Dear Terry,
On 16/09/2014, at 07:15, Terence Love wrote:
> knowledge'. I was suggesting that clarity and theoretical embodiment (if
> that is ontologically possible) about this difference is still developing in
> Art and Design. It seems to be clearer in for example textile and fashion
In discussing this particular topic, I think we must ditch, once and for all, the term "Art and Design". The mere act of using this expression obliterates centuries of human history. It's bad for Art. It's bad for Design.
For starters, Art has a very specific place in culture, regardless of the way you look at it. Its motivations and implications are absolutely un-conflatable with any other human activity. Its history, though intertwined with every other aspect of culture, is unique.
We should be aware that there is a huge semantic problem with the english word "Art", because it is used as a label for every pictorial expression, no matter how far removed it might be from actual "Art".
I know that some people might pick up the "semantic" thread and pull on it in, to try to unravel my argument. Well, there's another problem with saying "Art and Design": it stopped being used 20 years ago. The cool kids don't use it anymore. And given the fact that communication is based on convention, when you use a dialect of your own, nobody will understand you.
> The above difference occurs in say Graphic Design, in the difference
> between 'color theory' (type a) and 'the use of color theory by a human
> while designing' (type b), or in typography the difference between
> 'information about leading, font metrics, kerning and typefaces' (type a)
> and 'design activity involved in setting text so that when it is printed it
> feels like it has a clear information hierarchy and the page has even
> greyness in the body blocks' (type b).
Again, this is a type of remark that shows you are not focusing your efforts in understand what design is, and how it is possible that something like "Communication Design" can exist.
I don't see any problem in the existence of:
—Aerospatial design
—Architectural design
—Communication design
—Engineering design
—Fashion design
—Graphic design
—...
The problem you seem to have in understanding communication design is probably related to the immaterial nature of communication. That's what is DESIGNED in communication design: meaning (as it was already pointed out by a few people in here).
And that type of work, i.e., design meaning, is done at a systemic level.
The example you tried shows you are reaching out to that systemic quality of design, but your puzzlement shows you didn't reach it.
You can take comfort in the fact that you are not alone in this puzzlement.
Great minds before you already showed that same failure to understand the interconnectedness of matter and information that renders communication possible.
Saussure and Peirce, for instance. They couldn't come to grips with it.
But that was 120 years ago. Shall we move on?
Best regards,
==================================
Carlos Pires
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Design & New Media MFA // Communication Design PhD Student @ FBA-UL
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