Centers & Archives

Nathan Shapira Design Archive

The Shapira archive is a unique and rich body of materials representing the thinking, events and objects of 20th-century design.

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About the Archive

The Nathan Shapira Design Archive contains well over 2,060 known design books, both contemporary and collectibles, as well as articles, files, documents, audio and video footage dating from 1963 to 2008 relative to design curriculum; lectures; seminars; and documentaries on topics addressing: design in developing countries, architecture and design in Los Angeles and Italy, as well as hallmark exhibits and conferences.

The Shapira archive contains relevant textual and visual evidence (i.e. product and graphic design) of the early thinking on the contemporary design concerns of:

  • Sustainability, appropriate technology, and localism
  • Culture and identity politics of the image
  • Universal and inclusive design
  • Design for emerging economies

Contact

Director: Ricardo Gomes
Phone: (415) 338-2229
Email: ricgomes@sfsu.edu

Industrial Design Outreach (IDO)

iDo was founded in 2003 as a direct response to the lack of design course offerings in the public high school curriculum in San Francisco. Most high school students in the city have not been exposed to design, given the specialized nature of the field and statewide cuts in education that have dramatically decreased the number of arts offerings in public schools. Consequently, most students are unaware of potential careers in design.

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About iDo

The mission of iDo is to promote the field of industrial design and use its methodologies to enhance education. iDo provides high school participants with a no-cost introduction to design. Participants and School of Design majors collaborate on developing and delivering hands-on interdisciplinary design projects. These experiences foster curiosity in youth participants, promote creativity, build self-confidence, and allow participants to develop valuable vocational and college skills. In turn, college students learn to build and deliver a curriculum, which enhances their communication, organization, presentation, team building and design skills.

iDo is a unique program that serves as an incubator for the next generation of creative thinkers in the design industry. Since its inception, the program has been successfully implemented at four San Francisco public high schools: Abraham Lincoln High School, Academy of Arts and Science High School, School of the Arts (SOTA), and Thurgood Marshall High School.

Contact

Director, Professor Emeritus: Martin Linder
Email: mlinder@sfsu.edu