Armstrong, Helen, Graphic Design Theory: Readings From the Field, Princeton Architectural Press, 2009, Pages 9-15.

Response

According to the reading “Graphic Design Theory: Readings from the Field by Helen Armstrong, there are many roles in which design should play in society. For starters, it should be used as a means to producing content and establishing an identity. According to Armstrong she also states “theoretical discussions that engage both our past and our present.” Meaning, we should take the practices that were taught and learned from both the past and present and to start incorporating them within our own design practices. What distinguishes the fields of design from other creative occupations is the outlets in terms of their work. Although, we as designers share a common goal, the means for our work are expressed differently through our audience. For example, web designers, advertisers, product designers all create work intended for their clients, but many can be perceived differently by others. Designers should start to concern themselves with unsolvable theoretical questions so that it can better help them navigate and research more design practices within their own work. As always, design is ever evolving, so it’s common that designers can run into issues that can expand outside of the design rulesets.

Technology plays a huge role in design by helping people explore other designer’s works. Back then, there weren’t any social media outlets in which designers can share their work. But in today’s era, many media such as Instagram, Twitter, etc can help spread both influence and notoriety towards your work. There are several issues facing designers today, but one thing that can pose an issue would be stealing other designer’s work. It seems as if many people doesn’t want to be original, so they decide to completely steal people’s designs and identity. Some things today that designers have to do is to start watermarking their work, which many people believe is tedious. A designer is responsible for solving these problems because if they didn’t have a way to protect their work, all would be for nought. Copycats within the world of design would grow and bank off of the work you put out, therefore losing you both money and the possibility of being recognized.

Charlene Sequiera “Plastic Bag Mandela Project”

Charlene Sequiera is a NYC climate designer who specializes in informing people about the state of our planet through her unique projects. The one above titled “The Plastic Bag Mandela Project” is a project in which she reuses plastic bags and turns them into art. It also helps to educate the masses that dumping plastic bags into our rivers and oceans only worsens the pollution within our environment. There are other ways in which we can better utilize plastic bags and its usages within our city. One thing about design today is the powerful tool that is social media. Artists and designers today are able to use it to showcase their own work or to inform people through different channels.

Avant-Garde has huge potential within the future. Since there’s many discourse happening within the country, there’s going to be a huge rise in these movements. Some examples that can spark could be centered on climate change, political diversity, and even gun reform.