INTR 20400: HISTORY OF INTERIORS AND FURNITURE TIMELINE RESEARCH PROJECT OBJECTIVE You are a designer who incorporates historic precedent and inspiration into design solutions for your clients. The design portfolio you will create shows current furniture pieces and comparable historic pieces that inspired them. If your client is intrigued by design styles of the Middle Ages, for example, but does not want an authentic, antique period room, you will propose a current piece that has inspiration of the Middle Ages. Your complete portfolio will be a timeline featuring a specific furniture type, such as beds for example. For each time period studied in class, your timeline will include an historic example and a comparable contemporary example, describing and illustrating characteristics for each. REQUIREMENTS Select one specific type of furniture item to follow consistently throughout time periods studied in class. Examples from which to choose are: bed, chest, side chair, arm chair, stool, table. Submit your proposed furniture item to the instructor during the Introductory module for approval to proceed. In each corresponding time period during the course, prepare a timeline entry for this furniture item. For example if your selected furniture item is the bed, prepare a timeline entry in the Egyptian module showing both an historic and a contemporary bed in the Egyptian style. Likewise, follow the same idea for beds in both the Greek and Roman time periods, and so on throughout the semester. At the end of the semester you will be able to compile these into a complete timeline to submit as your design portfolio. For each time period, use the attached Project Template and include the following for your selected furniture item: (numbers below refer to corresponding components in the example found in Canvas Files Timeline Research Project and in the Project Template) 1) Dates of the period (use date ranges exactly as listed below in the grading rubric found at the end of this document, these are date ranges used in the textbook) 2) Graphic examples of representative motif(s) of the period (refer to Design Motifs in the text and the Design Motifs presentation in the course module). 3) Photograph or line drawing of an historic furniture piece authentic to the dates of the time period, along with the following:
4) Accompanying 100-200 word bulleted description of (a.) physical characteristics using accurate and descriptive terminology from course material, (b.) the piece s usage in the context of the time period, and (c.) development of its design as compared to the previous periods pieces (note: this last component addressing development will apply to all entries after Egyptian). 5) Contemporary Application of Historic Precedent: photograph of a similarly functional current (21 st century) piece that shows comparable or related design characteristics influenced by the original, along with an, 6) Accompanying 100-200 word bulleted description of (a.) physical characteristics from the historic time period relating to those of the selected current piece and (b.) the contemporary piece s usage in modern living. 7) A second page with references of all sources, including those of images and text (not necessary to include for motifs).
Supplementary requirements: Time periods are listed in the project rubric below. Drafts of time period entries are due in the Canvas Timeline Project Folder found under People, to include all required components not necessarily in their final, finished format. Check due dates for each draft as well as the final project in the course Grades. The final project consists of all draft entries with all necessary revisions compiled into ONE single document with a cover page that includes project title, name, date, and furniture piece. 1. Images: a. Furniture images of historic pieces must be of a period piece (authentic) - not a reproduction or a later inspiration. i. Its date of origin must be provided by the resource used and must be within the appropriate time period as listed in the project rubric below. This is how you can be certain that it accurately falls within the time period. b. Corresponding 21 st century pieces must be currently manufactured and available for direct purchase or ordering, as indicated by its resource. These may also be personally found and photographed at a retail source. They may not be one-of-a-kind pieces for sale by an antique dealer or auction. In other words, you and ten of your clients should all be able to purchase one. 2. Descriptions: a. Written descriptions are in your own words, not quoted directly from source. Any resource may be used for these and cited in the project. b. Descriptions of historic pieces will reference previous period characteristics to indicate design trends or differences from previous period characteristics. c. Colors, textiles, and decorative ornamentation may optionally be addressed or illustrated. d. Proper spelling and grammar must be used in all writing. 3. Format: a. PowerPoint or Word should be used to format your project. It may be saved as an Adobe file to preserve formatting. b. Graphic presentation should consider a pleasing arrangement of illustrations with accompanying text and motifs, as well as overall design aesthetic of the page. c. Motifs may be shown as a single unit or implemented within the graphic format for each entry, such as in a border in the example found in Canvas Files. d. A title page should be a graphically interesting introduction to your research topic with project title, name, date, and the furniture piece studied. 4. References: a. References will be identified separately for each time period entry on a page directly following each entry. For example, all Egyptian entry references will be shown on one page in alphabetic order. b. Photos of historic pieces are NOT to come from the course textbook, however the text may be used as a reference for background information and ideas of resources to use. University Library has several books on reserve for this class at the checkout desk. c. Historic images may be of actual pieces or drawings, and should be scanned from print sources. Except for museum web sites, other electronic sources may NOT be used for historic research. If a
web site is used for this information, it MUST be a legitimate museum and have Museum or similar in the website name and must have supporting documentation for individual pieces used, including object dates and origin. Examples of acceptable websites are the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. d. Resources used for contemporary pieces must be the piece s manufacturer or a retailer that sells it, i.e. it must include necessary information to purchase the piece. These resources may be online websites or print. e. All references, including text and images, will be documented using either MLA or APA reference guidelines. See the OWL Resource in Canvas Files for style guidelines and examples of documenting electronic resources and personal photographs. In addition to MLA or APA requirements, include the complete website address of the photo or information referenced. (Grading Rubric with date ranges follows on next page)
GRADING RUBRIC Key: + Excellent (A-range) Average (C-range) Unacceptable (F-range) + Good (B-range) Below Average (D-range) Time Period and Period Dates Selection of Historic Piece Contemporary Application of Current Piece Written Descriptions Points (maximum 7) Egyptian 3000 BCE 500 BCE Greek 1000 BCE - 0 Roman 500 BCE 500 CE Middle Ages 500 CE 1400 CE Italian Renaissance 1400 1600 CE Spanish Renaissance 1500 1600 CE English Renaissance 1500 1660 CE French Renaissance 1515 1610 CE French Baroque 1610 1715 CE English Baroque 1660 1702 CE
Early American Colonial 1640 1720 CE Late American Colonial 1720 1785 CE French Rococo 1715 1774 CE English Rococo 1702 1760 CE Early French Neoclassic 1774 1792 CE Early English Neoclassic 1760 1811 CE References: Selection of sources and citation format (maximum 10) Graphic Presentation (maximum 10) Written Composition Quality (content, spelling, grammar) (maximum 10) Proposed Finalized Entry submitted for feedback (maximum 7) Total (maximum 100) Comments: