Archives, Collections and Curatorship: Live Archive Projects in a Design History Learning Setting

This article outlines a methodology for using uncatalogued archive material in a design history learning setting. The study references concepts such as experiential learning and object-based or object-centred learning, and draws on student reports and interviews to explore the potency of the learning experience. Using a specific case study addressing archives relating to Basic Design pedagogy at the Central School of Arts and Crafts it summarises the practicalities of enabling students to work with uncatalogued archive material and explores the pedagogic frameworks required to engage with curatorial practices in this context. Based on the case, the article recommends a flexible approach to archive material that has not yet been subject to formal archiving processes, viewing this as a time when a rich range of narratives can be uncovered through collaborative practice. It also references the history of design history and argues for more attention to be paid to the impact of design pedagogies on the creative and production processes. While the contents of the article are relevant to archival practice beyond the UK it is worth noting that the perspectives and stories considered in the article are UK-centred.