Course Catalogue

British design from the Great Exhibition to the Festival of Britain ADED11785

  • Academic Session: 2026-27
  • School: Short Courses
  • Credits: 0
  • Level: Level 1 (SCQF level 7)
  • Typically Offered: Semester 1
  • Available to Visiting Students: No
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No
  • Curriculum For Life: No

Short Description

The course will explore the new ideas and processes in British design that were embodied in the Great Exhibition of 1851 and displayed in Joseph Paxton's 'Palace of all Industry', famously dubbed the 'Crystal Palace'. The course will then go on to investigate the influence of the exhibition on British Design, from William Morris and the Arts and Crafts Movement, to the young designers like Terrance Conran and the Scandinavian influence that dominated the Festival of Britain, the post-war 'tonic for the nation' in 1951.

Timetable

Block 1

Tuesdays

18.00 - 20.00

Requirements of Entry

None.

Excluded Courses

None

Co-requisites

None.

Assessment

N/A

Course Aims

This course aims to:  

■ Develop an appreciation of British design between 1851 - 1951

■ Present key architects, designers and buildings from this period

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Discuss key features of applied art and design, architecture and their creators from 1851 to 1951

■ Identify important works of the period

■ Explain the issues that affected the way design was made in this period (i.e. the historical, social, political and technological context and new approaches to the way design was made and used)

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

No exceptions