Colleagues
I agree with Victor that the list should remain intact.
As one of the 'silent majority' I have followed the discussions of the list for the best part of a decade. I have been confused, fascinated, in awe and occasionally frustrated but, throughout have found the discourse stimulating and, importantly, I have learned from it. I suspect that I share this with many subscribers who, like myself, are engaged in designing and design education - some at undergraduate, others at postgraduate level and many, like me at both levels.
While PhD should remain the primary focus, the ethos of education is fostered through generous interaction between the broad range of backgrounds, knowledge, experience and attitudes of all subscribers. Those who maintain the core contributions are to be heralded but an increase in the number of contributors from the list could be generated through occasional contextualisation of responses that acknowledges that inclusivity through moderation - as in tutor/student interaction - can elicit fresh contributions and, importantly, could get many who may feel intimidated by the cut and thrust of the debate, involved.
For the first time in those many years, I felt a resonance of British parliament in the mails that went beyond principles to the point of confrontation. In this flurry, responses to fresh contributions were, at curt, and not in the spirit that is customary.
On this mild summer day towards the end of my summer vacation it took more than my usual interest to summon up the energy to make this point but I felt that, as has been suggested by Ken, amongst others, that the occasional voice from the wings can help sustain and develop the community.
Best Wishes
John McMillan
Reader
School of Art & Design
University of Ulster at Belfast
York Street
Belfast
Northern Ireland
BT15 1ED
T: +44 (0)28 9026 7304
F: +44 (0)28 9026 7356
E: [log in to unmask]
Skype: johnmcmillan6
John McMillan FISTD
Education Officer
International Society of Typographic Designers
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-----Original Message-----
From: PhD-Design - This list is for discussion of PhD studies and related research in Design on behalf of Victor Margolin
Sent: Tue 8/25/2009 7:19 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: don't break up the list
Colleagues:
I would like to speak in favor of keeping the PhD list intact. I
share some of Ann's frustrations and want to suggest that her
proposal is a call to all of us to rethink how to best use this list.
I think it can serve designers and researchers well when genuine and
valuable problems are discussed and when the discussion strands stay
on point to keep the conversation going. Often we get off on side
conversations that then assume center stage. If we can actually
discuss real problems of practice and research we can move both
endeavors along. The list is also valuable for sharing and seeking
information about events, research sources, and so forth.
Victor Margolin
--
Victor Margolin
Professor Emeritus of Design History
Department of Art History
University of Illinois at Chicago
935 W. Harrison St.
Chicago, IL 60607-7039
Tel. 1-312-583-0608
Fax 1-312-413-2460
website: www.uic.edu/~victor
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