A manifesto is a declaration of intent — often the intent to bring radical change to the world. Throughout history, many art movements have written manifestos, and it’s always a sign that things have gotten real.
OBELISK – Art Manifestos Defining new realities
TOPIC
Graphic design was in its infancy in the early 20th Century, and the artists and designers of the avant-garde were laying the foundation for the field amidst worldwide upheaval and technological and social change. Like the artists and designers of the Avant-Garde, we as designers are called to address some of these same issues: the nature of communication, globalization, gender politics, body politics, and the representation of power. Add to that a worldwide pandemic, economic and racial inequity, and climate change. We have a lot going on to drive the passion for change.
After reading the manifestoes F.T. Marinetti, “Manifesto of Futurism”; Aleksandr Rodchenko, “Who We Are: Manifesto of the Constructivist Group”; and El Lissitzky, “Our Book” found in our main text Graphic Design Theory: Readings From the Field by Helen Armstrong on pages 19-31 and reviewing the videos from the Week 4 Agenda, complete the following.
Compose your Design Manifesto in the style of Avant-Garde artists and designers. Be poetic/abstract, but clear enough that we can get the idea or re-imagine passages from the manifestos that we’ve read. You might also look at other manifestoes for inspiration, such as A Designer’s Code of Ethics, or Manifestos: A Manifesto: The 10 traits of effective public declarations, or this collection of Design Manifestos.
Please include the following in your Manifesto…
- Use short declarative statements in a list to define the philosophy, intentions, and requirements for the designer of today.
- State the social, political, and ethical ideas that are important to you and necessary for a designer to consider.
- Identify the technological concerns that designers must embrace or reject.
Share & Comment
Add your manifesto in a comment in this Discussion post by Wednesday evening. If you prefer to create visual or video of your Manifesto, you can link to a URL.
Using a nested comment, comment on at least one of your colleagues’ Manifestos.
Need some inspiration?
Check out The First Things First Manifesto — 2020 Edition for an example of a recent manifesto signed by designers from all over the world. We will look at the previous versions in a future class.
For those interested in climate change, check out climatedesigners.org
Your manifesto can be brief and to the point. Or longwinded, wild, and wordy. Add yours below!
Beliefs are something that range in a variety.
Beliefs can be involved in a spiritual, religious, political, environmental, or even cultural way.
Beliefs can also run through closed practices, family traditions, and your own practice.
In today’s society, the world is very closed off. Though more diverse, a large group of people around the world still have a hard time comprehending that not everyone carries the same beliefs, the same views.
There are arguements based on religions. People shame different cultures. Different holidays. The beliefs different countries have around certain colors. People can’t accept that not everyone is the same.
Everyone has an identity. Each identity has different characteristics. Each identity carries different beliefs.
We, as a world, need to learn to be more accepting. There is always room for progress.
Imdepending doom is near.
Or is it?
It is time for us designer’s to start striking back at big corporations. They hold so much power, yet are also the main contributors responsible for fossil fuels.
Every day we see advertisements aimed at the average person about what they can do to help reduce their own carbon footprint or other ways in which we can start saving our planet.
But, we say no to this idea, we believe that the average person isn’t a huge factor in the ever warming temperature of our planet. We need to start focusing our voices towards big corporations and even our own government!
But, how can we do that? How can us as designer’s help enact change about the global warming of our planet? Is it possible to help alter the course of our fate?
Indeed, it is. Here’s what we must do in order to preserve the human race:
Our ecosystem will be in peril if no action is implemented. Our planet is getting hotter and hotter each year. Polar caps are melting, forest fires are becoming more frequent and even drought which proves to be a serious consequence as a result of this. This message should be taken seriously. The matter of this issue is urgent and if we don’t start changing we may really see our own doom.
We as designer’s hold so much power in the world. As I say all the time, we wouldn’t be here without design. Design is universal and once people start understanding that a little more, then they will know of our power!
Piano is the worldwide language; everyone, regardless of language, can enjoy it. It is a type of emotion. We get a feeling of serenity, peace, and relief.
We see piano music everywhere, whether it’s in a movie, a performance, a song by your favorite singer, or in the shopping center. Because piano may be played in a variety of ways, there is high pitched piano as well as gentle played piano. It radiates elegance.
Piano has been popular for a long time since anyone can play it. Many individuals like playing the piano because of its many benefits. According to research, it helps people in better time management. It also helps to reduce stress and anxiety. As we all know, many people nowadays suffer from anxiety and stress. Playing the piano has a great impact on the brain! Music, according to studies, activates the brain in a way that no other activity does..
You can listen to piano with anyone, even if you don’t speak the same language. Also, even if you don’t understand the language used in a movie, you can grasp the emotion conveyed by the music, which is why the piano is so worldwide. If you travel to another country, you can attend a piano performance. The piano is a form of communication.
Piano is becoming less appealing to people nowadays.The old classical music is being drifted away by the new generation. Piano is expensive so it’s hard for people to buy one which is why people are less likely to play pianos nowadays.
Time is something that we’ve made up.
But we use it to figure out how long something may take. Or to schedule something.
The hours of work one puts into their creativity.
Takes time to plan out an idea. Takes time to put it together. Takes time to complete it. The more time we have, the better something may be. The better we can strategically think to put an idea, or thought, into work that can either come to life or wow an audience.
Time is weird, especially when the pandemic happened in 2020. It seemed as if time stopped, for some it might’ve moved a bit fast. The entire year gone by so fast. But with that year, many designers and artists had time. More time to work on their creative mind, create creative things, come up with creative new ideas.
Time, it never stops. The creative new ideas never stop. New styles, new programs to create. New ways to create. It never stops. The world never stopped creating. It only got better. Maybe even easier. More tools, supplies, new tools, new supplies. We should appreciate how these things are more accessible to us as designers.
But it is a little hard to appreciate, when you see five other people, creating similar works to what you’ve created. So how to fix that? We keep trying to think of new ways to articulate what we want the world to see. We have an audience in the palm of our hands, from that little rectangular device that gives us access to wider audiences. Everyone can be a critic. It’s better to have so many thoughts, rather than asking your mom what she thinks of your work.
We have messages we need to get out there. What is trending? That’s what people wanna see. What’s your take on this protest of human rights? What is going on in the world? We have that power to show them. We have a platform and creative mind to catch their attention. Get the word out there.
Social media is a wildfire. One post can spread across the world. The world will be on fire with the work you so hesitantly put out there. Because you know there will be good, and there will be bad comments. But all critique, is welcomed. Own your work. Make your mark.
We intend to use our minds to make some type of change. Whether it is to inform, or make someone smile. Most of the time, it is in favor of what’s right and what’s wrong in this world. With time, technology will continue to develop, the way our world’s age continues to grow older.
Technology can either make things easier, more efficient, more clean and clear. Or it can cause frustration, or lack of originality. Because imagine you spent hours on a program creating something, only for the entire thing to crash and be unsaved. A nightmare is what you call that. Or you post something you made, and suddenly everyone else who knows how to use the same programs, starts to make what you made.
You need to move as much as time moves. Don’t ever stop.
Time. Technology. Change. Things that don’t ever really stop.
The part of your manifesto that really stuck with me was “You need to move as much as time moves. Don’t ever stop.” This is such a heavy phrase to internalize because, on one hand, it acknowledges the simple fact that if you don’t constantly strive for greatness you will be left behind, but on another, it almost ensures your spot in the never-ending moshpit of critique, comparison, & competition. There is no time to rest, no time to breathe, no time to think, only time to do. Being in a creative career is much more difficult than many believe, but all we can do is strive to be like time… & keep moving forward.
With so much power companies hold, power is retained to those who understand the power they hold against these companies.
As a designer, advertising holds most power in business due to the lasting impact it has on consumers and reputations.
Designers must embrace that technology is a privilege that is made possible through constant money spending that changes significantly and limits ownership, unlike that of traditional tools.
It can be very easy to get lost financially and mentally in a world where technology becomes crucial to our success and value.
One can maintain and increase their value through staying grounded in what they know and not what they need to know until they are truly able to be effective in being self-sufficient when technology isn’t available or becomes problematic at certain stages of the art process.
We live in an age where we can easily feel discouraged but this allows us to reflect and feel more inspired to keep going.
Although, the more that we rely on technology, the easier it is to get taken advantage of by tech companies and terms of service.
Lastly, technology will keep advancing but we do not need to advance with it, we can be realistic about growing into the requirements that will and or are demanded of us as professionals instead of forcing ourselves to adapt to the world around us as soon as possible.
We have the control of our own narrative. As designers nobody can change that, through our work we have the power. We are the now. We can express ourselves in anyway possible and we can get people talking no matter the circumstance whether it’s negative or positive but we can get people talking because we have that much of an impact.
Health Insurance can be explained through design as it can be free for all. People can relate to it because there’s a lot of people who dont have access to health insurance because of the financial situations. Different types of designs can be made through that type of presentation which can catch an eye.
As designers we have that type of power. At this point and time we have the ability to make that type of change and it is now better than ever to do so.
Design is the process of solving problems, and design does not give the right answer and wrong answer to every question. So, it is important to keep a good mind and keep exploring.
Design and people’s lives are closely related, and design solves real-life problems for people. Therefore, design needs to be considered for the benefit of individuals, society and the world at large. The design should reflect care, consideration and respect for each individual and environment.
Technology is only a tool to assist in the design process, make technology work for creative expression. We use technology and not technology uses us.
Change has always been the norm, and it’s important for designers to remain true to their original aspiration under constant change.
One of the most beautiful parts about people is the fact that we are all unique, we have our own beliefs, different background, hardships, and joys.
What makes a designer different from the rest is that they are unique in their experiences and they should show that by making their designs personal to their beliefs or style.
Yet this uniqueness is something that isn´t always celebrated or accepted because people like to believe that the way they view the world is better or is “the right way´´
Therefore design doesn´t have to be understood by everyone.
It should be effective but not everyone will accept the message.
With the internet information spreads so fast, we have to be prepared to accept that and be able to take criticism and block out noise.
Designers are able to see things others don´t and express in a way others wouldn´t think of before.
Designers are able to communicate with an audience but we should decide which messages the public needs to receive and which are harmful.
Design is meant to help to solve problems but it can also help to create problems.
Change and improvement are something we should strive for. The moment we stop striving for it our work becomes stale and repetitive.
Technology can equal easy, which is something people like to have.
Technology can create new ideas for the younger generation which in turn they can change the future.
We want easy and fast so we can move on to the next step of our daily activities when it comes to dealing with money and or activities.
Technology has the ability to help those individuals who are not able to help themselves, getting them smoothly through their daily life.
Design is a part of technology, which is everywhere from your phone, laptop, computer, TVs, cars, etc.
Design can make that piece of technology more enjoyable for an individual when life is getting too much to handle.
Design has the power to draw people in, making them think more about their choices, from small things to large things.
Technology is great… for people who have grown up with it. Unfortunately for people who aren’t so tech savvy, it makes it harder for them to really do much. However, for designers, I believe they adapt to technology as it evolves. It’s a necessity for them to be able to use it sometimes.
The New Designer – Damani Douglas
It’s not enough to just be a designer anymore.
Papyrus & hieroglyphs to digital screens & type-setting machines,
We no longer compete solely with graphic designers, we compete with every person with an adobe subscription, Filmora installed, Canva loaded, Midjourney synthesized, or plainly, internet & a laptop…
The rat race has doubled, No. Quintupled in contestants. All itching to bag their next few meals as they sprint marathons through darkness & uncertainty. Each step more refined than the last. Incessantly lusting over creative success in a cesspool of volatility.
What will you do? Run haphazardly along a single track, chasing a dated dream only to die as hastily as you lived? Or take another path? In fact, Take on another two, or three. Master them. Then mesh them into something beyond notable, something that fills you with pride and others with awe.
Observe your fellow contestants, specifically the ones that rise the ranks and distinguish themselves from the mischief. Take note of their steps, their focus, and their wide array of skills. Notice the gaps in your 10-mile plan, & don’t strive to merely evolve with the times. MAKE the times EVOLVE.
Learn:
Typography,
Photography,
Illustration,
Animation,
Painting,
Film making,
U.I.,
A.I.,
Digital, then print,
Charcoal & ink,
Stylus & pencil,
Learn eye & ear.
Then, once you have amassed a thorough understanding of many mediums of visual communication, blur the lines that separate each.
Combine a few, discard others,
make countless mistakes & build on them,
redefine what works, repurpose what hasn’t,
break the rules & rewrite your own,
Br e a k your m i n d, & see what comes to light as you pick up the pieces.
Now, finally, you will have something the world has never seen.
You will have found the formula for your art, a focused frenzy that is now your design,
A masterpiece of your choosing & your creation.
Then, after a short reprieve from the fervor of your mind, the hardship of your craft & the heavy sacrifice of your time, you pick up the pen… and do it again.
Languages, cultures, entire civilizations often get completely forgotten as new technologies, new ways of living, new ways of communicating, etc., emerge. The amount of knowledge, culture, and languages flushed down the drain is ridiculous. Very little is done to preserve a few of them but we shouldn’t be pleased with preserving the bare minimum. We send messages to outer space in hopes that one day we can communicate with other intelligent lives and we worry about the meaning of messages from today getting lost in the future but fail to carry on with a lot of the rich resources from our past. We are gradually letting technology dictate our practices and even replacing the human touch in our works when it should be used as a tool instead.