 03/02/2026, 10:00, GENOVA, Orale
• 09/06/2026, 10:00, GENOVA, Orale
• 30/06/2026, 10:00, GENOVA, Orale
• 15/07/2026, 10:00, GENOVA, Orale
• 09/09/2026, 10:00, GENOVA, Orale

Further Information

Meetings with specialists in contemporary art and visits to exhibitions and museums are planned.

Agenda 2030 - Sustainable Development Goals

• Quality education