Identity elements
Reference code
Name and location of repository
Level of description
Title
Date(s)
- 1996-2011 (Creation)
Extent
3 linear feet (6 boxes)
Name of creator
Biographical history
Designmatters started under the International Initiatives department in 2001. With the closing of the department in February 2009, Designmatters branched off and was established as its own department.
In Fall 2010 the Designmatters concentration was launched. In February 2011 a new Designmatters Website was launched, with links to all of their projects and publications.
[From the Designmatters Website in August 2011]:
The College's social impact department, Designmatters is where local, national and global issues are encountered head-on. Values that are embedded into the department are filtered into the curriculum, programs and projects. These values represent the spirit of Designmatters, and consist of sustainable development, global healthcare, public policy and social entrepreneurship.
In recognition of Designmatters' service to society, in 2003 Art Center became the first design school to receive Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) status by the United Nations. Designmatters has also fostered a series of prestigious and unique global affiliations that provide students and alumni access to a prominent stage in which to offer innovative solutions to critical issues of our time-with the results widely disseminated beyond the studio's walls.
The Designmatters concentration is offered to students who wish to explore more fully art and design for social impact. Interested students declare the concentration during the third term and must fulfill a series of seven required courses, which vary depending on the student's discipline, and include academic, discipline-specific and studio-based offerings.
Staff:
Mariana Amatullo, Director, Designmatters and International Initiatives (2001-2008)
Vice President International Initiatives, Director Designmatters (April 2008-Feb. 2009);
Vice-President and Director, Designmatters Department (2009- August 2017)
Elisa Ruffino,
Coordinator, Designmatters and International Initiatives (2002-2004?)
Assistant Director, Designmatters and International Initiatives (2004-2006?)
Producer, Designmatters and Senior Associate Director, International Initiatives (2006-2009?)
Producer and Senior Associate Director, Designmatters Department (2009)
Hannah Huang, Research Coordinator (2007-2008)
Linda Grabael Coordinator, International Initiatives and Designmatters (2007-2009)
Content and structure elements
Scope and content
The collection consists mainly of files related to Designmatters projects, especially the Los Angeles Earthquake project, which takes up half of the collection. The Administrative Series documents some of the meetings, reports, and fundraising opportunities from the department as well as some course proposals.
The Conferences Series contains programs and notes from mainly the annual DPI/NGO conferences they attended. In addition to participating, sometimes Art Center students designed the program artwork.
Before Designmatters was its own academic concentration, it endorsed courses in various departments. Series 3 contains information on these courses.
The Papers Series contains one file. However, more papers are saved digitally.
The Projects Series is the bulk of the collection. These files do not contain finished projects, but rather the planning documents, such as: planning documents, correspondence, proposals, budgets, and files on collaborators (people and companies). The files in this series also not a complete record of all of their projects from 2002-2011, but only contain what was transferred to the Archives.
System of arrangement
Series 1: Administrative files
Series 2: Conferences
Series 3: Designmatters Endorsed Courses
Series 4: Papers
Series 5: Projects
Conditions of access and use elements
Conditions governing access
Physical access
Technical access
Conditions governing reproduction
Copyright held by Art Center College of Design (Pasadena, Calif.)
Digital materials and catalog records are made available for educational and research purposes only and cannot be reproduced, distributed, or published without written permission from Art Center College of Design.
Languages of the material
Scripts of the material
Language and script notes
Finding aids
Custodial history
Immediate source of acquisition
2010.3
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information
Accruals
Related materials elements
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related archival materials
Designmatters publications are separated and cataloged as special collections books in the Library catalog.
Related descriptions
Notes element
Specialized notes
Alternative identifier(s)
Rules or conventions
Sources used
Archivist's note
RD, 10/2011