January 21—April 25
An engaging exhibition, which brings together visual journals belonging to students who participated in the UC Davis Design study abroad program, opens on Jan. 21 at the UC Davis Design Museum. Visual Journals: 2010-2024 is a partnership between the UC Davis Department of Design and Global Affairs, running through April 25.
Visual journals are like traditional travel diaries, but instead of written entries, they contain sketches, hand lettering, photographs, magazine cutouts, and printed ephemera. Even dirt, waste, and stains are acceptable if they visually capture feelings, thoughts, and ideas.
During the four-week UC Davis Design in Europe study abroad program, students keep a visual journal that responds to the prompt “What is European Design and Culture?”
Design in Europe has created a memorable educational and international travel experience for over 300 students. Traversing the length of Britain with week-long stops in the Netherlands and, more recently, Iceland, students tackle design projects with local organizations that are socially and community-engaged.
Student teams generate ideas, study the methods used to display and interpret a depth of historical and contemporary material unique to Europe, and develop design solutions to entertain, inform, and inspire diverse audiences across various public environments, settings, and venues. Their experiences formed the basis of their visual journals.
Visual Journals will have an opening reception January 22 from 4p—6p in the UC Davis International Center which features part of the exhibition in its lobby. The exhibition is on view at the Center Mon—Fri, 8a—5p.
The Design Museum is in 124 Cruess Hall, open Monday–Friday, noon–4p. Admission is free.
