COP3 Proposal Nicky Hope OUGD501 Studio Brief 3
Introduction What is ‘Good’? To what extent does Social Responsibility impact on the role and function of Graphic Design? The question allows for a general exploration into the broad Philosophy of Ethics, and more intently on how that can be applied to the context of design to try and piece together a Philosophy of Design. An attempt at an answer could explore the creation of design for questionable or overtly unethical causes, and the responsibility of the designer when tasked with the creation of such ethically regressive content. This could involve an exploration into design created for extremist causes, military applications, or design which inadvertantly causes negative social, ethical or environmental consequences. To try and assess, with difficulty, the level of responsibility designers have in society and what they can do to forward or hinder the advancement of ‘ethical’ or progressive causes.
Relevant Subject Matter 5 Subjects 1. Design for military applications 2. Design for complacent fake news 3. Design for complacent destruction 4. Design for elitist products 5. Design which is environmentally disruptive
Relevant Statements 5 Quotes “Design—good design—is not cheap. You would be better served to spend your money on some-thing else if you don’t place a high value on what it can achieve” AIGA “It therefore falls to designers and their colleagues at these tech giants to ensure their products are beneficial to the world” Design Council “Consider this simple conundrum: is it possible to be a bad good designer or a good bad designer for that matter? If the answer is yes then which is preferable and what does this reveal about the relationship between ethics and design practice?” Lucienne Roberts “There is certainly nothing wrong with protecting our professional interests and the interests of our clients, and you’ll find content to that effect in most statements of ethical practices created by designer organizations around the world. However, I would argue that our single, most significant contribution to society would be to make sure that the communications we create are actually useful to those for whom they’re intended—and that this concern must be elevated to the same level of importance as those previously discussed.” AIGA “If I was financially secure, and if I felt strongly about [the negative impact], no, I wouldn’t take the client. If I wasn’t busy and needed the money, I would think about it… within reason.” Lee Newham
Relevant Websites 5 Web Pages 1. Ethics in Digital Design http://www.designcouncil.org.uk/news-opinion/ ethics-digital-design 2. In Search of Ethics in Graphic Design http://www.aiga.org/in-search-of-ethics-in- graphic-design
3. The Only Way is Ethics http://www.itsnicethat.com/features/ethics- graphic-design-essay-131016
4. Design Businesses and Ethics https://www.scribd.com/document/47555891/ Design-Business-and-Ethics#fullscreen&from_ embed 5. An Introduction into Ethics in Graphic Design http://www.bloomsbury.com/uk good-an-introduction-to-ethics-in-graphic- design-9782940373147/
Relevant Visuals 5 Images
Relevant Contexts 5 Contextual References 1. Design for McDonald’s, particularly ads which target the healthy food market 2. The multiple rebrands of controversial defence contractor Blackwater 3. The graphic identity of BP, which makes a major global polluter look ‘green’ and responsible 4. Vertu, and other elite-luxury brands who use design to help justify economic exploitation 5. Design used to sell bottled water, particularly luxury brands like Voss
What could I do? 5 Proposals 1. Design ethics in advertising e.g. cigarettes, unhealthy foods
2. Design ethics in warfare/regarding weaponry 3. The responsibility of designers to help solve global issues e.g. climate change 4. The general responsibility of the designer - do we have any? Or is it just our job? 5. Design which encourages or is complacent in destructive or exploitative applications 2. Design