Comments on: Calling All Critical Voices…

By: aubrey

aubrey — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 05:29:03 +0000

I have realized that it is easier to articulate thoughts through informal methods, primarly ichat. Sometimes when we have to write something, we feel that the idea them becomes final. With social conversation, we are able to expand and filter out ideas, as writing typically cannot without an increased amount of confusion. Also, when formally writing, we get so caught up in the vernacular and technicalities of the piece that we cannot get the idea across clearly. But, when we present ideas verbally and casually in instant messanger convos, we can make sense of things because our thoughts can have their flaws.

It seems that as designers, we need to consider the value of formal and informal conversation. Some of the best ideas or catch phrases can come from mispronounced words.

By: justinw

justinw — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 18:08:28 +0000

There are plenty of things we as designers SHOULD be doing, but most of them simply don’t exist in our curriculum. While I do agree that critical writing is important, I know I don’t have the time to pursue that fully, and if I did, I think it would exist pretty far down the priority list. I do feel it is extremely important to think critically and be critical overall in the design field, but to pursue the formal aspects of writing critically… i don’t know. We should already have some sense when it comes to that anyway, right? I do agree Megan that there should be more emphasis plaed on it and it would be exremely helpful, but it is only one aspect in the realm of thinking critically and observing design in general.

Maybe it’s just me but i can’t help but compare this to film makers and film critics, or artists and art critics. It’s one thing to be critical of art and be an artist but to pursue the formal aspects of both? and pursue them both at the same time? I feel I would only become a writer of film criticism if I was not a film maker or gave up on making them.

By: sBRK

sBRK — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 15:59:57 +0000

I can see the point that we as design students do not write critically as often as they should. I think it would help designers formulate their thoughts and criticisms better if we did write. But to say that we don’t write at all is a bit ridiculous. It may not be full length essays on the duality of man but writing is an integral part of our day. Whether it be IM, email, mind mapping, or even blogs, we write quite often.

By: kp

kp — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 02:10:08 +0000

My ex-roomate (and friend) began at CCS as a Graphic Design major, but switched to Advertising after only 2 semesters. When I asked her why, she responded, “Because I’m sick of making things pretty just for the sake of them looking good. Advertising actually has conceptualization and content and meaning, Graphic Design just making pretty things on a page. There’s never a reason why.”

Unlike most of my collegues I’m sure, I did not explode into a tirade upon hearing her answer. Instead I said nothing, but something clicked in my brain. I realized that we as designers must PROVE to our audience that there is a meaning and a purpose for every decision made in our work. That our “reason why” needs to be pushed forward through all of the visual “prettiness,” and our critical decisions need to come through loud and clear.

By: jen

jen — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 01:20:39 +0000

I agree completely with the idea of tone helping to convey a persons message. I personally have a hard time reading long essays, not because I dont agree with what is said or because it doesn’t interest me, I just find that reading something that is so deeply thought out starts to seem far too much like an explanation rather than that initial reaction full of your own voice that you get from someone who speaks on the spot. I guess I just like to see what peoples gut reactions are more than what they spent time thinking about. There are exceptions to this, writers that have a unique style of writing so that their personality shows through can be really interesting but some people just all sound the same.

By: rk47

rk47 — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 03:50:19 +0000

I agree with Daryl. I think all design students should be able to clearly articulate their thoughts in writing. I also think it’s nice to get a sense of personality in a written response. Tone can often help convey someone’s ideas. It seems like students often have the tendency to dilute their ‘voice’ in attempts to write formally, which i think can often make the reader’s experience more boring and less informative.

By: fd5daryl

fd5daryl — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 03:14:36 +0000

I can dig it, Megan.

Your point of students being afraid is completely valid, as I get nervous posting my thoughts in this forum for fear of the rolling eyes of my peers.

In response to dkapa:

I completely agree. I write critically about design on a nightly basis as I chat with fellow students about our projects and design in general. Although I understand where you are coming from with your argument, Megan, I think that informal dialog is not only much easier for students to swallow, but is also much more useful for digging in to a much more raw design conversation, as I find many of the pre-calculated responses on this blog unnecessarily lengthy to get the point across.

By: rberesh

rberesh — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 20:17:59 +0000

I am going to keep this light. Here it goes…

I can think. I can process. I can wait. I can go. I can stay. I can write. I can talk. I can speak. I can do a lot of things. Design is about the things we CAN do. Design can be anything and everything. From formally writing to flat out thinking. If you want to explore something, you won’t know until YOU do. Design is about the CANS. So do what you CAN and what you enjoy.

By: megan deal

megan deal — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 17:58:41 +0000

There is no question that writing of any kind is a valuable practice, especially for the design student. Creative writing, be it short stories, poetry, or fairy tales provides an alternative outlet for expressing ideas, and helps one develop an awareness of narrative structure. Creative writing, however useful to the design student’s development, should not be confused with critical writing.

To write critically is to examine “exterior social and historical phenomena” and direct an interpretation towards a “specific audience.”(1) Alice Tremlow, chair of SVA’s new MFA Design Criticism Department, states that, “Design criticism helps us to understand the role of design in contemporary life,” and “requires knowledge of history, philosopohy, politics, economics, ethics, and ecology.” It becomes the critics role to respond to an idea or object by creating something new, that is itself open to reinterpretation.

See the following link for Rick Poynor’s take on the purpose of critics:
http://www.designobserver.com/archives/000137.html

Critical writing needn’t be dissertational, but it does need to be clear and thoughtful, arranged in a coherent way that can be understood by the reader. the lngage of txt mssgng will not sfice.

My point is simply this: Critical writing on design is necessary if we are to understand where design has been and where it’s going next. When the Poynors, Wilds, Bieruts, and Helfands retire, someone will need to rise to the challenge and fill the vacant seats that these great thinkers leave behind. As students of design, we are the obvious candidates and should recognize the responsibility that we’ve been given. By “calling all critical voices,” I am merely trying to emphasize the value of participating in the design discourse. Not everyone will jump at this compelling opportunity, but we as students must be aware that the opportunity IS there, clearly presenting itself, awaiting that moment for new voices to seize and accept.

1. Rock, Michael. The Designer as Author. Eye Magazine: Issue 65. (Accessed 7 Sep. 2007), http://www.eyemagazine.com

By: kdvig

kdvig — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 13:40:36 +0000

There are a couple good points in your argument. Like i said before one of the strongest concepts was

“Our focus has shifted from basic English to HTML, we pay more attention to the space in between words then the actual words themselves, and our explanations and solutions to every problem that we encounter have become widely image driven.”

I ask is that a bad thing. I know that I communicate better through visuals than with written word. If asked i can talk about my work but writing about it is much more difficult, not because I don’t know how but because I think it becomes redundant. A good design should stand for itself.

Feel free to disagree