Author: Jasmine Domena (Page 2 of 2)

What stood out to me the most is the idea that society is dematerializing. When I think of today’s society currently, I think we are the most materialistic we could possibly be. From what I see we seem to value items and object more than anything. However, according to El Lissitzky’s manifesto, it turns out that we are dematerializing.

In Lissitzky’s manifesto it states, “Present indications are that this basic invention can be expected from the neighboring field of collotype. This process involves a machine that transfers the composed type-matter onto a film, and a printing machine that copies the negative onto sensitive paper. Thus the enormous weight of type and the bucket of ink disappear, and so here again we also have dematerialization.” What this example is explaining is how one task that used to take multiple steps and objects has now lessened due to society evolving, and new technology forming that removes an extra step. A modern day example would be like 2 in 1 shampoo where instead of two different bottles, one shampoo and one conditioner, now you have one bottle that contains both. This idea related to an early statement made in the same manifesto, “The amount of material used is decreasing, we are dematerializing, cumbersome masses of material are being supplanted by release energies.”

This idea of dematerializing reminds me about a part of the reading from Assignment 1b. How it was discussed that designers are now prosumers. This term means that they are both producer and consumer. This makes another 2 in 1 scenario where society seems to be trying to make things easier for themselves and lessen the steps of any task possible. In the case of this week’s reading, using advancements in technology to simplify every day task by dematerializing the old routine. 

    When I usually think of language my first instinct is spoken and written language. While reading I was reminded of other factors that also contribute to language such as signs and images. Images being very similar to hieroglyphics. Most signs and images seem to start off as universal but then slowly start having multiple meanings depending on the country you reside in.

    In the excerpt it discusses the differences between the standard isotypes for male and female. What I found funny and interesting is how it addressed that those two isotypes are most commonly seen for the restroom to identify which is male and which is female. However, they still appear standing instead of for instance sitting on a toilet. Yet even though the figures are standing it is still universally understood that behind the door is a bathroom. 

The excerpt continues on how every other isotype by default uses the male unless there is a second person. This person would then be the female and the female would be providing a service. This reminded me about how sexist language can be. This factor is really similar to spanish. How a group of boys is ellos and a group of girls is ellas but a group of boys and girls is given the masculine form ellos. You would think language would be extremely specific but it appears that it really isn’t and is up to persuasion and perception just as much as an abstract piece of art.

Technology has greatly shaped and molded design into something different. It changed the role of designers for they are now “prosumers.” A prosumer is a term Dmitri Siegel uses in his blog entry on Design Observer. What he does with this term is merge the word producer and consumer. This term is used to describe designers now because now designers are now in charge of design, manufacture, and development.

    Designers use to just design the product and the next step goes on to someone else but now with technology this middle man has been cut out of the equation. It relates to the ideology of why have someone else do it for you when you can easily do it yourself, with new technology basically being the definition of convenience.Technology is basically everywhere now and there’s an app or program for just about anything. All of these different softwares put new tools into the hands of designers.

    Technology is also pushing designers to produce work that contains more different content. Before work would most create work for successful businesses and aesthetic practices. However now it is becoming common to also see the created works that contain contents relating to social justice. Content is slowly evolving to relate to designers’ new audiences. The digital world and its culture causes designers to rethink and adapt their designs so their message can come across to the new audience. This means that designers learn new techniques and gain new tools to create new different forms of work to adapt to this change in culture and society.

Here is the link to my very awkward video
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yAa0vvZ9-py93EUD15bqqGBUmKbn9UZB/view?usp=sharing