REFLECTIONS

reflect

limitations

In reading an excerpt from David Barringer’s essay “American Mutt Barks in the Yard” I came to a deeper understanding of the limitations we face in our daily tasks as designers and how creativity can be found in restricting environments. Barringer highlights the similarities of an actor’s job and a designer’s ; The foundation of both professions is based on taking specific direction from a client. Yet, it is crucial they also satisfy their own aesthetic needs and desires in order to make something their own. Although this can be difficult in some circumstances, Barringer believes it is important to fully embody the point of view from which we design from. He places emphasis on making choices that define our “priorities, loyalties, and hopes” because it allows us to find our own unique style, even when designing for someone else. In following these choices to our closest truth, passion, desire, and creativity can bloom, regardless of the circumstances.

After further exploring some of my essay topics in class today I felt most drawn to my interest in sustainability and its’ presence in the design community. This topic has become extremely relevant in recent years due to the pressing effects of climate change and how its reflected on social media. I recently came across an article on minnesotabusiness.com that focuses on “environmentally correct advertising” by highlighting the Ubergrun agency: An advertising and media company that solely uses sustainable earth resources to create effective and influential media. Their creations are transparent and project their client’s message in a way consumer’s easily understand and resonate with.

sustainability

As we discussed in class, designers are able to use creative tools to connect with broader audiences, and I believe the Ubergrun Agency perfectly exemplifies in how to do so. Although it’s reassuring that large companies are making environmentally conscious choices in how they portray and project their brand, I question whether or not their motivation is coming from a place of moral integrity. Are big brands advertising in an eco-friendly fashion because they want to convey a better image to their consumers, or is it coming from a pure desire to help better the environment? Either way, I suppose their actions speak louder than their motivation.

Design solves problems on a variety of scales. Simple tasks I constantly perform day to day are made possible by good design. For instance, knowing whether to open a door by pushing or pulling it is based on the design of the door. The “Design for Democ- racy” campaign is a great ex- ample of how designers are solving issues on a bigger scale, by using their skills to raise awareness on low voter turn-out. However, I believe solving problems with design does not always mean design- ing for good, and the values aligned with designing for good stem from a passion to

PASSION

make a change for the better of people and or the Earth. For instance, the founder and CEO of the technical appar- el company, Outdoor Voices, wanted her branding to be accepting of all skin colors, ethnicities, body types, and more. Furthermore, all of the merchandise is ethically and sustainably sourced. The brand strategists and appar- el designers used their skills to create a brand that was inclusive of all people and made under safe conditions. I believe in order to solve a problem we must collaborate with designers from different backgrounds who all share a common passion for doing good.

PERSPECTIVE

This semester I’ve been challenged to look at design through different lenses which has ultimately allowed me to form a new and interesting perspective on the topic. One discussion in particular prompted me to think about how design can be a tool to reach broader audiences. Through talking with my classmates I started thinking about design as a language that everyone can understand. It has the ability to reach people from a variety of different backgrounds which is why it’s such a powerful tool. With that being said, design plays a role in everyone’s day to day lives, whether they realize it or not. It influences our decisions, from what coffee we purchase to what kind of car we buy. I believe designers have one of the most important jobs in the world because they have the ability to touch the lives of people on a variety of levels, big and small.

EDUCATE

What makes Developing Citizen Designers such an easy read is the straightforwardness and simple language they use. The format is split up into different sections based on different case studies that relate to various topics. From there each case study states the description, research, challenges, strategy, effectiveness, and assessment of the project. These different topics make it very easy to fully understand the project from both the designer’s perspective and the consumers. One case study particularly stood out to me as it dealt with designing an identity campaign for Barbeque sauce that raised awareness for the non-profit “Feeding the Nation’s Homelessness”. The way they described the “problem” was not at all demeaning to the demographic they were designing for. They also pointed out the campaign was not the solution to the issue, but rather a creative way to raise awareness and educate. It’s important to take a step back and realize that just because you’re designing for a “good cause” does not mean you’re completely fixing the situation. In the end designing for good allows designers to widen their perspective and I appreciate how the writers make this point evident throughout the text.