Daniel Purvis' Journal: April 2019

A rhetorician

a social mediator that organises and structures social / environmental systems and interactions through messages or objects
‘facilitators of social action … involved in shaping communication processes as well as the resulting products’ (Eases, 209; p.6)
Draws on rhetorical devices:

ethos (ethical position)
pathos (human feeling / emotional appeal)
logos (logic of argument / structure of work for the viewer)

"Form follows function" was coined by American Architect Louis Sullivan and the diagram above describes the process required for the development of good design. Good design here is informed by the communication and relationship between the problem, the audience and the designer, each informing, describing and necessitating the development of a solution. A solution might require creation, interaction, understanding, participation, the development of a new object or system, and action.

"Design only exists in social context," says Dr Thornton, as this provides meaning for the development of a design solution.

The above alteration with a square demonstrates the effect of context and the design as a response to the environment in which the problem, audience, designer and solution coexist. The context has a "bearing on what it means, how its constructed and with whom." However, we need to agree on things as a society in order for society to make design and communication possible—behavioural conventions and social norms, for example.

What design might be meaningless if removed from its environment?

‘… the designer attempts to influence, persuade, or identify with [the] public; to accept or reject information, to provide an experience or to take some action – in short, to adopt a belief suggested by the visual material. The responsibility of the designer is to craft an appropriate and effective … solution given the objectives and constraints of the assignment’. (Eases, 2009; p.7)

This is "design as a rhetorical practice" says Dr Thornton, we use various appeals to make this happen. Designers must have a good knowledge of the context in which the solution will operate, regardless of the form these take.

The goal is to facilitate change whether in action, attitude or belief.

What is a designer? Norman Potter, 2002.

We need to design a chair—so job done right.

Design process.

1. Define the problem.

Is the nature of the problem the chair or the space itself?

• how do the notions of ‘chair’ and ‘sitting’ differ?

Chairs facilitate sitting, however sitting is both a physical movement but also a social activity.

2. Observe, analyse, and question how the space is currently used and note any problems or misuse of existing furniture

• ideally this will include multidisciplinary collaboration or techniques

What chairs and use of space have you seen that have been redefined by?

Propose idea of “desire lines” to meet social needs of what paths do.

3. Evaluate problem

• Is a new chair design what is needed to improve the space, how it is used, how individuals react with it?

• how might groups and individuals react to it?

4. Refine definition oft he problem itself

5. Find solutions which might suit the redefined problem.

but…

"A designer can do nothing (at least with confidence) without first defining and understanding exactly who the audience is." What we want to achieve, and how we want the audience to respond. We need to engage with them to get a full understanding of what they require.

CCC committee and abstract questions.

What does a designer do?

‘Goodness of fit between form and context’

• form (material design of outcome) of the design

• context (environmental) which and for whom it exists

Design is ‘an action aimed at changing existing situations to preferred ones’.

• emphasising the goal of a design and whether it achieves the desired change / response and whether it is lasting, not only the appropriateness of the form (and change it brings about)

Batman example. Costume designs. Shifts in characters (female Thor). Super hero fanbase. Which version might respond to best. The audience know what is best and what their tastes are and, to some degree, expect to have them met.

What is a designer?

a craftsperson, and
a social scientist (partly), and
a rhetorician, and
critical, reflective thinker

Evaluating design

What is criticism?

Shift in attitude to appreciate value.

‘Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. It fulfils the same function as pain in the human body. It calls attention to an unhealthy state of things.’ Winston Churchill

Criticism: evaluation of design for its social and cultural value; a view of design as it is historically and socially situated

Social commentary / analysis / examination
An artefact with a critical intent to engage as social commentary

Critique: (studio ‘crit’): analysis and assessment of work; an evaluation in a detailed and analytical way of its suitability or fitness for purpose insight of its intended function and context.
Critical thinking: reflection; intentional consideration of design in a systematic and rational way.

Example

Vietnamese child running down street became 'short hand for the atrocities of the Vietnam War'.

'The Terror of War' by Nick Ut, 1972.

As the image becomes a shorthand for these atrocities, artists such as Banksy have used the provocative image to make their own critique, such as 'Napalm' or 'Can't Beat That Feeling', which discusses American globalisation and the expansion of corporations following the 1980s.

'Napalm' by Banksy, 2004.

few things will be more valuable to your practice than critique, whether this comes from your own critical reflection or from peer / client / public commentary.

An attitude adjustment may be necessary. Criticism should have something to say. Critique should offer direction for development to assist in moving one situation to a more desired one.

‘… generate[s] tangible artefacts … to communicate, and to build a bridge between a client, an issue of concern, and an intended public’.

A designer aims to make things that are useful as well as having cultural value (ie. things that are beautiful).

But beauty is a cultural convention.

Established belief and depends on social and cultural environment.

What is conventional? Contextualise work in social envieonment.

‘Criticism … is inextricably associated with shifting values, not just the value judgements it makes about individual works — are they ‘good’ or ‘bad’? — but the criteria or principles upon which such judgements are made, usually notions about the ‘effect’ or ‘purpose’ of [design]. In other words, the individual judgements are informed by general ideas about [design]: the better [a design] serves its purpose … the better it is.’ McDonald, 2007. p.48

And remember, purpose doesn’t always mean ‘pretty’. Think of designing objects for those who have difficulties with vision such as the elderly? Perhaps we need to adjust the size and text of the image to accomodate for these people and let slide some of the more aesthetic decisions (we might prefer size 11 type but we need to use something at size 14).

"Critique is the informed judgement about the value and performance of design in context."

Its aim is to find meaning in design, design practice, and designed objects that align with cultural and societal values, beliefs and ideologies.

What is a critic?

explanation
commentary
summary
analysis
interpretation

A critic is… "Someone who is able to contextualise and make sense of creative output; evaluating them in the light of the way that we live with designed objects to determine whether or how they add value."

I find it frustrating when people give me presents I’m unable to use within the context of my own life, instead it ends up as clutter and must be removed.

Marie Kondo — does this give me joy? (does this serve a function?)

Necessary to value objects, environments, and information but also to find alternate problems.

Criticism does not provide answers. It provides discussion to garner opinions from individuals. This helps designers

• understand meaning

• how the objects shape the way we live

• how to address future problems

‘The [critic] who wilfully suspends judgement, or fears to make it, lets down the reader and ultimately perhaps the subject itself. This critical process will often lead to conclusions at odds with those of the subject. But while the process might be intrinsically adversarial, it is not inherently negative even is the ordinary usage of the verb – to criticise – makes it sound as though it is.’

Joyner and Rock, 1995.

No one is out to get you! ‘You’re being negative’. I’m being critical — when discussing work within a class called ‘Critical Practice’ a couple of years ago. When providing your own analysis of others work, and when providing context, be careful to make your own judgements about how something works with in an environment, culture, society. Be ‘critical’ and don’t just look at the positive role but all the effects.

Example

Ellen DeGeneres critique the developing of the new Bic line of pens, Bic Pens for Women in comedy sketch.

This also seems to be an issue for Bic in missing the mark when it comes to making social commentary, as evident in their National Womens' Day image in South Africa, 2015, which featured an image of woman alongside the text 'Look like a girl. Act like a lady. Think like a man. Work like a boss.' This image received much negative feedback.

This also prompted critic from their competitors, Stabilo, who understood and responded to the meaning behind the image.

Examples

Playstation Portable black is white

Kendall Jenner pepsi ad (in contrast to ‘buy the world a coke’)

Kendell Jenner with Pepsi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dA5Yq1DLSmQ

I'd like to buy the world a Coke https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VM2eLhvsSM

Criticism is

• productive and creative

• practitioners who are better equipped to produce meaningful and valid design

• analyse the value of design

• analyse the value of designers

• is powerful teaching tool to bridge practice, history and theory

• better designers and better design critics

Criticism becomes argument through understand.

Critical Object

• social

• political

• economic

• cultural

• ethical

• discipline of design and commercial practice

Functions as object for consumption but purpose to engage facilitate discourse about social concerns

Carry meaning well beyond their functional purpose

Help draw attention to problem or paradox

Example

September 12 video game provide critique

Original game (unable to play on Mac) and September 12 video

Videogame by Games for Change designed to question what it means to target terrorists with drone strikes and attacks and what this means when placed in a situation with innocent bystanders. Doesn't address how to stop terrorism and acts as quick commentary on violence and war.

The videogame Spec Ops: The Line uses the mechanics of videogames to create a narrative which questions the role of violence in games and the tactics employed to allow the player the enjoyment of killing, and is in direct response to the industries desire for violent games. See the book Killing is Harmless by Brendan Keogh.

Casualties of war is a stitched quilt — undertones of feminist undertones through form and function.

Adjusters — discuss critic

What critique is going on in this image?

What is it trying to tell us and why?

What are the global, social and political implications of the US corporate power?

‘Critical design uses speculative design proposals to challenge narrow assumptions, preconceptions, and givens about the role products play in everyday life. It is more an attitude than anything else, a position rather than a method. Its opposite is affirmative design: design that reinforces the status quo’.

– Duanne and Ruby.

Critique as professional practice:

1. Critique as a tool in the design process

• evaluate and contextualise work social

2. Responding to critique as a professional (which includes classroom settings)

Schools theory of reflection-in-action

1. ‘Spontaneous’ self critique

• automatise skills

• ‘reading the situation’ and adjusting accordingly

This is why in design studio, tutors will often ask you additional questions in order to coax you to consider elements of the design you may not have considered otherwise. It is to encourage you to think better about how the work you’re producing will be understood by the audience.

2. Systematic and considered self / peer critique

• learning new skills and problem solving

• directed and thoughtful

• supported by evidence

Process of drawing as way to encourage thinking to compare and discuss function and form.

designobserver.com

eyemagazine.com

core77.com

nngroup.com

printmag.com

Daniel Purvis' Journal

Tuesday, April 30, 2019

GRAP 2030 // Week 07 // Ethical and Moral Design

Tuesday, April 2, 2019

GRAP 2030 // Week 5 // Lecture Notes // What is Criticism

What does a designer do?

What is criticism?

What is a critic?

Example

Examples

Example