In this course, we will look closely at collections and the very human impulse to collect. Through analysis of existing archives, and the creation of our own, we can understand the power of collections to help us make sense of the world. Together we will ask: What is, and is not, included in a particular archive? Who built it, who maintains it, and how does their identity impact it today? We will focus on the rich visual archives in, around, and about New York City: both formal archives in libraries and museums, and informal archives such as the shop records, family recipes, or online reviews. Understanding how images and information have been collected and categorized in the past can help us make sense of our world today. By understanding how collections create cultural memory, we can imagine and create new memories and new futures. We will experiment with creating our own, personally meaningful archives. We will also gleaning and re-presenting information from archives in order to become better communicators. For inspiration we will study contemporary artists and designers who use archives for their work. Digital and analogue strategies such as graphics, video editing, as well as printed books and posters will be introduced.