Gunner,
I am actually familiar with Ellen's writing. Some of what I have to say is
familiar ground.
The problems with certification in graphic design are several. First, there
needs to be standards set. And whose standards? Essentially, who decides what
is "good" design? Paul Rand essentially said that almost any design that even
faintly reeked of postmodernism (and what is that?) was garbage. Does that set
us on the road to graphic homogenization? What does that do with
experimentation of all kinds? Would that disinclude designers with no training who are
highly recognized as having some value within the industry? Though controversial,
David Carsons and Dan Friedman have moved the vision of design forward with
their work and experimentation in deconstruction, keeping it fresh.
Do we retreat to the era of "fine typography", and have certified
typographers, they alone who are allowed to actually set, kern and lead text?
Would the work and theory of designers and researchers that aren't certified
not be allowed to be taught? The issue is one that will always be
dicussed...what is graphic design? Is it a practice or is it art? Bird or fowl?
One semi-solution is the encouragement of design programs being taught at the
B.F.A. level, since the B.F.A. is already considered by many to be
essentially a professional degree. And perhaps encouraging a certain line for course to
be taught, without a strict interpretation of exactly how they are taugh.
It is a pretty pickle, no doubt.
Paul Tosh, M.F.A.
Assistant Professor Art & Art History
University of Missouri-Kansas City
Fine Arts Building 205
5100 Rockhill Road
Kansas City, MO 64111
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(816) 235-6204 office
(816) 645-4145 cell
(816) 235-5507 fax
paul tosh
(*pretty darn good) design
520 forest st.
kansas city, mo 64106
816-645-4145
816-235-5507 fax
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