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PHD-DESIGN  September 2014

PHD-DESIGN September 2014

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Subject:

Re: Most fields of Design was The (lack of?) design quality of academic paper formatting

From:

Gunnar Swanson <[log in to unmask]>

Reply-To:

PhD-Design - This list is for discussion of PhD studies and related research in Design <[log in to unmask]>

Date:

Sat, 13 Sep 2014 19:09:17 -0400

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João's original post mentioned meeting the "most basic standards of graphic design 101" and Terry reacted as if this means applying a set of arbitrary aesthetics that Terry assumes is frivolous (or, at best, some sort of tribal social signifier.)
 
First, a note: I was asked a question about the whole 101 thing a while ago that alerted me to my Amerocentrism so for anyone who doesn't get the reference, "101" isn't the Hollywood Freeway going out of downtown Los Angeles. Many US colleges used to number classes with three digit numbers. Freshman classes were 100 series, sophomore classes were 200 series, etc. Therefor, "English 101" is the first English class, to be followed by 102, with the first sophomore level class being English 201, etc.
 
Most US universities discovered that it is useful to have more numbers available so four-digit numbers reign. In the case of East Carolina University (where I teach), graphic design classes use "2" as the second digit to distinguish them from other areas in the School of Art & Design and there are no Freshman level graphic design classes so "graphic design 101" at ECU is actually art 2200.
 
I'm teaching art 2200 right now. (If you're curious what that entails, it's laid out fairly well at http://myweb.ecu.edu/graphicdesign/2200/ .) We've just started a project of designing and illustrating magazine spreads based on an assigned text.
 
On Sep 13, 2014, at 4:50 PM, Ken Friedman <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> The relevant issue is not whether the printed pages are “appealing,” “attractive,” or “beautiful.” These qualities are worth considering, but they are not central.
> 
> The relevant issue is whether the printed pages are legible, easy to read, and able to transmit the informational content to the reader.
 
In the case of my students' editorial spreads project, I tell them that they have several goals which might take them in different directions. They all come under the larger goal of having people read and appreciate the magazine article. So legible and easy to read are primary. That might steer them toward visually boring; after all, none of the students could tell me anything about the type or the design of the last novel they'd read. 

In the case of a magazine article, making it stop someone who is flipping through the magazine is essential so that argues against the pure boring approach. They need to start someone reading before they can encourage continuation of reading. 

Transmitting the informational content in that context also involves design that is appropriate to the subject plus illustrations that not only lure someone into reading but comment intelligently on the subject so that they are an asset--a part of the "informational content"--rather than (if you'll allow me the use of a still-highly-charged term) decoration. The author provided the text but the designer is responsible for a considerable amount of the subtext.

In the case of an academic journal, one can argue that readers are probably motivated. Nobody casually flips through Design Issues, waiting until a visual signal causes them to slow down enough to notice the article, at which point they think "Oh; wow; this must be an article about design!" So ease of reading might prevail over creating interest in reading. 

On the other hand, João mentioned conference materials like websites. A conference is a time when many people are overwhelmed by choices. Simply assuming that they are "serious" and motivated readers who do not need to be "pandered to" would seem unwise. Not only does the information need to be clear, it needs to be clear for people who are not necessarily in the position to pay close attention. In this sense, it may be a bit more like my students' magazine project than it would seem at first glance.

In any case, the subtext is vital. A speaker at a conference would not be received in the same way if she wore sandals and a tank top as she would if she dressed in a black academic/old designer uniform. I'm not claiming that either is somehow morally superior but it would be naïve to not notice the difference, not matter how un-visual a designer one might be.


Gunnar

Gunnar Swanson
East Carolina University 
graphic design program

http://www.ecu.edu/cs-cfac/soad/graphic/index.cfm
[log in to unmask]

Gunnar Swanson Design Office
1901 East 6th Street
Greenville NC 27858
USA

http://www.gunnarswanson.com
[log in to unmask]
+1 252 258-7006


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