GRAP 2030 // Week 6 // Assignment 3 and Research

Definition of terminology and examples for Assignment 3

Globalisation is the interconnectedness of the world today, a result of transportation and communications, global trade and the sharing of ideas and culture. It has been both a positive and negative influence on the world helping to bring everyone closer together while putting economic, political, social and environmental pressure on varying parts of the world.

Here is an interesting article on globalisation from a journalistic perspective but please note that I would expect you to do additional research into understanding globalisation. There are plenty of resources available at the Library so while you might refer to an article like this we also require academic support.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jul/14/globalisation-the-rise-and-fall-of-an-idea-that-swept-the-world

Research is being discussed this week. Use this as a starting place and bring it together with what you understand about design. Think about what sort of design you’re interested in and find some case samples of research applied to design. There are also books written by designers that include case studies, such as Design for the Real World by Victor Papanek, which might help give you some leads.

For example, one of my favourite advertisements related to motorcycling is called “Inconvenience Stores” which was a campaign run by the advertising agency CHE Proximity and looked at how to connect with motorcycle riders and encourage them to trust that SWANN Insurance knew what their culture was about.

https://www.marketingmag.com.au/hubs-c/case-study-swann-inconvenience/

https://www.cheproximity.com.au/work/inconvenience-stores

For example, one of my favourite advertisements related to motorcycling is called “Inconvenience Stores” which was a campaign run by the advertising agency CHE Proximity and looked at how to connect with motorcycle riders and encourage them to trust that SWANN Insurance knew what their culture was about. Also, if you’re analysing this campaign, are you analysing the video or the campaign itself? What constitutes the design work?

Rhetoric as we’ve learned is multifaceted. You want to make sure you define what rhetoric is and how it applies to visual communication. Then, demonstrate your understanding of ethos, logo, and pathos, maybe kairos, and combine it with your understanding of semiotic theory (signs), and the development of meaning. Find an example of something that you personally find interesting, and deconstruct it to demonstrate your knowledge.

Cultural values and conceptual framing should be defined. Provide references. Use these to demonstrate your knowledge—this is what an essay is about. Examining and applying the theory we’ve been discussing to practice. 

Illustrated Essay so make sure that you find and include visual examples. Choose to define these as well though. Provide a description of the form of the illustration / image / advertisement and then elaborate on this within theoretical context. 

Read 'The World of Wrestling' description from Roland Barthes Mythologies (1973), pg 16

Wrestling, on the contrary, offers excessive gestures, exploited to the limit of their meaning. In judo, a man who is down is hardly down at all, he rolls over, he draw back, he eludes defeat, or, if the latter is obvious, he immediately disappears; in wrestling, a man who is down is exaggeratedly so, and completely fills the eyes of the spectators with the intolerable spectacle of his powerlessness.

This function of grandiloquence is indeed the same as that of ancient theatre, who principle, language and props (masks and buskins) concurred in the exaggeratedly visible explanation of a Necessity. The gesture of the vanquished wrestler signifying to the world a defeat which, far from disguising, he emphasises and holds like a pause in music, corresponds to the mask of antiquity meant to signify the tragic mode of the spectacle. In wrestling, as on the stage in antiquity, one is not ashamed of one's suffering, one knows how to cry, on has a liking for tears. 

Illustrated Essay

Aim:

Respond to one of the questions listed below in a thoughtful and informed way. Take a position and develop a well structured, logical, and convincing argument to support it. Draw on relevant literature and personal experience to provide context for your argument and use appropriate imagery to illustrate your points.

Objective:

Develop an argument in response to one of the essay questions in the section below.
Examine and think critically about design as a social practice and what this means in the context of the question you choose. Choose specific examples to provide context for your argument and draw on appropriate sources and imagery to support your ideas. Cite your sources accurately and consistently.
Think about how the issues you discuss connect and try to reflect on them in relation to the way you see your own practice.

Method:

Choose ONE of the following essay questions:

For Communication Designers and Product Designers:

1. What is Globalisation? How does it affect consumers and the world in which we live?
2. Of what value is user research to a successful design outcome? Explain your reasoning using selected examples or a specific case study of design?
3. What is rhetoric and what is its role in design practice and outcomes? (This response must go beyond defining ethos, pathos, and logos and look at how they are used in design.)
4. (For Communication Designers only) Choose one of the communication campaigns from the list below:
• The I am Nature environmental advocacy campaign ad from WWF.
• One of these Nature is Speaking environmental advocacy ads from Conservation International.
• One of these Like a Girl campaign ads from Always: Keep Going Robohawks OR, Unstoppable, OR, Super Bowl XLIX

*All links to these examples are supplied in learn online

...then, write a detailed critique of its impact from one of these three theoretical positions, either:

• The cultural values and conceptual framing it uses to communicate its message—how and what is its intended effect on the viewer?
• The rhetorical appeals it employs (including pathos, ethos and logos), how does it use these and what is the intended effect on the viewer?
• The social or environmental ethics it carries, how does it carry them and why?
1. (For Product Designers only) Choose one of the designers from the list below and find one example of their work:
• Marc Newson (see videos for week 12)
• Patricia Urquiola (see videos for week 12)
• Ray and Charles Eames (see videos for week 12)
• Hella Jongerius (see videos for week 12)

...then, write a detailed critique of it from your point of view using one of these three theoretical positions, either:

• The cultural values and conceptual framing it uses to communicate its purpose and value to the user?
• The rhetorical appeals it employs (including pathos, ethos and logos) to communicate its purpose and value to the user (consider how the object employs sense perception beyond just the visual)?
• The social or environmental ethics it does/does not carry, how it does/does not carry them and and why?

In response to your chosen question, you will develop a well-structured and critically informed argument. Think about what key issues, ideas and theories relate to the topic and the way in which you are formulating your viewpoint. Consider your position in response to what the question poses. Do you think strongly one way or another, or are there merits to both sides of the debate? Why? Is there conflict between what you think and how design currently functions in the area of concern?

You must examine a wide variety of sources that explore design and design thinking, including design history and contemporary criticism. Think about what these ideas mean to the way that design is practiced and consider design’s role in society and what impact it has, or could have. Also, consider sources from cultural studies and the social sciences. Support your argument with evidence from appropriate peer-reviewed literature and use images to provide context.

Assessment:

Submit a 2000 word essay (minimum) + references and bibliography using an appropriate and consistently applied referencing style of your choice (Chicago preferred). Use images as necessary. You must submit your file using the learnonline site as a Word (.doc or .docx) file only. Please use the essay document template supplied (below) and ensure your document it named and titled accordingly. Your file should be saved according to the following example: thornton.c_assignment_1.docx

This is an illustrated essay assignment and as such you must provide visual examples to support your argument. You can use as many images as is necessary to adequately illustrate your points but do not include anything that is not absolutely necessary. All images from other source must be properly referenced. Images of your own work should be stated as such along with a short statement explaining the context of when and why the work was created.

You must draw on at least 5 relevant sources and, by means of appropriate referencing, clearly demonstrate in your text how you are exploring these author’s ideas. At least 2 sources must be new ones you have identified, not only those already on the course reading list. All sources must be credible, academic, peer-reviewed texts. Keep in mind, in addition to when you use someone else's words, you must also cite authors every time you draw on their ideas to support your own.

This assignment is worth 40% of your course mark.

It will be submitted no later than 11pm on Wednesday 10th June via learn online only. Emailed and hard copy submissions are not accepted.

Submission and return of assessment tasks

See above under Assessment details.

*Please also note that in accordance with AAD School policy, this course does not apply a penalty deduction for late assessments and unless an application for an extension, together with supporting documentation has been lodged and granted prior to the due date, it is expected that all assignments must be submitted to deadline. Late submissions will not be marked.

The school's position is as follows:

"AAD does not apply a penalty assessment deduction for late submissions and late submissions may not be accepted at all.

Acceptance and assessment of late submissions for students who do not meet the APPM policy ‘Extension to complete an assessment task’ will be determined by the course coordinator.

Course coordinators may request evidence from the student to support their claims for late submission.

Course coordinators are required to keep an electronic record of student’s late submission agreements and include AADStudy in the email correspondence in order that submission requirements, conditions and dates are kept as records on the student’s file."

Research Questions

How might keeping a sketchbook, digital journal or 3D mockups, including sketches and drawings, qualify as research?
How might you improve on your use of ideating, sketching and drawing to turn it into research?
Why might your own design exploration of your ideas and beliefs outside of client work?
What knowledge can you gain from developing personal projects?