My Dichotomy
What does design do? What is it good for? And lastly, (perhaps most frustrating for me) relating design to hope.
As I said in the first class, I don’t like to open up to people, or something to that effect (A comment, which later, I had to laugh at because in saying this I knew that anything I did that was remotely revealing myself would, at best, betray that statement and at worst make me a hypocrite.) But in the end, to engage in this blog I have to give it up to express my view and before I can throw out examples of design that I see as good and bad I had to state my conscience. Right. Moving on then.
I find the whole topic of elevating design to something more than the commercial to be problematic. You see, I don’t know that I feel much hope that design can, or should, lift itself from the trenches of commercialism to aspire to something more noble. Yes, I believe it can inform. I believe good design is a wonderful and effective means to inform, but ultimately, I find a great deal of cynicism in myself regarding design’s ability to change the world, but maybe that can change.
Right, so to keep this post on the up and up I offer up an example of design work that I have recently found to be captivating while at the same time being socially active. Designer’s lending their talents and time to create and sell to aid Japan in their time of need. There is some beautiful work at this site.
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Although I almost wholeheartedly agree with everything you said, I have to say this is sort of what I am addressing with one of the ideas that I have for the capstone project.
ReplyDeleteYou said:
"I find the whole topic of elevating design to something more than the commercial to be problematic...I believe good design is a wonderful and effective means to inform, but ultimately, I find a great deal of cynicism in myself regarding design’s ability to change the world."
I thought this too, but then I started looking at what design has done in only the past few years. I think part of the way that design can change the world is that it does have the ability to sell, but not just 'things'. I think when design sells PEOPLE, it truly does have the chance to change the world. What I'm considering for the project is looking at the Obama campaign and how many Americans, myself included, aren't entirely sure why we voted for him, we aren't sure what all of his positions on political topics are, we still aren't sure what his plans are, but we could sure pick out an ad that 'sold' him to the American public and got him elected as president.
I think Shanna's view is helpful. Your designs won't necessarily change the world. That's an enormous task that no one person can accomplish alone. I think the question isn't if design can change the world, it's if design can do good. And it can! It does! Not only can design beautify our everyday objects and the like, but when used for something like relief in Japan, or even something smaller as Shanna listed, it can do good. That's where the responsibility of the designer comes into play.
ReplyDeleteI have to respectfully disagree with your opinion. I don't believe that design in itself can change the world but I do believe that design can be the thing that starts the change. I remember someone in class said something like design isn't the thing that solves problems, actions are what changes the world, and I think that design can showcase the problem so that people can take actions to make change.
ReplyDeleteWell, It is design that is used to spark our awareness to take action on something that is going on like the Japan earthquake. So in a way I think design can change the world but only once you react to it and take that action to do something like donate to Japan relief.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Sheri that design can spark change. I also feel through strong design it can unite people that usually won't be united, but through one design and idea people can start to band together and help a cause or start a change.
ReplyDeleteI think that good design should bring some sort of organization to a chaotic world, and that's almost hope enough. It doesn't necessarily have to be like capital-A Art where it struggles with supar d33p thotz like the essence of reality or whatthefragever. Sometimes all you want/need is something as mundane as a readable map, or a comfortable office chair.
ReplyDeleteI feel that Sheri brought up a good point. There can be a lot of designs and ads to get people to donate or act, but it is up to the people to act on it.
ReplyDeleteDesigns found on the website above can change the world. Because it affects emotions, and human beings are driven by their emotions much more than by their rationality, in my opinion. Once you touch the emotions of people they begin to understand that they should act upon the problem. Like the design above change began with the designer and then the viewers are now able to make a change by donating.
ReplyDeleteTHis is kind of what I was talking about in my blog the message can be out there but based on individual needs whether or not they will do something about it.
ReplyDeleteI don't think design really needs to escape the commercial realm. The whole point of design is to solve a human-centered problem; to make a house more livable, to make a map more legible, to make a vegetable peeler easier to hold. Design is the marriage of beauty and function. That's not such a bad mission statement, if you ask me.
ReplyDeleteI personally feel that the purpose of design is to communicate. Communication is a pretty broad topic but all in all design, if done well, can say words so we as humans don't have to.
ReplyDeleteBeauty and function, what a great pairing to describe design. It reminds me of a ad agency I worked for whose catch phrase was "substance and seduction." I think that design needs to have these elements to get people to realize their potential or responsibility to act- thats how it gives hope or does good. Design is a catalyst.
ReplyDeletei think stuff like this is the exact reason or result of non commercial design. it can inspire.
ReplyDeleteI think it is easy to become cynical about design. But then again, maybe it is our responsibility as the next generation of designers to revive it!
ReplyDeleteThis is some of the uplifting ideas that design can offer, but it makes me wonder, does art need to be in place to persuade people or even hint of what they are unaware of? In a sense are we selling non-tangible idea or thoughts to a consumer that thinks they are being inspired?
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