Armstrong, Helen. Graphic Design Theory: Readings From the Field, Princeton Architectural Press, 2009. Pages 19-31.

Questions / Prompts

  • What common views do these artists/designers share and where might they disagree?
  • Which elements of these texts remain relevant for the present, and which elements are problematic? 
  • Using visual examples from the Futurists and Constructivists, present the ways that political and economic power can be expressed through visual design.
  • How has the communication process changed since the early 20th Century, specifically with regard to “feedback” and “noise”?

The common views these artist shares are that machinery and technology are both the rise and downfall of design. The artists all strived to reject the old or traditional methods of designing in favor of bringing in new methods.  These artists are different because Marinetti manipulated the form of letters to how he wanted them in any shape or length. Rodchenko and Lissitzky’s style was more basic, sticking to geometric letters, flat colors, and basic shapes.

What’s relevant today is that design changes because technology changes. Marinetti and Rodchenko made use of new technologies such as printing to mass-produce their designs. Today’s digital technology allows artists to make unlimited simple or complex designs like movie posters. Marinetti saying that destruction was good for cleaning the world, death, and misogyny are problematic. Rodchenko saying “technology is the mortal enemy of art” is problematic because without technology, designs couldn’t be made, and no one would know about graphic designs.

In A Tumultuous Assembly, Marinetti designs this to represent Italians celebrating a victory in World War I. The figure made out of bold letters seems to blow a trumpet. Lissitzy’s Best the Whites with the Red Wedge was propaganda for the soviet union. The white circle represents the anti-communist white party while the red triangle is the Soviet Union.

Communication has changed drastically because of the internet and smartphones. We’re able to quickly leave feedback on others’ designs from any device or text them. “Noise” can occur but video chat and facetime can resolve that.

Annotations:

  1. https://hyp.is/nyxFihphEeyRhCsgBHVOxA

2. https://hyp.is/kPde1BpfEey-MPM74sJPWA

3. https://hyp.is/w_JjFhpeEeySL_8gFJcO0w

4. https://hyp.is/3vek1BZqEeyPFiNbI4Rhow

5. https://hyp.is/gVb_HhZqEeyoP-Oww9YUcA