DESIGN is everywhere: Elements of Design and MoMA’s Evolving Design Pedagogy

Abstract

Abstract This essay examines Elements of Design, a circulating exhibition poster set produced by MoMA in 1945 and distributed worldwide. Through an examination of archived drafts, this exhibition set is discussed as an example of how the museum refined its educational approach through an evolving understanding of modern art and design. In particular, Elements of Design reflects MoMA’s expanding notion of audiences for modern art and design. This essay is the first scholarly examination of Elements of Design, including its archival drafts and documentation. Elements of Design was created by Robert Jay Wolff, former professor at the New Bauhaus, in collaboration with members of MoMA’s staff. Wolff merged Bauhaus–style foundations exercises with his experience developing visual instruction materials during the Second World War to create this visually engaging and instructive exhibition. This essay establishes important components of MoMA’s presentation of modern art and the pedagogy that would guide their educational activities for the next two decades: a focus on formal design and teaching aesthetic appreciation, a dedication to presenting modern art to the widest possible audiences, and an emphasis on the universality and unifying nature of modern art.