The Year So Far
New Tough Fun Expansive Engaging Rewarding
Positives Broader print knowledge. Structured writing. Minimising waste.
Positives Choosing own briefs. Independent timescales. Broader synthesis.
Negatives Stressing unnecessarily. Feeling futile. Conflicting research.
Negatives Lack of artistic context. Time wasting. Disorganization. Realization of limitations.
Urgent Tasks Rework portfolio. Apply for placements. Create online presence.
Manifesto ‘14 • Design should seek out the cause of a problem before trying to find an aesthetic solution. • The social and environmental implications of a brief should always be considered before working on it. • Designers should factor ecological and financial sustainability into their processes and outcomes. • The pursuit of profit should never outweigh the pursuit of moral goals.
Manifesto ‘15 The application of good graphic design to a given need is more significant than commonly perceived. This is not to say that all graphic design is worthy of commendation; much of what is commonly perceived as graphic design today causes more harm than good. However, if used appropriately for goals other than financial gain, good graphic design can vastly alter the status quo on many issues. For this reason, the pursuit of profit should never outweigh the pursuit of moral goals. Whether this tool is used to create positive or negative outcomes naturally depends upon its application (and indeed one’s political opinions). It is the role of the graphic designer not only to act as a conduit for the views of others, but also to consider the ramifications of their work from a broader perspective. By considering the social and environmental implications of a piece of work, graphic designers can ensure that they are not having a harmful effect on the world around them. Although many of these effects may be indirect and unclear, a greater understanding of them allows the designer to create more appropriate work that actually addresses the efficacy of the solution, rather than a short-term solution to the problem. Attempting to resolve a problem quickly in its entirety often leads to more endemic problems in the future. To avoid this, graphic designers should seek out the cause of a problem, before attempting to find an aesthetic solution. Through analysis of the brief and all matters relating to it, graphic designers can ensure they create outcomes that prevent further problems arising. Factoring ecological and financial sustainability into processes and outcomes is a key part of this, as it ensures that work carried out is not harmful to the environment in which it exists.
Key Themes ‘15 • Importance of graphic design. • Moral goals. • Potential ramifications of graphic design. • Dangers of short term solutions. • Ecological and financial sustainability.
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