Critical Debates in Design | Task 8.2: 10 Things that I've learned

As the Critical Debates in Design Module is getting to an end we are required to describe and visualise ten things that we have learned while doing this module. During this time I have been able to define and fully understand important things for my starting career as a designer that I expose next, however they are not all the things that I've learned and the learning process is not stopping here.

The importance of scheduling

I‘ve never been good at organizing my time. I do organize my time in my mind but I don’t write it down so I don’t follow a strict schedule. Now I realize that it is important to write that down from the beginning of a project as it will give me a better idea of the time I have for every stage of the project.

The devil is in the detail

Caring for the smallest detail is what differentiates a good professional designer from a mediocre one.

Time for erring

It is part of the design process to make mistakes or investigate options with a dead end. Assume it, remember to include extra time on your schedule for that and don’t be too hard on yourself if you don’t get in the first or second attempt.

Show confidence

To do good design is no longer enough to success in the designer packed field. I have to control my subject and be able to speak about it with other designers, clients and general public. However I can’t forget that it is necessary to change my speech in order to adequate it to the target audience.

Have principles

Designing a new product or campaign can have a huge impact in society and the environment so honesty and responsibility in practice will avoid to produce more unnecessary crap and misleading graphic material.

Be loyal to your principles

Don’t let money or commodity ruin what you can get doing meaningful projects.

Cultural awareness

Design it is not a subject on its own. Any project is mostly about something else not related to design so it is crucial to investigate that other subject too. A general idea of what is going on in the world gives me useful knowledge to understand the social, geographical, economic or political context of a new project. It also makes new research quicker and smoother.

Show your ideas

Sometimes I am so focus in my project that I may risk to do it from my only point of view. Talking about my ideas to friends, family, possible target audience and fellow designers will help me to have a broader perspective of the problem and potential solutions and ensure that my ideas are understood.

You are not alone

As designers we can put our brains to work in many different subjects so may need to collaborate closely with other kind of designers or professionals like web developers, engineers, etc. I think is important to know how to work in a team as it will allow us to work on projects that we couldn't work on otherwise. It will also generate richer solutions.

The designer’s role

What is the role of a designer is as undefined as it was at the beginning of the course, but I now learned to be comfortable with it. To design is for many a concept most associated to draw but I believe it is most similar to think. Although, drawing is a very powerful tool to easily and universally communicate what has been thought. The designer’s tasks and roles within a project are several and the areas of action countless. I certainly love that about design.

What I want my role as a designer to be is a role that helps society to progress in a more sustainable and less selfish way. I believe that if many designers adopt this role we will truly be able to get it.

Critical Debates in Design | Task 8.1: Sustainable Design

Sustainable design is the philosophy of designing physical objects, the built environment, and services to comply with the principles of economic, social, and ecological sustainability.

The intention of sustainable design is to eliminate negative environmental impact completely through skillful, sensitive design. I, as a designer, want to make my practice as sustainable as possible because it seems to me that is the only sensible way to operate due the current world state.

Sustainable design is mostly a general reaction to global environmental crises, the rapid growth of economic activity and human population, depletion of natural resources, damage to ecosystems, and loss of biodiversity.

Green design, as it is also known, currently seems to be a trend that brands use to “green wash” their image. Beware of that as many claim to have made their products eco-friendly when they just have made their packaging look like it using recycled cardboard and green ink. Sustainable design doesn't have to look rough or as if collected from the trash. Sustainability doesn't have to be obvious. I think the final aim is to create sustainable products without making a fuzz of it as it had to be the norm. In the meantime there is a long, hard way to go informing and persuading clients, general public and fellow designers. It is important that any designer maker or any kind of producer gets involve to try to make thinks more sustainable without being frivolous about it.

Humanity has messed up with the resources and natural systems of the world now the least we can do is to slow down and switch our economic global hyper fast system to something more local and bespoken. Nowadays, people seem obsessed with having more and more new stuff that they happily dispose of before it is even broken, worn out or finished. It doesn't make us happier and we are wasting and mistreating nature. We put money on top priority and don't realize that we cannot survive without nature but nature can survive without us. Human being is suppose to be an intelligent animal so lets behave like it.

Critical Debates in Design | Task 7: Advertising

After reading Ken Garland's manifesto (1984 and 2000 versions) I couldn't agree more. It is interesting to see how the manifesto got more serious and urgent with time meaning that designers haven’t done much about it. The text is urging them to put their talent and skills into more important matters than selling unnecessary products or services. Consumerism is getting faster and faster and bigger and bigger causing a lot of environmental and social side effects. There are also many serious, global cultural political or economic issues that require designers' attention and problem-solving skills. I believe designers in any sector have enough power to make a significant change for good in our society. It is foolish to think that designers can do it all by themselves but it is a good start. Designers working in advertising or communication can make a big impact by influencing masses of people's behaviour.

Knowing that we have to recognize that it is extremely important to regulate what is advertised but at the same time be cautious about who and how does that. I have known of this campaign advertising ghd hair-styling equipment that used part of the Lord's Prayer alongside  “eroticised” female imagery that have been judged as offensive to Christian and therefore forbidden from being screened on Tv again. In my opinion, though regulation is needed, we are at risk of being over-sensitive and consequently fall into censorship, very limited freedom of expression and alienation that it is not an easy task to draw the boundaries and impossible to keep everybody happy. 

 
Sources:

Ken Garland's manifesto

Critical Debates in Desing | Task 6: Product Packaging

The role of packaging is to protect and promote the product besides providing information to the consumer. It protects the product from germs, manipulation, external agents and transport; promotes the product within a shop by being different from the competitors or similar to the leader; and provides important information to the consumer like ingredients, instructions, precautions, etc.

The problem with packaging nowadays is the huge amount of rubbish it generates. Many of the material used in packaging are not recyclable like plastic film or polystyrene. In order to make the product more appealing to the customers, packaging is often fancy and redundant. 

I found a very good example of what I call packaging well designed. It is a TV packaging stand made by Tom Ballhatchet. It protects the screen while you move it and when you finish with this purpose, it becomes a stand for your TV. It is made of only one material and claims to be 100% recyclable.

 

  

Another example of good design, not only packaging but also the overall product, is represented by the Ecover brand. They produce cleaning products that are more environmentally friendly than most of their competitors by eliminating or reducing toxic or harsh chemicals. The packaging materials are recyclable and/or made of recycled ones. What makes the difference between this brand and the others is that they also encourage consumers to reuse the packaging by going to the shop and refilling them. I think it is a very good idea but the problem it is that it is not easy to find a shop or supermarket where you can refill them. I hope that is improved with time.

 

Ecover products

Refills

Sources:

http://www.tomballhatchet.com/tvpackagingstand1.html  

http://www.ecover.com/gb/en/default.aspx 

Critical Debates in Design | Task 5: Two Responsible Designers

Valerie Casey

In my search of designers with strong ethics I came across the founder of an international coalition I heard of before which is the Design Accord. Her name is Valerie Casey.

Valerie Casey is a globally recognized designer and innovator. Casey consults with start-ups, governments, and companies all over the world on challenges ranging from creating new products and services, to transforming organizational processes and behaviors. She had workded with industry leaders like Microsoft, Samsung, Cisco and Johnson & Johnson among others.

Adopters of the Design Accord commit to the idea of creating positive social and environmental impact. They must publicly declare their participation in the accord, initiate a dialogue about environmental responsibility with every client, put programs in place to reduce their carbon footprint annually, and teach employees about the importance of sustainable values in design.

Consultancies that have adopted the Designers Accord must research and suggest more environmentally friendly solutions to their clients and try to convince them of the importance of using them. 

The Designers Accord, in addition to specific guidelines for firms and companies, has a five-point code of conduct: 

 

• Do no harm
• communicate and collaborate
• Keep learning, keep teaching
• Instigate meaningful change
• Make theory action
  
  

Casey says: “I hope that in next few years, these principles will be so integrated into the way people think about and practice design that it won't be necessary to have the Designers Accord. As a designer, I feel a responsibility to make positive social impact. Designers are a community of activists, not aestheticians.”

Sources:

http://www.designersaccord.org/

http://www.good.is/post/designs_on_the_future/

http://www.valcasey.com/

http://www.core77.com/blog/featured_items/the_designers_accord_a_conversation_with_valerie_casey_9401.asp

http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/129/100000-and-counting.html

Dimitris Kanellopoulos

He is a graphic designer from Greece who has created several posters that show his views in different social issues. His opinion is expressed in a very simple, powerful way. The message does come across showing his compromise.

Sources:

http://www.b-positive.gr

Critical Debates in Design | Task 4: Corporate Social Responsibility

Corporate social responsibility is a form of corporate self-regulation integrated into a business model. The goal of CSR is to embrace responsibility for the company's actions and encourage a positive impact through its activities on the environment, consumers, employees, communities, stakeholders and all other members of the public sphere. Furthermore, CSR-focused businesses would proactively promote the public interest by encouraging community growth and development, and voluntarily eliminating practices that harm the public sphere, regardless of legality. CSR is the deliberate inclusion of public interest into corporate decision-making.

Big corporations are way too powerful to be allow to operate without thinking in the social and environmental impact they have. It seems just fair that they incorporate CSR to their practice. It can be a way of distracting or compensating public opinion though as the company may also be engaged with harmful business activities on regular bases.

Based on my online research I would say that Cannon has a good and very complete CSR policy. They include in their policy a wide variety of areas like environmental care, social welfare, humanitarian aid and disaster relief, arts and culture, science and education and workplace.

I consider my responsibility as a designer to be environmentally conscious and not to do anything against my own moral principles and political views. As a product and graphic designer I realize that my projects might be manufactured or printed spending a lot or resources so it is my duty not to put anything out there that is knowingly not a good solution, it is not offering anything innovative or doesn't optimize resources. It is important for me not to get involved with any company or individual that don't respect human rights or is prejudicial to the environment.

Sources: 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporate_social_responsibility#Criticisms_and_concerns

http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/sustainable-business/corporate-social-responsibility/index_en.htm

http://www.csreurope.org/

http://www.canon-europe.com/About_Us/About_Canon/CSR/index.asp

Critical Debates in Design | Task 3: Motion Graphics

The world of motion graphics is now more open and democratic than ever because technology and knowledge is more accessible so it's easier for anybody to create a good piece with creativity and few resources.

It seems to me that there are two main trends; one is about recreating a digital, crisp look, with the most amazing effects making the most of the modern technology, and another one that is about going back to basic animation techniques, creating pieces with a more organic, crafted look. In any case, it is very common to mix media like 3d graphics or cartoons with real image.

In cinema, after the movie Avatar by James Cameron, many movies have been released using the same 3d technology. In this case, it has been used to make a fantastic world look real and believable. I think that trend is going to continue but those movies will also have to have a good script that justifies the use of digital effects and 3d filming technology.

Here there is a number of different international top design studios specialized in motion graphics.

Studios:

http://www.studioaka.co.uk/#/work

http://www.psyop.tv/

http://www.sehsucht.de/page/work/

http://www.petpunk.com/reel/

http://www.youtube.com/user/MISSERISTUDIO?feature=chclk

http://www.physaliastudio.com/

http://elastic.tv/

The following is the trailer of an animated movie made with peanuts.

Critical Debates in Design | Task 2: The Cologne-Bonn Airport Signage

Logo

The sign system of the Cologne-Bonn Airport in Germany is not just signage but a complex system of communication based on pictograms that covers many things like wayfinding, of course, staff uniforms, interactive services, merchandising,etc. This distinctive system is also an important part of the airport fresh and friendly identity.

Cologne-Bonn Airport

The use of pictograms and colour for the airport signage makes it a very immediate and international communication system. Those are very important aspects of an airport wayfinding system as it can be a huge place with many people from all over the world trying to orient themselves, quite often in a hurry. 

Departures panel

Information desk

Bus stop

Floor signs

Departures entrance

Signs on the runway

Decorated plane

As far as my research can go I think this is quite a strong sign system. It is important to remember that for a sign system in order to be effective it is very important that it is well applied in the physical space and well maintained. Misplaced, broken, redundant or scarce signs can be very confusing.

It has been designed by In Two Design in cooperation with Ruedi Baur et Associés in 2003. 

 

Symbols

Stationery

iPod app

Sources

 

Designers:

http://www.integral.ruedi-baur.eu/

http://www.intwodesign.com/index.php/corporate-identity-en.html?PHPSESSID=993bdbe4b50c56a77d500219a142de32

Airport official website:

http://www.airport-cgn.de/index.php

iPod app:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cologne-bonn-airport/id368975940?mt=8

Others:

http://www.iconglobe.net/blog/2008/08/26/cologne-bonn-airport-signs/

http://www.lineasguia.com/grafico/senaletica-aeropuerto-colonia-bonn/

http://wayfindinguk.wordpress.com/2010/06/14/pictograms-international-communication-and-cultural-diversity-part-1/

Critical Debates in Design | Task 1: Two Typefaces

Trebuchet

Trebuchet is a sans-serif typeface designed by Vicent Connare for Microsoft in 1996 in order to improve screen readability. Its name comes from the medieval catapult to “launch words across the Internet”.

Serif fonts and many others created for printing purposes are usually not good typefaces for screen use as the letterforms can dilute due to the screen resolution and the serifs appearance may vary, thickened, making the letters confusing. It is a web safe font, with fairly wide spacing, very easy to read that comes with the Microsoft Windows software.

The designer wanted to create a modern open humanistic feel with glyph specific features. A typeface with large x-heights and open rounded features, which are the same requirements as the typefaces used for signage have, so it is less harsh and friendlier.

I like that Trebuchet, while being appropriate for an extended texts, still manages to keep a distinctive feel so it is practical and not boring.

Sources:

http://www.microsoft.com/typography/web/fonts/trebuche/default.htm

http://www.microsoft.com/typography/fonts/family.aspx?FID=2

http://www.fonts.com/AboutFonts/Articles/TypeTechnology/FontsonWebPart1.htm

http://www.wikipedia.org

Rockwell

Rockwell is a geometric slab serif design or Egyptian. Another simple font with a lot of personality. It has strong angular serifs and imperceptible stroke weight changes wielding good line-flow, but with a certain harshness.

There are nine different weights within the Rockwell typeface family. A light version works well in extended texts while a bold one can really make an impact as a headline or short slogan.

The typeface was designed at the Monotype foundry's design studio in 1934.

Sources:

http://www.fonts.com/FindFonts/HiddenGems/Rockwell.htm

Getting it right with type by Victoria Squire.