Overview
For this week’s reading and discussion be sure to review the section on Authorship & the Social Responsibility Movement of the New Millennium in the Week 12 Agenda.
Let’s take a look at Rick Poynor’s 2021 Eye on Design essay The Evolving Legacy of Ken Garlandās First Things First Manifesto, examine the later versions in 2000, 2014, and 2020, and consider how technology and graphic authorship have influenced social responsibility in design.
Instructions
Following the instructions below, read and annotate the text with your classmates in our Hypothesis group. We will not be writing reading responses this week, but rather adding comments and peer feedback to this post.
1. Open the readings
In a new tab open the essay The Evolving Legacy of Ken Garlandās First Things First Manifesto. For reference, open the original āFirst Things Firstā from 1964 and the later versions in 2000, 2014, and 2020.
2. Enable Hypothesis
The reading links above will automatically open Hypothesis. Login to your account and select our group (IMPORTANT!) from the dropdown to make sure your annotations and highlights will be recorded in the group. See Using Hypothesis for details.
3. Consider these questions.
Here are the questions to which you should respond in this reading discussion:
- When you compare the original version of FTF from 1964 with the later versions in 2000, 2014, and 2020, is there a central message/call to designers that hasn’t changed?
- What are the authors of the manifesto rejecting in the design field?
- What stood out to you in the newest version of the First Things First manifesto, FTF 2020?
- How did technology affect the authorship of the ‘First Things First’ manifesto over the decades?
4. Read & Annotate.
Consider the questions/prompts listed above. Start to formulate the answers to these prompts while you practice close reading of the essay with annotations. This will be part of your grade. Share at least 3 annotations in the Hypothesis group, including your questions, definitions, and ideas with your classmates. Add the tags: Social Responsibility and Discussion Week 12 to your annotations.
When you annotate, be sure to define or break down any words or concepts that you do not understand.
5. Draft your Comments.
In your Research Journal, add the links to The Evolving Legacy of Ken Garlandās First Things First Manifesto by Rick Poynor in Eye on Design, the original āFirst Things Firstā from 1964 by Ken Garland, and the later versions in 2000, 2014, and 2020.
Compose your thoughts about the questions/prompts above.
6. Comment and provide feedback
Add at least 5 developed comments to this Discussion post. Avoid comments like, “Yes, I agree.” Provide details on what specifically you agree with and add value to this Discussion with a follow-up question or additional observations.
Due Date(s)
Your comments and follow-up feedback on the reading discussion are due Wednesday, 11:59 pm before our next Thursday class.
Resources
More info
- Tutorials > Using Hypothesis
- Assignments > Research Journal
- Tutorials > Posting & Commenting
Texts
- The Evolving Legacy of Ken Garlandās First Things First Manifesto by Rick Poynor
- āFirst Things Firstā from 1964
- Later versions in 2000, 2014, and 2020.
The first things first manifesto has had several changes throughout the years but I would say that one message that has never changed is that designers focus more on doing commercial work or other projects but we should also spend time using those skills to make a positive impact. I think that with each update the rejection of things does update with the time that it was updated. For the most part, it’s to do commercial work for companies that have a negative impact on people and to only do that with your skills. What stood out to me about the 2020 version was perhaps how relevant it felt compared to the other versions. I do think they are relevant but they didn’t have the same feeling as 2020 because I can see currently what they are mentioning about the environmental issues and how we sometimes don’t realize that even the first things first because when it initially came out there was a specific main author Ken Garland with other designers who contributed. The 2020 first things first there were different designers but they were able to publish the first things first in many more languages so it’s more accessible they said the document in living things and that they had a google doc where others could add their thoughts to and contribute which ads more contributors so it feels more like everyone because it isn’t a specific person.
Annotations:
https://hyp.is/Bp8KZH88Ee2z0LO12Sz76g/eyeondesign.aiga.org/why-ken-garlands-first-things-first-manifesto-keeps-getting-updated/
https://hyp.is/5lVPtH89Ee267HfomkNQKg/eyeondesign.aiga.org/why-ken-garlands-first-things-first-manifesto-keeps-getting-updated/
https://hyp.is/KritCn89Ee2fEVt6bJSxrA/eyeondesign.aiga.org/why-ken-garlands-first-things-first-manifesto-keeps-getting-updated/
The central message I believe that hasnāt changed between all the versions of FTF is the message of communicating problems in this world. However, while one might talk about climate change, the other might talk about racial justice issues. This still is sending the message that we need to change what is happening in this world. The same way these manifestos have āmutatedā, the world changes as the years go by. It also continues to include Kenās wish as ānot to take the fun out of lifeā. The authors of the manifesto are rejecting the hypocrisy of people that are vested in the security of the stock market, privilege and the s\tenure system, to be speaking as prophets. Why speak against something that they still involve themselves with. What stood out the most as soon as I opened the FTF 2020 version was the change in design of how it is read. The black background and white text was a huge change in how they represented this newer version. Technology affected the authorship of First things first manifesto over the decades in the way that it has provided a huge source for designers and creative technologists. The new manifestos were launched online with a newer look and clear change in design, making it easier for people to view and think about.