HALLO.
SUMM DESIG ABRO 2015
MER GN OAD During August and September 2015, fourteen students from Western Washington University’s Design Department traveled through Germany and Switzerland.
For three weeks, they studied international art and design movements and historical events while experiencing local culture.
08 38 BERLIN
DESSAU
STREET ART
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SIGHTSEEING
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FOOD
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FIRMS
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BETAHAUS
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ARCHITECTURE
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TYPOGRAPHY
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THIS PUBLICATION WAS PRINTED ON 80LB WHITE TEXT, USING THE FONTS AKZIDENZ GROTESK, DIN, ABSARA, AND HELVETICA.
BAUHAUS
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ALL PHOTOGRAPHY AND CONTENT WAS PRODUCED BY THE STUDENTS AND FACULTY OF THE TRIP.
46 54 FRANKFURT
ZÜRICH
BRAUN
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VITRA
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GUTENBERG
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FOOD
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ZHDK
60
MATERIAL ARCHIVE
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FREITAG
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DESIGNED BY ABBY MCCARTIN, DALLAS DYSON, HANNAH STUTZMAN, MEGAN LEES AND SHAUNA CRAWFORD.
SHAUNA PAUL DALLAS
KAYLEE HANNAH ERICA
6 KACEY
BRITTANY
2 Cool Profs.
2 Countries. 14 Designers.
MADDY MEGAN
NICOLE JASON ABBY
NATALEE KATY AMELIA
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BERLIN BERLIN BERLIN BERLIN BERLIN
N N N N N
STREET ART SIGHTSEEING FOOD FIRMS BETAHUAS ARCHITECTURE TYPOGRAPHY
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12
TEU FELS BERG
U.S. SPY TOWER & STREET ART
STARTING OUR JOURNEY TO THE TOP
211 STEPS TO THE TOP We started our day off by going to Teufelsberg, a spy facility used by the U.S. during the Cold War. Teufelsberg is located at the top of a large hill composed of 26 million cubic meters of rubble left by WWII. At the top we got to see one of the largest street art galleries in Germany with featured work by Plotbot and Tobo. We then went up 211 poorly lit steps to the very top dome, where ENTRANCE TO TEUFELSBERG
we saw expansive views of Berlin.
TOP LEFT THE GROUP CUTTING OUT STENCILS
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TOP RIGHT AN EXAMPLE OF GRAFFITI DONE WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER BOTTOM RIGHT DEBBIE, OUR GUIDE GIVING US A STREET TOUR
STREET ART
We did a graffiti tour with a local street artist. She taught us all about the techniques used in graffiti and how much time each artist has to complete a work in order to not risk being caught by the cops. After the tour, we got to test our skills with some stenciling of our own. It was interesting to experiment with all the different techniques and amazing to see what everyone was able to come up with. The group definitely has a new appreciation for street art.
THEY B TECHN & WE M PARTY
BRING NO MAKE Y. - GERMAN TOUR GUIDE AT TEUFELSBERG
HISTORICAL SIGHTSEEING
WALKING TOUR We took the train to Museum Island to begin our walking tour of historical sights. Here we saw the gorgeous Berlin Cathedral along with the WWII book-burning memorial. We made our way on foot over to the site of Hitler’s bunker. It is now just a parking lot, completely un-memorialized other than a discrete sign indicating the spot. Just around the corner was the Holocaust Memorial where we spent some time exploring and reflecting. We ended our walking tour with Brandenburg Gate, a neoclassical triumphal arch which was commissioned by a Prussian king as a symbol of peace.
LEFT HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL TOP BRANDENBURG GATE BOTTOM BERLINER DOM, SKETCH BY BRITTANY
EATING BREAKFAST AT OUR FIRST HOTEL
FOOD AND DRINKS OF GERMANY
During the trip, our group experienced many culinary German adventures. On our first night in Berlin, we sat down to a dinner of salad and schnitzel, a pounded and breaded pork dish. Most mornings, we sat down to a typical German breakfast of meats, eggs, bread, and fruit.
THE INFAMOUS CURRY WURST OF BERLIN
Outside of our hotel, students
dishes, a great deal of salt and spices
drank plentiful amounts of beer
were baked, fried, and cooked in
and scoured the city for street
to the meats. As for the beer, there
meat and bakeries. Many pastries
was a golden rainbow available at
incorporated a variety of fruits,
almost every eatery. We quickly
with apples and plums being
learned of the hearty and flavorful
particularly popular. For the savory
nature of German food.
LUNCH TIME IN BERLIN NEAR CHECKPOINT CHARLIE
FI RMS visiting design firms across Berlin
NODE 2003
FOUNDED
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EMPLOYEES
NODE is a small design
identity, and exhibition
firm that was established in
design. We were shown a
2003 by Anders Hofgaard
variety of books from travel
and Serge Rompza. The firm
guides to experimental
primarily focuses on print,
scratch-and-sniff books.
Edenspiekermann
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Founded by Erik Spiekermann,
During our visit, we were able
Edenspiekermann is no doubt one
to analyze the difference in
of the biggest and most prominent
atmosphere between working in a
design firms in Berlin, but also all
large design firm, versus working in
across the globe.
a small firm such as NODE.
In order to design for understanding, we need to understand design. Erik Spiekermann
Etsy is an online marketplace for individuals to create and sell products to customers all over the planet. After visiting Etsy, we were able to see the flexibilty and freedom they had as designers. The culture of their business allowed for this freedom and it showed through their design work.
2005
FOUNDED
757
EMPLOYEES
1.5M
ACTIVE SELLERS
32M
PRODUCTS
Etsy
A CO-WORKING SPACE Betahaus is an open workspace that invites designers, writers,
developers, entrepreneurs, and
many others to work and share with one another.
MAKERBOT 3-D PRINTER USED IN THE WORKSHOP
There are many rooms and
in on several presentations from
workspaces in the Betahaus,
international start-ups, giving us a
ranging from a cafĂŠ, meeting
new perspective on a shared design
rooms, a woodworking shop, an
workspace. To end the tour, we
electronics lab, and even a 3-D
experimented with 3-D printing.
printing lab. We were able to sit
KATY WORKING ON A MODEL
Arch itect ure AN OVERVIEW
Across the city of Berlin, we saw many iconic and historic buildings alike. Berlin’s political history has shaped the landscape we see today. The city is a tapestry of remodeled pre- WWII monuments, examples of Modernism, and East German Plattenbauten. With cranes, pipes, and scaffolding visible everywhere, the city continues to grow, adapt, and search for its identity, while not forgetting the past.
NEUE NATIONALGALERIE DESIGNED BY THE FAMOUS LUDWIG MEIS VAN DER ROHE IN 1968
TV TOWER, BUILT DURING THE COLD WAR IN EAST BERLIN, IS THE TALLEST STRUCTURE IN BERLIN
34 We had the opportunity to visit the Bauhaus Archive, based on the original design by Walter Gropius. The Archive, Modern in its design, holds many products, textiles, and pieces of art created by the students and teachers of the Bauhaus.
RIGHT THE BAUHAUS ARCHIVE FAR RIGHT BERLINISCHE GALERIE
BERLIN HAUPTBAHNHOF IS THE CITY’S CENTRAL TRAIN STATION
Pictured above is a model in the Berlinische Galerie, where we saw an exhibition about the architecture of post WWII Berlin.
TYPO GRAPHY
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE TYPE
TOP LEFT THE LOBBY OF FONTFONT BOTTOM LEFT THE ENTRANCE TO GESTALTEN RIGHT A DISPLAY IN THE MUSEUM OF LETTERS
TYPE ALL DAY The group started the day off with a tour of FontFont. The members at FontFont taught the full extent of what goes into making a font family. After meeting with FontFont, everyone has a little more appreciation for typefaces. Later, the group visited Gestalten Publisher, where a designer/editor spoke about the importance of books in design. At the end of the day, we went to the Museum of Letters. This museum was a collection of signage from Berlin and around the world. Each of the letters on these old signs represented a humanistic approach to typography.
2 DAY TRIP: BAUHAUS DESSAU AND MASTERS’ HOUSES
DESSAU
WEIM
AR
IN
AU
BERL
DESS
S U A H U BA THE
THE BAUHAUS SCHOOL OF DESSAU WAS A PLACE FOR STUDENTS TO EXPERIMENT AND LEARN THE FUNDAMENTALS OF DESIGN
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Every thing had a place, a meaning, a purpose.
THE BAUHAUS SCHOOL LOCATED IN DESSAU.
INSIDE THE BAUHAUS Walking through the halls
The building’s architecture,
of one of the most famous
the design of the lamps
design schools was an unreal
and doors; everything had a
experience. As a design
place and a meaning. Going
student you don’t expect to
through and seeing those
ever see what you’ve read in
minute details essentially
design history books. But we
emphasized the entire
had the opportuity to see one
philosophy of the Bauhaus.
of the most famous design
It makes you question how
schools, and it lived up to all
a school could be so forward
of our expectations.
thinking. The building looks
Everything the Bauhaus did was a carefully calculated decision that worked to make a cohesive whole.
like something that would have been built today, but in reality was designed all in the 1920’s.
ABOVE A MIRRORED SPHERE USED IN PHOTOGRAPHY EXPLORATIONS LEFT THE HALLWAY OF THE SKY BRIDGE LEADING TO GROPIUS’ OFFICE
THE STUDENT DORM BALCONIES
44 THE BAUHAUS EXPERIENCE Students of the Bauhaus
to foster closer relationships
were expected to be fully
with their classmates. The
immersed in their work
Bauhaus had a similar idea
and design. Therefore the
for their masters as well
Bauhaus created what may
with a designated living
be considered the first dorms
community a couple blocks
of Germany. It allowed
away from the school.
students immediate access to the buildings and the ability
ABOVE AN ABSTRACTION OF MASTER GROPIUS’ HOUSE LEFT ENTERING THE MASTERS’ HOUSES
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FRANKFURT
DAY TRIPS: KRONBERG: BRAUN MAINZ: GUTENBERG MUSEUM
48 ABOVE A SKETCH OF BRAUN GADGETS BY AMELIA
Many of us don’t think about the design of the everyday objects we find in our house. We don’t think about the angle of the handle on our hair dryer or the grip on our toothbrush. We don’t need to because of industrial designers like Braun who have perfected it down to a science.
THE PIONEERS Visiting the Braun Museum was extremely eye opening. Everyone kept saying, “Hey, I own this!” or “Wow, my parents have one of these.” Braun has been designing household items since 1921 and has essentially led the way in terms of industrial design. Their sleek uniform design has been extremely influential. Companies like Apple have taken Braun’s successes and incorporated it into their own design. We were grateful to have been able to see the progression of Braun’s advancements.
LEFT AMELIA LOOKING AT THE PROGRESSION OF BRAUN’S HAIR DRYERS BELOW STUDENTS LISTENING TO THE TOUR
GUTENBERG MUSEUM
THE TOUR GUIDE SHOWING AN ALTERNATE PRINTING TECHNIQUE
While touring the historical
NATALEE WITH HER FINISHED HAND PRINTED PAGE OF THE 42-LINE BIBLE
gazed upon three copies of the
artifacts of the Gutenberg Museum in Mainz, Germany, the group infamous 42-line Bible. Students were also able to experiment with hand-done alternative printing.
Using three oil-based inks in
from letterpresses or from
primary colors, the students
the students passing the
printed designs of their
paint rollers over paper
choice. Using rollers to
themselves.
apply the ink, images were created through pressure
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ZÜRICH VITRA DESIGN MUSEUM ZHdK CAMPUS MATERIAL ARCHIVES FOOD FREITAG FACTORY
VITRA DESIGN MUSEUM
TAKE YOUR PLEASURE SERIOUSLY -CHARLES EAMES
TOP RIGHT OUTSIDE OF VITRA DESIGN MUSEUM LEFT VITRAHAUS FILLED WITH DISPLAYS OF FAMOUS DESIGN FURNITURE BOTTOM RIGHT ABBY ADMIRING A DESIGN BOOK ON DISPLAY IN THE VITRAHAUS
We stopped at the Vitra Design Museum on our way to Z端rich, Switzerland. At Vitra, we were able to experience firsthand a lot of the design furniture that we had learned about in our previous design classes. There was also an exhibit on African design and a large slide/viewing tower just on the outskirts of the museum.
FOOD AND DRINKS OF SWITZERLAND
In Z端rich, Switzerland, much of the food was similar to the food in Germany in the sense that there was plentiful meat, bread, and cheese.
ONE OF THE DELICIOUS WINNER WINNER, CHICKEN DINNERS
However, at a group dinner
celebratory feast for Megan’s
we were given the good grace
22nd birthday, resulting in
of American fare. Many of
a great deal of appreciated
the students ordered “Yeasty
merriment.
Boy” beer and fried chicken with french fries for dinner. The restaurant was located on a farm that is built on the farm-to-table concept. The dinner also doubled as a
MEGAN CELEBRATING HER BIRTHDAY
ZHdK
ZURICH UNIVERSITY OF THE ARTS
We had the pleasure of visiting the most prominent school of art and design in Z端rich, where we got a demonstration of student projects, as well as touring the school itself.
NICOLE LOOKING THROUGH LIBRARY
THE MAIN ENTRANCE AND LOBBY
WALKING THROUGH THE HALLS OF ZHDK
ZHdK
MATERIALS ARCHIVE While visiting ZHdK in
from natural fibers, to 3-D
ZĂźrich, Switzerland, the
printed objects, metals,
group’s tour through the
glass, fabrics, and almost
University included viewing
everything else imaginable.
the materials archive in the library. The objects ranged
BELOW ONE OF THE MANY EXAMPLES OF NATURAL FIBERS ABOVE EXAMPLES OF TEXTILES AVAILABLE
A RESOURCEFUL LOOK INTO URBAN FASHION A FUNCTIONAL TOOL AND ACCESSORY A BEAUTIFUL DESIGN THAT REDEFINES
FREITAG FACTORY
AN EMPLOYEE CUTTING OUT BAG PATTERNS
THE IDEA OF FREITAG Freitag was created in 1993
We were not disappointed.
by two brothers who saw the
As soon as we started our
need for strong, functional
tour we were blown away by
and weather resistant bags.
their dedication to recycling
They found their solution
or rather upcycling of their
in reusing old tarps from
products. Their entire
trucks and bicycle tires.
facility was designed to be
Today Freitag has expanded
environmentally friendly.
dramatically to selling 40
Even the rainwater they
different models in 460
collected was used to wash
stores around the world as
the tarps.
well as online. This increase in commerce and unique design is what led us to the Freitag Factory in ZĂźrich, Switzerland to see how these bags are made.
Freitag’s ideals permeate through everything that they do. It was fascinating to see a company that cares about sustainable design.
Our time abroad showed us many things that we could not have experienced otherwise. We were immersed in a design landscape that was both foreign and familiar because we had previously learned the history. It gave many of us a new
perspective and opened our eyes to the diverse culture of design. Our study abroad was awesome and amazing and exceeded all of our expectations. We hope you enjoyed learning about our time abroad too.
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