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Illinois Institute of Technology. Institute of Design

 Organization

Biography

The Institute of Design was established in 1939 by László Moholy-Nagy as the School of Design in Chicago. Moholy-Nagy was one of the early masters of the Bauhaus in Weimar and Dessau, Germany. In 1937, a group of Chicago business people representing the Association of Arts and Industries enticed Moholy to come to Chicago from London with their offer to establish a school to carry on the work of the original Bauhaus. The New Bauhaus: American School of Design opened its doors in October 1937, in the remodeled former Marshall Field mansion at 1905 South Prairie Avenue. From the venue of the New Bauhaus in Chicago, Moholy-Nagy championed Bauhaus methods even as he adapted them in his creative output of paintings, photographs, sculptures, photograms, and films as well as in professional design assignments undertaken for private industry and government, and in developing course curricula for the school's classes. The school closed a year later due to a lack of funding, but in February, 1939, László Moholy-Nagy opened his own school, the School of Design in Chicago. Its first campus was at 247 East Ontario Street. In 1944 the school was reorganized as the Institute of Design in Chicago (ID).

In November, 1946, Moholy-Nagy died of leukemia, and was succeeded as director by the architect, Serge Chermayeff. Vision in Motion, the definitive statement of Moholy's educational philosophy, was published posthumously in 1947. In 1949, the Institute of Design merged with Illinois Institute of Technology and the school initially remained at its downtown location. In 1955, it moved into S. R. Crown Hall, the building Mies van der Rohe had designed for IIT's architecture program, which he headed. Today, the Institute of Design is an integral part of IIT, offering a graduate level program and functioning as a college of the university.

Found in 7 Collections and/or Records:

Institute of Design Photography Oral History Project, 2011

 Collection
Identifier: 008.05.01
Description of the Collection

Twenty-three video interviews with Institute of Design alumni regarding their experiences in the photography program. The interviewees discuss fellow students and instructors such as Arthur Siegel, Aaron Siskind, Garry Winogrand, Harry Callahan, Nathan Lerner, Frederick Sommer, and others. The interviews were recorded on Sunday, May 1, 2011 at the Stephen Daiter Gallery, Chicago, IL. The collection includes 23 interviews, 3 essays, 3 photographs and a guestbook.

Dates: 2011

Institute of Design printed material, 1955-2020

 Collection
Identifier: 008.09.04
Description of the Collection Collection of miscellaneous materials relating to the Institute of Design. Consists primarily of printed materials produced as mailings, program announcements, etc. Also to be found in this collection, a photocopy of "Student Independent 3" being described as "10 mounted photographs with introduction by Frederick Sommer, and photos by Ray Metzker, Joseph Jackna, Joseph Sterling, Don Seiden, Charles Swedlund, Robert Tanner, Paul Zakoian (and others?); portfolio design by Gus Methe". Portfolio...
Dates: 1955-2020

Institute of Design records, 1937-ca. 1962

 Collection
Identifier: 008.01.01
Abstract This collection documents the activities of Institute of Design and its predecessor schools, ca. 1937 to ca. 1955. It encompasses the academic and creative materials of the New Bauhaus, Chicago School of Design, and the Institute of Design. The collection includes academic catalogues, class and school activities announcements, biographical materials on faculty and students, examples of artistic works, exhibit catalogues and announcements of student, alumni professional activities,...
Dates: 1937-1962

Jay Doblin papers, 1946-1988

 Collection
Identifier: 008.02.03
Description of the Collection The Jay Doblin collection is heavily composed of graphic materials and photo prints, much of it generated in support of his “One Hundred Great Product Designs” research (and subsequent books). But it also amply documents the Institute of Design, with files on student projects/theses, various courses (including some syllabi), space station designs from 1986, Ken Isaccs and his Knowledge Box, and clipping files (mainly from Chicago newspapers) on notable ID achievements (especially student...
Dates: 1946-1988

Nathan Lerner photographs, 1935-1980

 Collection — Box 1
Identifier: 038.01.44
Content Description Photographic prints, including prints made by Nathan Lerner of photographs from his time as an Institute of Design student and faculty member, as well as collaborative photographs with Henry Holmes Smith printed by Smith's son, Theodore R.M. Smith. Also included are 12 oversized reprints from a Chicago Cultural Center exhibit of Lerner's work and a single print of a photograph by Institute of Design alumnus Ishimoto Yasuhiro. Some of the matted prints appear to be part of the protfolio...
Dates: 1935-1980; Majority of material found within 1935-1946

Student Independent

 Collection
Identifier: 008.01.08
Description of the Collection Two issues of Student Independent (number 8, Fall 2001 - Spring 2002 and number 9, Fall 2002 - Spring 2003) described in volume 8 as "...a series of student-produced portfolios that bring together recent examples of innovative and creative course work form the student body at the Institute of Design. Uncurated, this collection is meant as a record of student work, providing insight into the diverse approaches and design solutions of those pursuing masters degrees (MDES) in the areas of...
Dates: 2003-2004

Student Independent 2: Photographic Issue

 Collection
Identifier: 008.01.11
Description of the Collection Student Independent 2: Photographic Issue is a portfolio of prints created in 1957 from photographs taken by Institute of Design students and faculty. The portfolio is complete with original cover/jacket and 29 prints. Also includes an information bi-fold with essay by Aaron Siskind, list of contents, and credits page. Work was dedicated to the memory of Frank Barr. Includes works by: Tom Rago, Michitaka Yoshioka, Rodney Hatanaka, Joseph Jachna, Art Sinsabaugh, Robert Knille, Kazimir...
Dates: 1957

Filtered By

  • Subject: Photography X

Additional filters:

Subject
Photography 5
Product design 3
Bauhaus 2
Education--Curricula 2
Industrial design 2

Paul V. Galvin Library

35 West 33rd Street | Chicago, IL | 60616
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