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 that passion for change.
After reading the manifestoes F.T. Marinetti, “Manifesto of Futurism” and Aleksandr Rodchenko “Who We Are: Manifesto of the Constructivist Group” found in our main text Graphic Design Theory: Readings From the Field by Helen Armstrong and reviewing the videos from the Week 3 Agenda, complete the following.
Compose your Design Manifesto in the style of Avant-Garde artists and designers. This exercise will also help you to start thinking about your research project and what matters to you; what drives you. 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.
Originally I did not create my manifesto specifically for design, I made it more broad. I wanted it to be able to apply to life overall.
To be free is to see with your truest eye, to believe in things that put you in a positive space, and to partake in what’s real. And with this is declare:
Jennell Thomas
I focused on dark patterns and deceptive design.
I have been learning about dark patterns and deceptive design in some of my other classes as well. I think it was a really interesting focus for a manifesto and a super important topic to learn about as a designer.
I agree with more mistakes, more growth, and less is more. Adding more stuff to make it look better is actually the opposite.
1. To think and decide for self.
2. To be open to (be) inspiration from (to) all things
3. Reflect on the past and seek refinement
4. Always being open to engaging in feedback
5. To capture experiences and essences
6. Learn to use tools and technology as they continue to evolve
7. Observe and listen internally and externally!
8. To combine photo and type in a defined aesthetic
9. Transferring skills between mediums.
10. Become the change you wish to see, and beyond…