Not Here, but Now

Noel Douglas (2007) recently commented “When the demands of Neoliberalism play havoc with our lives, it is time to fight back, and designers wield the sharpest tools.” Not Here, but Now is an example of how sharp our designer tools can be. Not only for the fact this campaign is visually intelligent, but it was also a pro bono campaign, designed for Amnesty International (Switzerland), by Walker Werbeagentur.

Filed under: On Graphic Design, On Social Design, On Society, Amnesty International, Eye Magazine, Neoliberalism, Political Graphics, Switzerland, Walker Werbeagentur

Cultural Generalism

From an essay by Lorraine Wild, ‘That Was Then, and This Is Now: But What Is Next?’ from: Looking Closer Four: Critical Writings on Graphic Design, comes an interesting discussing from Assistant Professor in Graphic Design, Todd Roeth.

Designers need a lot of common sense. In short, effective graphic designers need to be able to be sensible and conscious of different viewpoints, and different styles of language (verbal and non-verbal) within their culture and the types of mindsets that speak them. Furthermore, graphic designers then need to draw from their body of knowledge and experience, and employ it to cleverly, shrewdly, and creatively solve the problems graphic designers are challenged to confront. And that common sense is free to all who have the passion – or at least, the wherewithal – to seek it, but priceless when obtained.

Image spotted by SwissMiss FFFound, via Michael Surtees at Design Notes.

Filed under: On Education, On Graphic Design, Concept, creative, Cultural Generalism, Design, design education, learning, Opinion, Social, Teach

A Foot in Both Worlds

“Mathematical perfection,.. ignores the fact that the visual world relies on imagination and illusion. The graphic designer needs a foot in both worlds and must reconcile these polar opposites… In a world where information about virtually everything is available instantly, it is rewarding to discover things that exist but remain hidden, invisible, unless perceived through observation. As we move forward, it is important to preserve the valuable human component to the process of making and visual thinking. While technology expands its influence on traditional means of thought and design, the role of the graphic designer will continue to evolve in new and unpredictable directions.”

Filed under: On Graphic Design, Education, Graphic Design, Imagination, Perception, Technology, Thought, Visual Thinking

Conceptual Design, for a Social Conscience

Is there a relationship between the conceptual thinking behind Marcel Duchamp’s 1917 urinal and contemporary design practice? Design writer and Design Observer contributer Nick Currie believe’s there is. In his 1995 AIGA feature, Conceptual Design: Building a Social Conscience [1], Currie presented some interesting thoughts on the evolution of Conceptual Art and its impact on designing for social relevance/benefit. Discussing the existance of Conceptual Design, Currie pitches how his experience with new designers [of today] reflect how the conceptual art of the early 1900s led these young designers to think more about social issues [than consumer goods].

“There’s a generation of young designers who, almost a century after Duchamp, seem to share something of his [Duchamp's] spirit…

Filed under: Art & Design, On Education, On Graphic Design, On Social Design, AIGA, Conceptual Art, Crits, design education, Perfection, Risk-Taking, Stephen Heller, Technology, William Longhauser

The Designers Accord

Seemingly a really positive initative from a list of iconic design leaders and organisations, The Designers Accord is “a coalition of design and innovation firms focused on working together to create positive environmental and social impact.” Partnered with the AIGA and IDSA, The Designers Accord was founded by IDEO’s Valerie Casey and hosts an advisory panel including: Paul Hawken (Natural Capital Institute), Tim Brown (IDEO), Allan Chochinov (Core77), Jen van der Meer (o2NYC) and Marc Alt (Marc Alt + Partners). The movement they explain ‘started as a call to arms for designers to engage in the environmental movement with optimism and creativity …It is our obligation to use our knowledge, experience, and reach to positively influence what we design and consume.’

Filed under: On Education, On Graphic Design, On People, On Social Design, On Sustainability, Environment, IDEO, The Designers Accord, Valerie Casey

When Everyone Becomes a ‘Designer’.

“I read and research everything I can and will continue to do so, but I question whether this will be enough to survive against a rising force. Deep down I know that the core principals I learn will provide sustenance and sustainability, but for every one of them that fails, a hundred will replace them. Will they overwhelm us? And if so, how will design, and our roles, be affected when everyone becomes a ‘designer’?”
Reference: Le, L. (2006). The New Battlefield. AIGA.

Filed under: Art & Design, On Graphic Design, On Research, AIGA, Design Research, Designer, Education, Future of the Designer, Observation, Opinion

A Life-Long [Learning] Endeavor

Design Professor at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Kerry Polite (2004) published his thoughts on what are today’s [2004] ‘most important questions in design education’. He offers a personal observation to the nature of contemporary design education, in comparison to its historical origins:

‘In the past, students and educators dealt mainly with four or five principles: composition, typography, form, colour and drawing… Today, students are expected to be skilled technicians, be knowledgeable in a range of software programs and work with sound, motion, and interactivity’.

Polite explains how design students need to ‘slow down and think’, to be working for ‘content-driven, not style-driven’ design solutions. The problem, he pitches is how today, ‘Students want to rush in and make finished projects…’ and ‘…because they have been bombarded with very slick visual stimuli their entire lives, the work tends to look derivative.’

This observational discussion offers an interesting [if, concerning] perspective on how important it remains to embed and praise design thinking, research, experimentation and relevance. Thinking About Design Education was published by the AIGA in 2004.

Filed under: On Education, AIGA, creative, design education, learning, students

Three Trees Don’t Make A Forest

The Eco/Design news from Creative Review [1] this month: A 3sprong creative collaboration have founded Three Trees Don’t Make a Forest [2], a not for profit enterprise “set up to help everyone involved in design and advertising to rethink their working cultures and start to produce sustainable creative solutions that really work. When it comes to sustainable design, there are no excuses.” they explain.

The Three Trees’ UK founders are Sophie Thomas of sustainability studio Thomas Matthews [3], Caroline Clark of Ecofriendly Printing Resource Lovely as a Tree [4] and Nat Hunter of design studio Airside [5]. The three green creatives intend to continue work with their respective award-winning design practices, while working within the industry to share their collective 25 years’ experience in creating effective sustainable design.

Filed under: On Graphic Design, On Social Design, On Sustainability, Advertising, london, Studio, sustainability, Three Trees Don’t Make A Forest, UK, Writing/Criticism

More Associates

I just came across the very stylish sustainable design practice, More Associates. Founded in 2002 by Luke Nicholson, Ben Pirt and Tom Williams. Using “design and research process to address social and environmental challenges” in practical ways. More “bring together sustainable design with emerging technologies and social innovation.” They have an inspiring portfolio of work and research led design execution – this is definately a practice to take a good look at.

Their current focus is on delivering carbon reduction and energy-literacy strategies across populations to produce widespread behaviour change and help transform markets toward carbon- and energy-efficiency.More Associates is based in North East London and clients incl. Arts Council England, Cafédirect, The Design Council, English Heritage, Foster & Partners, The Hub, Natural History Museum, solarcentury, RSA and UCL.

Filed under: On Graphic Design, On Social Design, On Sustainability, Carbon Reduction, Design, london, Luke Nicholson, More Associates, New Media, Research-led Design, Social Innovation, sustainability

I shop, therefore I am

Born in 1945, Barbara Kruger is one of my top inspirational artists/designers [although, her website could do with a revamp]. I was reminded of her talent as I opened The UK Guardian Newspaper last month to find a “Free artist wrapping paper” by the aforementioned artist.

After attending Syracuse University and Parson’s School of Design in New York, Kruger obtained a design job at Condé Nast Publications. Working for Mademoiselle Magazine, she was quickly promoted to head designer. Later, she worked as a graphic designer, art director, and picture editor in the art departments at House and Garden, Aperture, and other publications.

Filed under: On Graphic Design, On Social Design, Art Director, Barbara Kruger, Classicism, Consumerism, Desire, Feminism, Graphic Designer, Slogans

THINK 08 Sustainability in the Built Environment

Think is an exhibition and conference about sustainability in the built environment. It tackles the issue at a strategic level across the value chain in the public, private and third sectors. Think 2008 will take place from 7-8 May 2008 at ExCeL, London.

The built environment accounts for about 50% of the UK’s carbon dioxide emissions and it’s increasingly clear that we have to change the way we design, construct and use buildings – and do so fast. This means rethinking the whole process and taking a fresh look at what we mean by, and how we achieve, a sustainable built environment – from specifying low energy lighting to creating places where people really want to live and work.

Think is produced in partnership with the market-leading publications and debate and networking happens year-round through the i-think community and networking forum Think 100.

Filed under: On Social Design, On Sustainability, architecture, buildings, excel, london, On Sustainability, sustainability, think

Green Business & Ethical Reputation

The London Business Forum, presents: Green Business: How companies can profit from customer demands for greener products. A morning with Karen Fraser, founder of the The Ethical Reputation Index. The event will be held on Wednesday 20 February 2008, 9:30 am – 12:00 pm.

Filed under: On Sustainability, ethical reputation, event, green business, karen fraser, london, london business forum, On Sustainability

POKE gets on Board WWF

During November 2007, WWF and Poke joined forces to create interest and noise around the climate change bill. Ultimately driving people to lobby their MP to push for a stronger climate change bill. The result was an impressive paper and bamboo boat and plane, plastered in signatures, that grabbed the attention of the media, members of parliament and the public when they were installed on London’s South Bank.

Filed under: On Social Design, boat, climate change bill, installation, london, mp, petition, plane, poke, signature, Writing/Criticism

START Designing for Human Rights

A global campaign to raise awareness of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights launched late 2007, with an identity and design strategy by London design agency Start Creative. The campaign, entitled Every Human Has Rights, aims to pull together the efforts of a number of partner organisations including Amnesty International, Unicef, Action Aid and Save the Children.

Design Week reported:

Start creative director Jonathan Cummings explains that one of the key aims of the campaign, which will run for a year, is to gather a billion signatures, as a show of support for human rights, particularly in areas of the world where governments have a poor track record on human rights issues. Appointed to the project two months ago without a pitch, Start worked closely with Robert Campbell, creative director of supporting charity Virgin Unite. Start created the branding for the campaign, a website TheElders.org, and a brand tool kit that can be used by partner organisations in the campaign.

The campaign identity puts the emphasis on the main subject, human rights, and is hand-cut and screened printed, with typography by illustrator Rose Stallard. The campaign is the brainchild of a group of global leaders, including Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Nelson Mandela, Graca Machel and former Irish president and United Nations high commissioner for human rights Mary Robinson, who came together earlier this year to form The Elders, with the common purpose of raising awareness of global human rights.

Filed under: On Social Design