About

The influence of California architecture and design in the last century extends far beyond the state, or even national borders. Google, Apple computers, the drive-thru, sixties psychedelia, and car-centric suburban sprawl, as well as Frank Gehry’s architecture and the furniture of Charles and Ray Eames, are just a few examples of California’s contributions to U.S. architecture and design. The California Architecture and Design Multi-campus Research Group brings together scholars from across the disciplines–art history, architecture, design, environmental design, visual culture, history, and cultural studies– to analyze how these innovations have contributed to the development of culture, environment, and economy in California and beyond.

The work of this group highlights the strength of California architecture and design studies at a time when it is more crucial than ever to understand how the configurations of the world around us affect the way we live. California design has influenced many of the pressing issues of the day, including the state budget crisis, global warming, interdisciplinarity in the university, technology and social relations, and food systems. The goal of this group is to produce more dynamic, interdisciplinary, and collaborative work that addresses the questions, “What is California design, and what are its impacts?”