A manifesto is a declaration of intent â often the intent to bring radical change to the world. Throughout history, many art movements have written manifestos, and itâs always a sign that things have gotten real.
OBELISK – Art Manifestos Defining new realities
Overview
In class we reviewed manifestos from artists-writers-designers from the early 20th century up to the present. These designers aimed to supplant previous conventions and build new world orders. Consider how political and economic power can be expressed through graphic design and how mass communication can influence society.
Compose your Design Manifesto!
Compose your Design Manifesto in the style of of past 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 your just read.
For inspiration, review the manifestos and resources we looked at in class:
- A Designer’s Code of Ethics
- Manifestos: A Manifesto: The 10 traits of effective public declarations
- Collection of Design Manifestos from Design Manifestos
- Art Manifestos from Art History Project
Please include the following in your Manifesto…
- Use short declarative statements in a list (or whatever form that works for you) 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.
- NOTE: If you prefer to create an illustrated or video Manifesto, please do!
Share & Comment
Add your manifesto in a comment in this post by Wednesday evening. If you prefer to create visual or video of your Manifesto, you can link to a URL, image, or video.
Using a nested comment, comment on at least one of your colleagues’ Manifestos.
Designer Manifesto:
a. Stay ethical
b. Design with purpose
c. Seek knowledge, adapt, and grow
d. Be fearless but thoughtful
e. Make technology your partner
f. Be open to change
g. Build bridges, not walls
h. Use ai to inspire you, not control you.
i. Try to make designs inclusive for all
A) Be Bold and not dull
B) Be Strong and not weak
C) Be wise and not foolish
D) Be Creative and not lazy
E) Be Fearless and not fearful
F) Be consistent and not inconsistent
G) Be calm and not rough
H) Be the best and not the worst
I) Be the striver and not the Cryer
A. Have a clear mind
B. Take the time to understand what you are doing
C. Make decisions that better you
D. Research helps us understand why things matter
E. think about the process
F. donât be a perfectionist
G. make a lot of thumbnail sketches to help filter your ideas
H. Remember to take breaks.
I. It’s better to work with a fresh brain.
J. Let your ideas run free.
Devote your life to whatâs beautiful, not to whatâs ugly. Time and energy are limitedâdonât waste them on anger, sadness, or jealousy. Lifeâs too short for negativity.
Leverage AI as a tool, not a replacement. Emphasize human creativity, emotion, and ethics in automated processes.
Bring personal experiences and cultural insights into your work. Design is richer when itâs authentic and diverse.
Value privacy. Avoid data harvesting or manipulative practices that infringe on personal freedoms.
Ask why and for whom before every project. Meaningful design starts with critical thinking.
A. Research
B. Give credit where credit is due
C. write down your ideas
D. failing is part of the process
E. keep an open mind
F. Don’t be afraid of receiving feedback
G. Take time to reflect on your ideas
H. No one is perfect
I. Anything can be an inspiration but don’t always rely on it
A- Stay confident, Never loose hope.
B- Learn how to say no, with grace.
C- Be open to every opportunity.
D- Stay humble, always learn.
E- It is never too late.
F- Nothing is impossible if you make it happen.
G- Embrace failure as part of the process.
H- Stay true to your vision.
sign manifesto
A. Always carry a pen.
B. learn to have an open mind you donât know what will find its way in.
C. Be honest, but also be kind about it.
D. Be mindful and respectful always
F. Learn to step away and give yourself a break
G. Write it out or draw it out ,sometimes the idea needs to leave our head
F. Be helpful, sometimes helping someone else might help solve your own problem
G. Ask for feedback there might be something you missed.
H. Say hi, sometimes people are just as shy as you are, also connecting with others can help you think in new ways
I. know youâre worth.
I promise to always remember why I started this journey
I promise to always leave a bit of my emotions in my design
I promise to use AI as makeup and not plastic surgery.
I promise to uplift the ones starting their journey and give voice to the ones who are forced to remain silent.
I promise to always discover new ways to love design.
I promise to expand my cultural creative bank and pay homage to all the beautiful cultures I am blessed to explore.
I promise to always use a pencil first.
I promise to never delete my work.
I promise to never let money be the main reason.