Overview
Our first reading consists of an introduction to the text Graphic Design Theory: Readings From the Field, Armstrong, Helen, Princeton Architectural Press, 2009. Navigate to pages 6-7 to read “Why Theory? by Ellen Lupton.”
And we will also read a page from the text âExtra Boldâ by Ellen Lupton, Farah Kafei, and Jannifer Tobias.
Due Date(s)
- Add your reading response in a comment on this post the day before our next meeting. Follow the instructions below.
Instructions
NOTE: Prior to starting this assignment, complete the Week 2 Agenda tasks: setting up Hypothesis, create your Writing Portfolio, and review OpenLab Help> Commenting on a Site.
1. Open the reading.
In a new tab open the text Armstrong, Helen. Graphic Design Theory: Readings From the Field, Princeton Architectural Press, 2009. Navigate to pages 6-7 to read “Why Theory?” by Ellen Lupton.
In another tab, open this excerpt from âExtra Boldâ by Ellen Lupton, Farah Kafei, and Jannifer Tobias (Log in to OpenLab to view)
2. Enable Hypothesis.
Enable Hypothesis in your browser, login to your account and select our group COMD Theory Spring2024 Group (IMPORTANT!) from the dropdown to make sure your annotations and highlights will be recorded in the group. See Using Hypothesis for details.
HAVING TROUBLE accessing hypothes.is on your device? Add âhttps://via.hypothes.is/â to the start of any web address (URL) or use the Paste a Link feature.
Still, having trouble? Sometimes, the Adobe extension conflicts with the Hypothesis extension in Chrome.
3. Consider these questions/prompts
- What stood out to you in these two readings?
- What is your own definition of Design Theory?
- Why do you think studying Design Theory could be useful to you as a designer?
- Why do you think contributing your voice to the written discourse of the design field could be important? *You might also check out AIGA’s Eye on Design to discover what topics contemporary designers are exploring.
4. Read & Annotate.
Consider the questions/prompts listed above. Start formulating the answers to these questions while you practice close reading with annotations. Share at least 3 annotations in the Hypothesis group, including your questions, definitions, and ideas with your classmates. See Using Hypothesis for details.
Add the tags: Why Theory? and Reading Response 1 to your annotations.
5. Draft your Reading Response.
Write a draft of your 200-word response in your Writing Portfolio. Check for grammar/spelling errors using Google Docs spell-grammar check or Grammarly. Use the word count tool too. Add a numbered or bulleted list of links to at least (3) of your Hypothesis annotations. In Hypothesis, select the Share icon and copy the URL. (see Using Hypothesis > Share)
6. Add your Reading Response in a comment.
When ready, add a comment at the bottom of this post. Paste your reading response from your Writing Portfolio into the comment box. Adjust any formatting issues that may have occurred while pasting.
Resources
More info
- Tutorials > Using Hypothesis
- Assignments > Writing Portfolio
- OpenLab Help > Commenting on a Site
Texts
- “Introduction: Revisiting the Avant-Garde” from DesignOpenData
- âExtra Bold: A Feminist, Inclusive, Anti-racist, Nonbinary Field Guide for Graphic Designersâ by Ellen Lupton, Farah Kafei, and Jannifer Tobias
My response to the readings for Week 2 Agenda.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1shfkS1D-so1j90P2gfWEuLZAVnJ9QLzEpKBtSoZ0Whk/edit?usp=sharing
Hey Nick, it’s me Avar!
Interesting response. I wrote something completely different for my response as I felt the prompts were only suggestions to think about. I like how you just went straight forward into answering all the prompt questions. It shows you have your own ideas of what design theory is. I felt more conformable relating these issues to the text I just read and tried to base my reasoning on what I gathered. But still, nice and interesting responses you gave nonetheless.
Appreciate it!
When reading Graphic Design Theory, I realized that the main theory of why designers do what they do is create an atmosphere through their work, and that is the building of social connections through people, whether it is the clients or other designers as well. Being a Designer is about being socially aware and responsive to a point where we are able to learn and build off each other through criticism and talking through the situations. Through the communication between each other, a community tends to be built to understand each other more and learn to adapt to societies newest trends and styles, to bring their best foot forward. I know everyone is not an extrovert, and you don’t have to be but you have to at least try to talk to other designers to get another person’s point of view in order to get some tips and advice to improve your own work. Between the readings of Graphic Design Theory and Extra Bold, they share the same points that Graphic Design is a very social field that we use to experiment off each other and execute their work to connect with the clients. With this information I built off my own interpretation of Graphic Design Theory which is, designers coming together to build connections, and better their skills to create an influence through their work based on the client or their own ideals.
Sonali, I appreciate your interpretation of why we, as designers – even introverted designers, should engage in theoretical design discourse. You added some excellent annotations in the reading using Hypothesis. Would you mind sharing those as links in a nested reply to your comment? Check out Adrika’s comment below as a formatting suggestion.
Reading Response 1
Between the two readings, there was a large emphasis on being heard. Whether that was through writing or speaking, it was emphasized that just getting your voice out there was incredibly important. My definition of design theory is understanding the underlying tones and messages in the work we produce. We ask ourselves why we associate this color with a certain feeling or why a certain shape produces a certain type of reaction. Itâs the understanding of human behavior and psychology. Design theory substantiates our designs and creates a universal connection. I think of my knowledge of theory to be good, but it can always be improved. Iâd like to learn more about how meanings can differ from culture to culture and how it affects our communication. I briefly touched on the topic of the exclusivity of design in the western world in my annotations. The top designers always seem to have had access to more resources than others and are largely homogenous â the most successful design firm Pentagram is largely all white men and women. I donât think design should be gatekept behind a paywall or a lack of resources. Thatâs also why I believe itâs so important to lift other voices and create a more diverse culture within design.
Annotations
Wonderful, Adrika. The design field (including design theory/discourse) is changing. But it’s glacially slow. I call on COMD students to write about their work, processes, and experiences. Your and your peers’ writing should become the texts we read in this course!
Some of the thoughts you added in the annotations could be meaningfully added to your reading response here if you were inclined to copy and paste them. You’re welcome to include more than 200 words. I especially liked this one: “Designers specialize in the art of noticing. We train ourselves to recognize and create rather than sit there consuming. It is the ability to ask “why?” that often fuels the creativity within us.”
My week 2 response to reading 1
(Forewood Why Theory? & Extra Bold)
What stood out to you in these two readings?
The the readings of âWhy Theory?â the question âwhy?â stood out. Designers do not just draw or digitally create their work because itâs art or fancy; their creativity comes from deep research, being exposed to experience what the client or consumer wants. Ideas are form but placed under critique. Strategies are set in place so that each idea of segments are connect like a thread. Therefore, giving the question, why? Will give a definitive work. As for the reading, âExtra bold,â it was more precise with the process of inclusive design where designers are educated with the type of accessibility the diverse community as a form of interaction for them to get through their day. It is more connected to everyday lifestyle and basic needs required.
What is your own definition of Design Theory?
Design theory is a form of expressing and implementing ideas from the nonexistence to existence with the aid of extensive research based on background, history and social context.
Why do you think studying Design Theory could be useful to you as a designer?
Accepting failures, criticism and that not all ideas will flow to the end but can be picked up in different areas once seen fit.
Why do you think contributing your voice to the written discourse of the design field could be important? *You might also check out AIGAâs Eye on Design to discover what topics contemporary designers are exploring.
Collective Authorship
One who owns the copy rights of multiple authors under legal rights.
Universal Systems of Connection
I do not fully understand this phrase, but I guess itâs based on the different cultural, economic aspects where advertisements channel through to reach the people and connect with them through various mediums.
Social Responsibility
Social responsibility is a way of striving to act in a positive way that will impact society.
Hello everyone. Here’s the link to my first reading response. My ideas or placed within the google doc that I have set up:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1T_Byvf8SKuiMRou8xTPJ5QRBTA1EazwpfXNr5DBm1Ms/edit?usp=sharing
I don’t know if I could sum this up in 200 words but in layman’s terms, the whole idea behind graphic design theory is the identification of various elements in an image and explaining the significance behind them. Whether it’s by hand or with software graphic designers have a responsibility to communicate their ideas that not only inspire but inform to appeal to the masses be it in many cases anonymously, while also going outside of their line of expertise to draw inspiration in many cases from the world around them. As the book states design is everywhere but many people outside the graphic design field won’t pay attention to it there is a rhyme or reason to why certain designers throughout our world’s history chose to make certain choices they made and it’s important that many of them to feed off that information and criticism to adapt to the newest cultural trends and eventually repeat the cycle for the next generation of graphic designers. I don’t find the subject matter particularly interesting for me mainly because I have no real investment interest in becoming a graphic designer nor do I care about the history of it.
How Designing can be made just by a theory in your mind instead of cutting straight to the action.
Words of imagination that tell a story before being designed.
You get to use your mind more and see what your experience in life can create in its own world which can then end up somewhere big in the future.
Bringing a whole new idea to the table and not always worrying about turning back to old work.
A1: https://hyp.is/MNmTmsMAEe6LmtcEtw8cHQ/openlab.citytech.cuny.edu/spevackcomd3504sp24/extra-bold-theory-intro/
A2: https://hyp.is/UUIt1sMAEe65INv3Kkj8ZQ/openlab.citytech.cuny.edu/spevackcomd3504sp24/extra-bold-theory-intro/
A3: https://hyp.is/-MO_xMMBEe6GDbc-7RjcJQ/designopendata.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/graphicdesigntheory_helenarmstrong.pdf
While reading âWhy Theory?â and the excerpt from Extra Bold many things stood out to me and I felt that these passages reaffirmed my interest in Design Theory by collecting ideas that I had observed separately and tying them together. There is such an interesting niche here regarding how the world works and why; I feel like the deeper I delve into theory it’s like reading an episode of âHow itâs Madeâ for increasingly niche topics.
My understanding of Design Theory is that it focuses on the âwhyâ. Why is something a specific color or shape or why is one strategy more effective than another? It begins to tie in literature and context (Sometimes the curtains arenât just blue!) In that same vein we begin to expand what design theory is and what it means; not just to designers but to our audience. We move from neurological (what the human eye/brain is drawn to) into more sociological topics (who are we designing for?/what are we actually selling?) We begin to see more studied and curated responses from designers; designers who by building on theories from the past give these (relatively) new ideas (like inclusive design) structure.
An insight I gathered from the readings is that my voice (or my writings) are a relevant part of design discourse. While I myself find it hard to believe, by virtue of my unique circumstances I can bring something to the table that others mightâve not considered before. I think a crucial part of the thought process was learning that inclusive design isn’t just for people with different/unique traits, itâs by people with different/unique traits.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yb1j2bKN7zzbeXlsQE8VcXfai3s6tgUM5j2H9BaZzis/edit
The definition of âtheoryâ was a standout for me. I intuitively understand what theory is, but to put it in the context of design was interesting. My definition after having read it is the developed approach borne from historical context that informs the decisions we make as designers. Like any profession, learning the rules is the first step to finding an interesting way of breaking it. If I find any insights throughout the course of my career that I believe to meaningfully contribute to the wider design industry, I certainly would have an interest in voicing it.
Con’t in link
Excellent work, Luke! I especially enjoyed how you connected (and thought through) the adoption of electricity, the emerging technology of the time! And how that technology is now invisible and integrated into our everyday lives. I’d love to see you explore the ideas around “trust in technology” when we explore future topics.
When thinking about design theory, I immediately think about the why and the how; How do designers think of their designs? Why did a designer make their design a specific way? The design process has a heavy relation to design theory. In order to be a good designer, you need to have some knowledge on design history. Additionally, you need to have a sense of what other designers are working on. Itâs one of the points I took away from the reading. The best designers understand what kind of climate theyâre designing in. Theyâre able to use their previous experiences and current environment to create their best work. Iâm hoping that in the near future Iâll be able to use the experiences of my world as inspiration for some great design work.
Now I’m really curious about how we’re going to see all the ways “the design process has a heavy relation to design theory”. I think you’re right. I think after this class we will think we were culture babies before, lol. What you say about design “climate” is daunting right now. Design has been used for such bad political purposes. Maybe we can be agents of positive change. And yes, use our experiences as inspiration!
What stood out to me in the two readings were questions of who gets to decide what makes for good aesthetic, what is considered beautiful, moral, or wicked, or ugly. It was in the intro, but I find myself thinking about it. Who gets to choose?
As I state in the annotation:
It is essential to question what we see as authority just because it looks official. The internet has opened information and platform access to many more people. What that looks like in the future is literally up to us. We can have a great effect as visual artists and strategic thinkers on how culture grows. What will “inclusive” mean 20 years from now. Will we still be fighting the same fights?
https://hyp.is/SWx5gMg9Ee6kCAv-z8rKzQ/openlab.citytech.cuny.edu/spevackcomd3504sp24/extra-bold-theory-intro/
My definition of design theory is the body of thought regarding design in varying contexts over time and often defined by place. It explores the agreed upon signs and symbols of cultures, places them in political, social, historical, economic, even spiritual, narratives and asks hard questions, like âwhat else could it mean?â, and, âwhat is âgoodâ or âbadâ design, and who decides?â.
Studying Design Theory will help move my visual and verbal communication into a more sophisticated place. Instead of appearing naive for missing the reference, I will know what is meant, or at least where to look to find out.
I hope to write something that could change how people look at something, or that might help influence how something is discussed. Thatâs either a tall order, or a gentle, small one. Weâd have to first define âpeopleâ, and then discuss what is meant by âinfluenceâ. I mean it with a smile. I am really looking forward to hashing these things out with the group.
Regarding Armstrongâs Why Theory, I looked up some of the parties mentioned in the intro, but also Armstrongâs history since the book was written in 2006. Sheâs been busy!
https://hyp.is/-QzX1sajEe6eaM9NTvIMkw/designopendata.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/graphicdesigntheory_helenarmstrong.pdf
https://hyp.is/VrdQqsakEe6ktUNTHOxRvA/designopendata.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/graphicdesigntheory_helenarmstrong.pdf
https://hyp.is/d1WxDMalEe6YfQfezT4BjQ/designopendata.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/graphicdesigntheory_helenarmstrong.pdf
Reading Response 1, Why Theory?
This is a great reflection, Miranda! You hit on some primary questions about authority and access in general. Yes, agreed. These “theoretical” connections influence how we judge and comprehend the work. And yes, when Helen Armstrong wrote this book (she was in grad school – a pretty impressive feat), there really wasn’t much out there that looked at design theory in this way. Since 2020, we are starting to see a broader view of design theory – and design history.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TYeJrk7mKzKDOB5tkAgl5xE3UGptBL2dunAIYhDGAAs/edit?usp=sharing
What stood out to you in these two readings?
Both readings introduce us to the essential question of âWhy?â
Have you ever considered why you create? And itâs not an easy question to answer. On a surface level, an artistâs motivations might be as simple as âI draw because it makes me happy.â But understanding your motivation(s) beyond that is harder to define. Why does it make you happy? What influences your work? Why do these things influence your work? The hope is that answering the âwhyâ will improve your work.
What is your own definition of Design Theory?
Design Theory refers to the principles that govern creative choices. The philosophy that underpins an artistâs body of work.
Why do you think studying Design Theory could be useful to you as a designer?
Exposure to different design philosophies can help you grow as an artist. Artists can be impressionable. If you consume one thing it will be all you produce as well. Exposure to different philosophies will ultimately help change your process and approach.
Why do you think contributing your voice to the written discourse of the design field could be important? *You might also check out AIGAâs Eye on Design to discover what topics contemporary designers are exploring.
Itâs important to contribute my voice for the same reason itâs important to study design theory. Offering my perspective might help change someone elseâs approach.
I hadn’t thought about how designers make information and ideas accessible to people. It makes sense since designers try to communicate something through design, most of the time to a specific group of people. To me the question of who gets access to these information, ideas and design goes hand in hand to the people who are part of the design industry. We canât understand the different viewpoints if in design there are no people from all different backgrounds. It is important because not everyone will understand things in a certain way. So I think really knowing these groupsâ viewpoints and the best way to deliver a message is what makes design accessible to everyone. Also, that is why I believe the reasons behind a design are important because it leads to decision making in the process of creating something. To me that is what design theory is. It determines why something looks the way it does and therefore the audienceâs reaction to it. The reasons behind a design will determine if the design is successful or not delivering ideas/information to the target audience. Studying Design Theory can be useful to me as a designer because I will be able to be conscious of the decisions I make in the process of designing something (and not only designing something that looks good).
What stood out the most was the constant state of mind a designer seems to be locked in, the state of âwonder and questioning”. True design is inclusive and to get it ther it takes a long journey of asking the right questions. Questions offer an opportunity to be understood, it shows the shared potential between two people having a common goal. The more people sharing this goal allows for the quality of the answer to be improved.Having a group by your side allows you to build a community where you everyone can particapte and decide on the culture they want the group to represent. Working together allows for passion to take part of the design process and creates something that is influental.My definition of desing theory is culture. Nobody wants to live in fear or denial, these aspects decrease the quality of life. You have to start from scratch before you can start to question why.Start with who you are and how you can contribute to the world before you can ask why ? Design has existed with many contributors and has gone through countless stages so getting to understand and acknowledge its history creates a stronger sense of purpose to a designer.
Reading Response #1
After I read this article, this chapter is telling about why the graphic design theory is important for art career, because it can help businesses increase brand awereness. It is visual aids, such as creative design, pictures, or informative graphic, are better at conveying ideas and information than text.
My Writing Portfolio
Here are four questions of Foreword why Theory:
Annotation #1
Annotation #2
Annotation #3
Nice work, Edd! I like your definition of Design Theory: “Design Theory is a system that helps graphic designers better understand how they can communicate a message to audiences through visuals.” I agree. And I’d add that theory can encompass many systems, approaches, and voices. Keep up the good work!
Reading Response 1
What stood out to me about the âWhy Theoryâ passage is the way it interprets the meaning of design. Helen Armstrong describes design as a âsocial activityâ, which is very true. The world of design is made up of several types of people that have to work together. For example, there are artists, their clients, institutions, and publishers. In the text âExtra Boldâ, I was really surprised to hear about how the authors described graphic designers as representatives of society. Iâve never heard of designers being described that way, but thinking about it now, this is true. A designerâs art does represent the audience their work is aiming at. To me, design theory is a system that helps artists better understand how to give out a message to their audience using visuals. I think studying design theory will help me improve my skills greatly. Contributing your voice to the design field is important because you can potentially help all kinds of designers improve in their respective artistic fields.
Annotations
There are many kinds of people who need to work together in the design world.
This is a very good question. Artists have the ability to influence how people perceive the cultures the artists are representing.
Some really good topics were talked about in the two readings: The fundamentals of design (why and how), the learning and adapting process, solo vs group activity, the building of networks, and the many different walks of life designers come from (inclusive design). All of these things are important when it comes to creating. This is what design theory is about. There is an entire psychology behind graphic design as there is with everything. These are things that any aspiring designer must learn. On top of that, everyone brings their own viewpoint and values to the table. When we combine everything we have to offer and produce together as a unit, we can truly make something powerful. I think this is the best result that can be reached by any designer. Thatâs not to say that it always works but doing it well should work to an extent. Graphic design can be a very powerful thing sometimes; it can be beneficial to many and be used as an outlet to express opinions and help others.
Annotation
https://hyp.is/Pc7vFBewEe-WwqM2WBl1OA/openlab.citytech.cuny.edu/spevackcomd3504sp24/extra-bold-theory-intro/