Hello, I’m Elizabeth Guffey. I completed my art history Ph.D. at Stanford
and now head the art history department at the State University of New
York at Purchase. Located near New York City, I am at the arts-focus
campus of the SUNY system, with conservatory programs in music, theater,
film and dance as well as art and design.

I applaud the conference’s organizers for presenting a lively and
fascinating debate. I would also like to pick up an interesting point
brought up by Carma Gorman in her analysis of the UCI plan for design
studies. As one who teaches in this area, albeit with a formal training in
art history, I too was intrigued to see that the UCI plan seeks to include
an undergraduate degree in design studies, something that Richard Taylor
described as being of "a more classic focus . . . somewhat akin in
approach to art history." As an art historian, I am pleased to see my
field held in such high regard. But, while art history is a relatively new
discipline, many have complained, with some truth, that it is a remarkably
conservative field. Unfortunately, design studies is a poorly defined
area, particularly in the US, where it is only now beginning to receive
attention. One would look to dynamic new programs such as those envisaged
by UCI’s planners to rectify this problem. I’m afraid that making design
studies analogous to art history fails to embrace the breadth of the field
in its myriad forms.

In keeping with the conference’s most fundamental purpose--creating the
design school of our dreams--I would envision the kind of design studies
education that I wish that I myself might have had. I imagine a variety of
courses, including:

--design history and theory

--at least one intensive course in reading and writing design criticism (a
neglected art that should be required of all designn students)

--history and philosophy of science

--courses in psychology, economics, anthropology and sociology that
highlight such important issues in design as consumer behavior, business
culture, etc.

--an introduction to political science that would introduce issues
surrounding decision making, public policy, etc.

I’m not sure how Carma Gorman’s concern with the liberal arts would fit
into this configuration; how do other design programs deal with these
issues?

Regards,

Elizabeth Guffey
Coordinator
Art History
SUNY Purchase
735 Anderson Hill Road
Purchase, NY 10577-1400
(914) 251 6597
fax: (914) 251 6559
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