Reading 3 | Design Noun/Verb

1.  Based upon the readings the word design comes with many definitions. Across all the readings what are some examples of these differences?

Clement Greenberg sees design as standing in the way of art. Artists become so driven by what is “good design” that sculpture and painting become depressed. Rand Paul, on the other hand, explains that design is “a problem-solving activity [that] provides a means of clarifying, synthesizing and dramatizing a word, a picture, a product, or an event.” Vilém Flusser argues that design is the bridge between art and technology, a separate culture of deception. He says that “design, machine, technology, ars and art are closely related to one another, one term being unthinkable without the others.” Hal Foster’s definition of design is similar to that of Flusser’s–he sees design as being a mixing of utility and aesthetic. He cites Art Nouveau as an example of such beginnings of “total design”, as he calls it. The Bauhaus is another example of where art meets utility to create everyday objects. It’s this idea of “perfect, overarching design” in all aspects of daily living. Design has become inflated in recent years, and capitalism and mass-consumerism is a driver of this.

2. How does misunderstanding or rather multiple definitions of a singular word effect how we perceive design? Be sure to reference the four articles.

As a result of having so many different understandings of a single word, the term “design” has a perception of being multifaceted, complex, and ever-changing. It can be a tool for advancement and destruction, and the way in which it is expressed varies widely. Today, design can be seen in print ads, digital form such as social media sites, corporate logos, even the t-shirts we wear. “Good Design” as Greenberg puts it, is striven for above all else. Companies seek out creative / design agencies to be constantly improving their image through design to attract and retain their customer base. Foster, too, talks about the idea of total design, a concept that is ringing ever truer in the age of IKEA and other modern / minimal stores that now fill the homes of people seeking for sleek, forward-looking items. Design can be found everywhere, even in your bookshelf. Design has multiple sides to it, as Flusser explains–it cannot exist without art and technology. Paul sees it as an improvement measure across multiple fields as well. Design is complex and so interdependently connected to other fields that it is often difficult to explain. Even designers disagree on an exact definition, as made evident by these four articles.

Personal Reflection:

1. How do you suppose you could better prepare yourself as a maker of aesthetic objects/ideas?

I think that the most effective way to better prepare myself as a maker of aesthetic objects / ideas is to educate and expose myself to different types of design. I have an interest in color theory, and how colors work together (or don’t) to further an aesthetic appeal. Studying basic rules of type, layout, and other subtleties will assist me greatly in my preparation.

2. What are things you currently do to practice your creative muscle?

Currently, I enjoy copying and experimenting with new techniques. I find it useful to visit galleries with a notebook and pen to study and practice different line techniques and formal arrangements that appeal to me. In doing so, I’ve found many new ways of approaching art that I wouldn’t have otherwise. After testing out new formal techniques, I often become inspired to use them in new and unprecedented ways. I’ve gotten onto a kick of lettering humorous or inspiring phrases I hear throughout my day, and model the letter styles after similar ideas seen via artists on social media.