In response to Dr. Gamman's query regarding package design imagery. The
DesignArchiveOnline maintained by the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) has
many examples and is a good resource for other graphic designs as well.
Ellen Thomson Burlington, VT
dhsweb wrote:
> In contrast to some earlier messages, this one IS intended for the whole
> list but had just come to me.
> List Administrator
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2002 19:50:23 +0000
> From: Dr. Lorraine Gamman <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: FW: Graphic Design/Packaging is it Art?
>
> hello everyone
>
> I think i may have missed something - and don't always understand the
> exhchanges you guys at design history society about car parking arrangements
> etc that land on my server. but hey I am not complaining.
>
> the recent debate about graphic design (see below) is why I am responding:
> just thought i'd feed in some information and references.
>
> 1. did any of you see the dirty washing exhibition (on soap powder
> packaging) at design museum put on by CSM/Rodney Fitch and the accompanying
> catalogue: and article in 'things' journal. the
> exhibition received very good reviews not least because the graphics
> vernacular was discussed in reference to aesthetics, and it the exhibition
> itself was vibrant and modern looking (rather than kitsch).
>
> The feedback was v. pleasing but there still seems to be an elitism
> within the reviews that kept referencing, for obvious reason, pop art; and
> within the museums as well as the art school/faculties where packaging is
> often considered a business related issue rather than an aesthetic one.
>
> James Peto of design museum was very brave and pushed for the soap powder
> display: Alice Rawsthorne the new director was open minded and supportive
> too, which is why the exhibition got off the ground, thanks to a little
> money obtained from ahrb. yet graphic design isn't regarded with the
> respect it might be - which doesn't make my life v. easy when trying to
> raise funds or argue against the high art doyennes that packaging needs
> more respect, and the research more funding. Ok so it always gets back to
> dosh...
>
> 2. I am new to research into packaging, but am very inspired by it, and like
> to work with practicing designers when putting material together I am
> astonished so few really good books, and so few resources exist. thank
> good for ebay as its probably the easiest way to find a little out about
> what packaging people collect across the world. the robert opie museum is
> obviously a very important resource and it would be terrible to see it lost
> for ever or for robert opie to stop make his contributions on the subject.
> or to see the museum simply serving business: again the funding question
> is crucial.
>
> 3. in terms of archives on packaging , the musee de publicity in paris (nr
> Louvre) has an archive that can be accessed on line in the museum - it
> contains images of packaging and other emphemera indexed by subject in
> alphabetical order - as well as videos of adverts that can be viewed on
> line. its v. impressive. the total collection there, Is partial but it
> was fabulous to type in the themes I have been working on - and to be
> instantly able to find information and adverts. duke university have an on
> linearchive on advertising/packaging ephemera too. the reference is:
>
> http://scriptorium.lib.duke.edu/scriptorium/projects.html It has a
> special Lux section for those of you who likie their soap ads or
> packets.
>
> I'd be grateful to hear from any one who know about any other packaging
> archives across the world that are worth visiting or accessing - i have
> searched museums on british library data base but didn't come up with much
> (a few collections) so would be pleased to hear about your experience. Many
> thanks. Please e.mail/write to me below:
>
> Dr. Lorraine Gamman
> Senior Research Fellow
> Central Saint Martins
> College of Art & Design
> School of Graphic and Industrial Design
> 2-6 Catton Street London WC1R 4AA
> [log in to unmask]
> Fax 0207 514 7306
>
> > I would like to draw the attention to the CONNECTION
> > OF ART AND GRAPHIC DESIGN!
> >
> > I do understand the wide area that graphic design embraces That is why I am
> > trying to concentrate on the connection between Art and Graphic Design
> > only.
> >
> > From my understanding and study it seem that graphic design was influenced
> > very much by the movements in arts. As a communication tool it has been
> > used from beginning of mankind (Mesopotamia = iconography), where the
> > Egyptian alphabet contained the theory as well. Today we refer to them as
> > works of ART, so why can we not separate graphic design in to appropriate
> > categories and give them credits as works of ART or as sometimes we refer
> > to as CLASSIC DESIGNS?
> >
> > General public still understands - e.g. packaging and branding as selling
> > tool ‘only’- not as information source, so it seem the only way to correct
> > that point of view is by appropriate display of past successful branding,
> > advertising and posters. This if shown through a period of time, where
> > comparisons can be made of the way we did and the way we do now would show
> > the differences not only in design but also e.g. in the product
> > improvements over period of time.
> >
> > margaret
> >
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