Design at NSCAD: A Two-Part History

The history of Design at NSCAD can be broken into two eras: before and after the Presidency of Garry Neill Kennedy. Although the more current of the two periods is well documented and recognized, the beginnings of the school and it’s ties to industrial art and design are often overlooked.

The earliest inception of what we now know as NSCAD was VCAD, or the Victoria College of Art and Design. It was partially modeled on technical institutes that were popular in Europe and the US during the mid-19th century. Such institutes pointed to rapid industrialization as evidence that the proper education of architects, draughtsmen and industrial designers was essential to the smooth operation of the economy. These principles were carried forward at VCAD, where night classes featuring similar subjects to those taught in technical schools elsewhere, educated workers and trade apprentices.

The school continued to develop these industrial courses into programs, and eventually began to offer diplomas. However, the school saw a drastic decline in industrial enrolments when the Nova Scotia Technical College, (an institution more singularly on industrial education), opened in 1907.

When Arthur Lismer became Principal in 1916, he established classes in non-industrial design, for he thought that this subject was an essential component of an art education. Elizabeth Nutt, Principal from 1919-1943, changed the name of the school from VCAD to the Nova Scotia College of Art, but carried on Lismer’s initiative. The disappearance of “design” from the name of the College did not mean that Nutt considered design education to be insignificant. Rather, the name change was indicative of how strongly she felt about design being a form of art, and not separate from it. Design thus continued to be a part of the NSCA, although the department was extremely small, and often taught by only one teacher.

This all changed when Garry Neill Kennedy became President in 1967. In 1969 he changed the name of the school to the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, in order to reflect the school’s history and to recognize the increasing importance of design. Kennedy hired teachers from Europe, notably Horst Deppe and Hanno Ehses, who brought new German Minimalist graphic design ideas and principles to the school. This, coupled with the huge success of Canadian design seen at Montreal’s Expo 67 and ’76 Olympics made the program a very popular area of study at NSCAD.

Although no trace of the pre-Kennedy industrial design program remains, environmental, communications, product, and interdisciplinary design have rounded out the current program. Graphic design continues to remain popular at the school; the program enjoys international renown and widespread success.

Lucy Poskitt


Sources
"1990 Recipients". The Society of Graphic Designers of Canada. Oct 15, 2008.

“A New Era.” NSCAD University. 24 Sept 2008.

Discussion with Senior Faculty member. Personal Interview. Oct 15 2008.

"Graphic Art and Design". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Oct 15 2008. http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0003400.

Soucy, Donald and Harold Pearse. First Hundred Years: A History of the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design. Fredericton / Halifax: University of New Brunswick Faculty of Education / NSCAD, 1993.