Design in the Urban Context:
The Power of Images, The Art of Propaganda
2009 Exploration Seminar in Rome, Italy

Program Director: Christopher Ozubko
Dates of Instruction: 24 August-24 September, 2009

The UW Design Program is pleased to offer its fourth seminar in Rome during Summer Quarter 2009. Rome is a legendary crossroads of ancient and modern culture, its history defined by the monuments of the imperial past and the magnificence of the Roman Catholic Church. Monuments such as the Colosseum, the Arch of Constantine, the Pantheon, the ancient Roman Forum, and the artistic treasures of the city’s many museums and churches have attracted visitors to the Eternal City for centuries. Rome has always been a powerful symbol during its rise as an empire, but also in the 20th century as symbol in literature, culture, and history. It is a city of contradictions—acting as the center of Roman Catholicism and pre-Christian paganism, of immense beauty and infamous ruin, and of opulent antiquity and contemporary extravagance. Few cities in the world can provide students with such an inspiring and memorable landscape to work from.

This course will be comprised of a diverse series of photographic and design investigations/exercises addressing visual aesthetics, form analysis + generation, concept development, and design methodology within a two + three dimensional context.

The seminar will be based at the University of Washington Rome Center, housed in the 17th century Palazzo Pio in the heart of historic Rome. Built on the foundations of the Theater of Pompey, ancient Rome’s first permanent theatre (dedicated in 55 B.C.), the Palazzo adjoins the Campo de’ Fiori, site of Rome’s most attractive open air market. The Center provides studio space, a library, a computer lab, as well as logistical support.

Program Instructors: Christopher Ozubko, Professor of Design & Director of the School of Art, and special guest instructor, Mel Curtis, professional photographer.

Course will fulfill a total of 8 VLPA credits in Art that will apply to Autumn Quarter 2008. Participants should check with Art academic advisors to determine how these credits may apply to major requirements.

Student costs:  
$4,000 Program Fee
$ 200 International Programs & Exchanges Fee
Field trips, museum entrances and excursions included. Additional costs include return travel to Rome, food (approx $15-30 day), health insurance and personal expenses

!! This program is open ONLY to design students: contact program director for application information !!

student comments from 2008:

The location of the Rome Center was absolutely amazing. It truly enhanced my work in the
studio being right above the Campo di Fiori as I always found some sort of creative
inspiration when I would walk over to the window and look out at the city and people of
Rome. I felt so blessed to be there- it was more perfect than I could have even imagined, as
the location was such an inspiration to me, artistically.

This program definitely opened my eyes to a whole new world outside of the United States
and also helped me grow as a person, putting me in a new place with new people and
having to adapt to a new lifestyle. All in all it was a priceless experience that I wouldn't
trade for the world.

I would most most definitely recommend this program to other students, and I already
have begun to promote it amongst my friends who are thinking about studying abroad! I
would recommend this program because it provides an opportunity to students to grow
and learn in a different setting, challenging individuals to reach outside of themselves and
adapt to a new environment and way of life. I found so much value in this trip and feel as
though it has changed me for the better as I found an excitement for life and passion for
learning, simply by learning in and about a different society.

My time there well exceeded my expectations. In all honesty, I wasn't 100% sure what the
program had to offer and how my stay would be but looking back there was no way I could
have expected to have as much fun and learn as much as I did.

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