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by Andrew Haig
In Australia there is very little critical writing of any sort, shape or description that debates the success or otherwise of a design outcome or describes exactly what it is that designers do and why we do it. Such writing and commentary would indicate a healthy state of activity and enquiry in our profession and would help outline just what design is and can be. All areas of the arts and 'applied arts': cinema, the fine arts, architecture, fashion and literature all have publications devoted to review, criticism, commentary and debate. Design in Australia has very few [1].
Design is a profession and an industry in its own right, but all too often designers do themselves a disservice by not articulating concerns, issues, or their thinking and making them known to the outside world (non-designers and the world-at-large). Designers know that what we do is often an integral, vital component within our culture(s) and that it also has the potential (I'm being very idealistic here) to create a better life for all. We're just very reluctant to say so, especially out loud and in public.
Our profession (unlike others) does not really have an accreditation or certification process and with little critical and peer review and real discussion occurring (especially in Australia) we occupy a somewhat mysterious and intangible space in the public sphere. Also, as Clement Mok observes: "mainstream media's coverage (of design) often reduces the topic to naive and over-simplified soundbytes about design as stylized commodity." [2]
For a profession that deals with and shapes communications, we often do a lousy job communicating what it is that we do.
That's why One Plus One Equals Three exists. To be a catalyst for discussion about design and to make visible and to make public the thinking, the questions and the issues that confront designers everyday. In the words of Josef Albers, pioneering Bauhaus designer and educator: "In design, one plus one equals three sometimes" [3]. Design can deliver more than just problem solving (1+1=2) which is an intrinsic aspect of what we do, but can offer much more through the clever use of materials, wit, eloquence, beauty, enquiry, and clarity (and the list goes on). In particular, I'd like to think that some of us could even be intrinsically involved in social change in some way and help our society, our culture and our environment rather than just doing design for the nice pay-cheque.
There's also the 'big picture of design' which encompasses much more than just 'design for business'. Design is a professional practice - sure - but it is also incredibly interesting as "a subject of social, cultural, and philosophic investigation" [4]. The minimal discussion about design that occurs in Australia often revolves around 'the business of design/design for business' (what to charge, how to get and keep clients, how design can help business) or is depicted via glossy award showcases. The latter are important to the industry internally, the former to businesses generally, but as the quote above outlines, there is a bigger need for conversation about and reflection upon what it is that we do and how it impacts on people, our culture and our world - especially if we're to be taken seriously as a contemporary, articulate, dedicated profession of thinkers and not a marginalised occupation for fashion-savvy stylists.
That (Australian) conversation about design will develop on 1+1=3's site. Keep in touch - and join the conversation.
Andrew Haig.
Designer/educator.
http://www.oneplusoneequalsthree.com
Notes
[1] The (AGDA) site you're on right now, the AGDA Newsletter, http://www.dia.org.au, Desktop and Australian Creative magazines, Design Graphics, AustralianInFront and Design is Kinky websites and the odd newspaper or magazine article constitute the 'Australian graphic design media landscape' where designers and interested members of the general public interface with information about (graphic) design. There's also a design component on the ABC web site (but I haven't seen that updated in quite a while).
All the above contribute to our collective discussion of design. Most are generally not noted for critical enquiry and analysis of design issues and design culture; they're not designed with that purpose in mind - they have other things to address. An exception here is http://www.desphilosophy.com, emanating from Queensland, with much academic-based writing and research about design on its (html) pages.
All are thankfully part of the conversation about Australian design. The more diverse, engaged and informed that conversation is - the better it is for all of us.
[2] Clement Mok (2003).
Designers: Time for Change.
Menlo Park USA, Communication Arts.
http://www.commarts.com/ca/coldesign/cleM_185.html
[3] Josef Albers (1969).
Search Versus Re-Search.
Hartford USA, Trinity College Press.
[4] Richard Buchanan and Victor Margolin (1995).
Discovering Design: Explorations in Design Studies.
Chicago, The University of Chicago Press, p. ix
| Feedback by Ken Desouza | Wednesday, 16 May 2007 |
"we cares about beautiful design that does not deliver results for clients! Too much design research not enough market research! GET REAL, GROW UP AND WORK IN ADVERTISING!"
| Feedback by Watson Jury | Thursday, 23 February 2006 |
"when do we start on this..."
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