Course Topics
Emergency “Walked out this morning, I don’t believe what I saw, Hundred billion bottles washed up on the shore…” sang The Police in Message in a Bottle—lyrics that now sound like a premonition of our present, in which it is hard to distinguish between Sting’s cries for help and the plastic that plagues our seas. The word “emergency” by definition indicates a critical and unforeseen situation that demands for immediate intervention: its etymology thus refers to a sudden state, for which a remedy must urgently be found. However, our times are marked by a number of continuous states of emergency – the exact opposite of exceptional events – of the most various kinds, which perpetuated themselves in time: from the trails of the recent pandemic, to the unresolved environmental and climatic crisis, as well as the humanitarian, social, geopolitical and economic crisis: a list large enough for filling this text by herself. Getting back to the meaning of this word, what makes us trouble is the total absence of reaction by our leaders, and this inactivity has been cyclically repeating itself in modern history. Antonio Gramsci noted this during his days in the prisons of the fascist regime: “the crisis consists in the fact that the old dies out but the new cannot come up: in this interregnum the most diverse morbid phenomena take place.” This interregnum is the new present which we have to get used to, in which the state of emergency, be it individual or global, is and will be a constant of our day. The good part of this scenario is that we slowly but definitely understood that we ourselves are the solution, each one of us, and we have to act on every front of this emergency. And if our leaders don’t seem to react, a positive message giving us hope has already come up among the last generation, as well shown by the research themes and projects developed by the students of our faculty. Starting from these premises the semester project invites students to explore the theme of emergency in its many forms: from the most intimate and personal experiences to large-scale collective and global crises, whether real or fictional. We will approach this through the tools of visual communication design: ranging from graphic and editorial design to typography and layout, from visual storytelling to the creation and post-production of both textual and visual content. Together, we will discover how these practices can evolve into powerful languages capable of giving voice to urgent and meaningful issues, making them more accessible and impactful, and thus contributing to raising public critical awareness of the multiple dimensions of emergency.

Teaching format
Frontal lectures, exercises, workshops, guest talks, group discussions, in-class exercises, excursions, review and feedback, mutual learning/teaching

Educational objectives
Knowledge and understanding have acquired their own project methodology in the field of visual communication, from the phase of planning to the phase of realisation of the project. have acquired the basic practical and theoretical knowledge necessary to realise a project in the field of visual communication. have acquired the basic knowledge to be able to turn a critical eye to their own work and to deal with contemporary complexity. have acquired the basic knowledge necessary for further Master's studies in all components of project culture as well as in theoretical subjects. Applying knowledge and understanding plan, develop and realise a project in the field of visual communication. be able to finalize the creation of an accomplished project in the field of visual communication, thanks to the basic knowledge acquired in the practical, scientific and theoretical fields. recognise the main phenomena of contemporary society, to observe them critically, also from an ethical and social point of view, and to elaborate appropriate solutions at the level of a design proposal/response. make use of the skills acquired during the course of study in the event of continuing studies in a Master's degree programme in the field of visual communication and to develop them further. Making judgements be able to make independent judgements for the purpose of developing their own design skills and in relation to all those decisions that are necessary to bring a project to completion. be able to make independent judgements, both in the critical evaluation of their own work and in their ability to use the right interpretative tools in those design contexts in which they will work and/or continue their studies, also considering ethical and social aspects. Communication skills present an independently realised project in the field of visual communication in the form of an installation, orally as well as in writing in a professional manner. to professionally communicate and substantiate one’s own decisions and justify them from a formal and theoretical point of view. communicate and present your own project at a professional level in another language and correctly in a third language in addition to their own language. Learning skills have learned a work methodology at a professional level - in the sense of being able to identify, develop and realise solutions to complex problems by applying the knowledge acquired in the practical and theoretical fields - in order to start a professional activity and/or continue their studies with a master's degree program. have developed a creative attitude and learned how to enhance it and develop it according to their own inclinations. have acquired basic knowledge in theoretical and practical subjects as well as a study methodology suitable for continuing studies with a master's degree program.

Assessment
The final exam requires the submission, presentation, and discussion of the projects completed during the semester, along with their documentation. Students will present their work following the instructions provided throughout the semester. They will be asked to discuss their projects by critically engaging with the references proposed during the course and showcasing a personal interpretation of the design themes. Participating in the final presentation (GOG) — including its preparation, setup, and dismantling — is also considered an integral part of this course. N.B. ALL THE STUDENTS ATTENDING THE EXAM AS NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS MUST AGREE UPON THE CONTENTS WITH THE TEACHER.

Evaluation criteria
By the exam’s date, each student must upload a detailed documentation of the work done during the course on the showcase of the Faculty: https://designart.unibz.it/ Documentation is an integral part of the exam. The documentation must include visual documentation and an abstract of the project. The final assessment is based on the content of all the exercises according to the following criteria. For the own work: originality, consistency, technical/aesthetic qualities, accuracy, always devised concerning context and use. For the presentation: effectiveness and clarity, awareness of context and relevant discourse in contemporary practice. For the process during the whole semester: pro-active participation, quality of contributions and individual development, ability to work individually and in group.